The local authority is calling on the government to urgently divert the profits of betting companies to social projects. Since 2001, the state's gambling levy has delivered a €1.5bn investment to the horse and greyhound industry. While a report fromt the ESRI in October revealed that 130,000 Irish people now suffer from a servere gambling addiction. Lahinch Green Party Councillor Liam Grant believes the problem can be tackled at the root through appropriate spending.