§ MR. HAYDEN (Roscommon, S.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury, whether any, and, if so, how much, public money is paid in respect of racing in Ireland; through whom and on whose advice is this money disbursed; whether he can state the names of the racecourses subsidised and the amounts paid in each case; and whether any representative or elected body in Ireland is consulted on the matter.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) The I sum of £1,563 is provided annually for 558 King's plates to be run for in Ireland, under the Vote for Miscellaneous Expenses, Class VII, 2. The provision was transferred from the Civil List to Votes in 1831. The conditions on which the plates are competed for are determined by the Master of the Horse on the! recommendation of the Lord-Lieutenant, for Ireland. The payments are made to the winners of the plates on joint application to the Irish Government by the clerk of the course and the lieutenant of the county. The present distribution dates from 1900, when the valuation of the plates was altered and the number reduced to eight, the total amount remaining as before, viz;—
£ s. d. The Curragh 315 0 0 The Curragh 315 0 0 The Curragh 210 0 0 The Curragh 210 0 0 County Down 197 6 2 Bellewstown 105 0 0 Cork Park 105 0 0 County Galway 105 0 0 £1,562 6 2