asked the Minister for Finance if he will allocate a reasonable proportion of the betting tax collected to subsidise prize money for horse and greyhound racing, to ensure that owners get a fair return for their outlay, and that racegoers can hope to get a fair run for their money.

Prize money for horse and greyhound racing is already being heavily subsidised by grants from the Racing Board and Bord na gCon respectively. In 1977 the amount contributed by the Racing Board was £1.58 million representing 64 per cent of total prize money at horse race meetings while Bord na gCon contributed £0.52 million representing 67 per cent of total prize money at greyhound race meetings. In view of the extent of existing State assistance provided by these two bodies I have no plans at present for diverting any of the proceeds of the betting duty to supplement this assistance.

Would the Minister not agree that far too many races, especially smaller meetings, are not being run true to form, that the major factor here is the lack of sufficient prize money and that as a result owners cannot expect to get a reasonable return? The subsidy should be vastly increased.

As I have indicated to the Deputy, I have no plans at present to do so.

I was hoping that the Minister for Health and Social Welfare would back me up on this.