The FAI has commissioned a report into the horse and greyhound racing fund. Apparently, the report states that as a country we have spent €1.5 billion on this fund over the past 20 years, of which €1 billion has come from a direct levy on betting and €0.5 billion has come from the Exchequer. Some 80% of that goes to the horse racing industry and 80% of that is spent on prize money. Effectively, the vast bulk of this €1.5 billion spent in the last 20 years on the horse and greyhound racing fund has been spent on prize money.

Meanwhile, we send athletes to represent this country internationally, who play week in, week out in pathetic facilities. We are sending a team to the World Cup in July and August this year who play week in, week out in substandard facilities.

I am asking the Taoiseach, and I see the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is here, if he will commission a review-----

Time is up.

------into the horse and greyhound racing fund because I do not think the level of funding we give it stands up to scrutiny.

I just do not agree with the Deputy’s approach to this. I would not pit sport against the equestrian industry in Ireland. We have increased funding dramatically for sport over the past couple of years and we will continue to do so. There was a time when the budget for sport in Ireland was something like €7 million. It is now around €150 million and we will continue to invest in sport. However, I do not think the Deputy should pit sport against the equestrian industry. The equestrian industry in Ireland – horse sport, racing, stud farms and so on – employs tens of thousands of people.

Not according to this report.

It is worth about €1 billion a year. I think it is wrong. If the Deputy wants to do it down, he can do it down but he should not try to pit it against sport. That is not fair.

Will the Taoiseach not do a review?