2653. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to carry out a review of public spending (details supplied); if he will make a statement on the matter. [59826/26]

The horse and greyhound racing industries receive financial support from the State through the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund, under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. Payments are made from the Fund to Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and to Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ).

The decision on the proposed amount to be allocated to the Fund in any year is made in the context of the annual budgetary estimates process.

Following Oireachtas approval of the Fund, my Department issues a "parameters letter" to RCÉ advising the body of the allocation from the Fund and the split between current and capital expenditure.

The letter also advises RCÉ that it must comply with certain conditions in relation to this funding which include that 10% of the Fund allocation is ring-fenced for welfare matters, including integrity, and the remainder of the Total Fund is to be applied in the following manner:

- not more than 60% on prize money,

- not more that 3% on operational grants to private tracks, and

- not more than 27% on Regulatory and administrative costs and other statutory functions of RCÉ.

Aside from these restrictions, RCÉ has discretion in the expenditure of funding received subject to the usual financial and governance requirements. RCÉ informed my Department that no funding was allocated towards Youghal Greyhound Track, Co Cork from the Horse & Greyhound Racing Fund.