A TOTAL of 44 TDs voted against the Government’s motion to approve the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2022 in Dáil Eireann this week.

Funding for horse racing in 2023 was secured when 82 TDs voted in support of the Minister for Agriculture’s proposal to allocate €91 million for the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund.

A year ago the vote was 79-42 in the Government’s favour.

This week’s vote will see 80%, or €72.8 million, going to Horse Racing Ireland and 20%, or €18.2 million, going to the greyhound racing body, RCÉ.

Sinn Féin, Labour, Social Democrats and other left-wing independents voted against the motion including Dublin South West TD Paul Murphy, who has been critical of prize money distribution in recent weeks.

Deputy Murphy of the People before Profit party, said: “Ireland is the only country to give direct annual financial support to racing from taxpayers’ money, compared to other major thoroughbred racing and breeding nations.” The TD has asked the Minister “whether the €72.8 million that is provided to the racing industry would be better spent on public health and public education”.

Independent TD Michael Lowry, Fine Gael Senator John Cummins and Minister Niall Collins (Fianna Fáil) all issued statements this week in support of the racing industry.

Lowry, based in Tipperary, said: “As an industry, horse racing has generated billions for the Irish economy. My home county of Tipperary is steeped in the tradition of the industry. Horses and everything related to horses is of fundamental importance to our local economy.

“The core breeding and racing industry in Ireland is estimated to generate an astounding €1.8 billion in gross expenditure annually. The industry directly supports almost 10,000 Irish jobs.

“Investment in the racing industry is far-reaching. In the words of the old proverb, it is like throwing a sprat to catch a salmon. I wholeheartedly support this allocation.”

Minister Niall Collins, from Limerick, said: “It’s clear that Government funding to the racing industry represents a major return on investment. Some in opposition are strong critics of the fund and the sports involved. However, they are important and valuable rural pursuits which Fianna Fáil in Government will continue to support.”

Senator John Cummins (Waterford) accused Sinn Féin of talking out of both sides of its mouth after that party’s TDs voted against the funding.

“Last year, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Agriculture Matt Carthy opened his speech on the Fund by saying ‘The horse and greyhound racing sectors are success stories that should be celebrated by people across Ireland, and they should, rightly, be supported by the Government through direct financial measures’.

“However, the evidence of Sinn Féin’s disingenuous nature was clear for all to see from votes held in Seanad and Dáil Éireann on Wednesday when they joined Labour, Social Democrats and People Before Profit in opposing the €91 million Horse and Greyhound Fund.”