ANNUAL REPORT 2011 - Horse Racing Ireland

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTSFOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2011 (CONTINUED)27. Pension commitmentsHorse Racing Ireland established with effect from 1 May 2007 the Horse Racing Ireland and Racing Regulatory BodySuperannuation Scheme 2007. Horse Racing Ireland has established a trust fund for holding contributions made towardsbenefits to be paid under the Scheme and for the payment of superannuation benefits under the Scheme.Defined Benefit Scheme (Horse Racing Ireland and Racing Regulatory Body Superannuation Scheme 2007)a)On 1 December 1994, the Irish Horseracing Authority took over the operation of the Racing Board’s Defined BenefitPension Scheme for permanent staff. Since 18 December 2001, this scheme continued to operate under HRI until 30 April2007. On 1 May 2002, at the point of transfer of employees from the Turf Club to Horse Racing Ireland, a Deed of Adherencebetween Horse Racing Ireland, Stewards of the Turf Club and Coyle Hamilton Trustees Limited was put in place allowingHorse Racing Ireland to be an adhering body to participate in the Turf Club of Ireland Pension Scheme(the PrincipalEmployer) from that point until 30 April 2007.b) Until 1 May 2007, two schemes operated under the Racing Board’s Defined Benefit Pension Scheme and the Turf Clubof Ireland Pension Scheme. Both of these schemes are now closed. The former Racing Board scheme had 9 activeparticipants and 48 inactive participants at 31 December 2011. There were 30 employees of Horse Racing Ireland in theformer Turf Club Scheme. The Turf Club Scheme also covers 53 employees involved in Integrity Services.c)At 1 May 2007, the two schemes merged into one scheme, encompassing all the above employees and the rest of the TurfClub employees. Total members at 31 December 2011 amounted to 159 (2010: 160). All pension obligations from both theformer Racing Board Scheme and the former Turf Club Scheme are now covered in the new merged scheme. This schemealso covers the employees involved in Integrity Services who are directly funded by HRI under the Irish HorseracingAuthority Act 1994, Section 42 and employed by the Turf Club. Liabilities relating to other employees of the Turf Club andthe Curragh Racecourse are excluded in calculating the net pension liability disclosed underneath.d) Total employer contributions in this scheme made for the year ended 31 December 2011 were €739,000. Future expectedemployer contributions in this scheme are €730,000 for the year ended 31 December 2012.e)The pension cost of the defined benefit scheme is assessed on an annual basis in accordance with the advice of qualifiedactuaries using the projected unit method.The principal financial assumptions for the full scheme used to calculate the retirement liabilities under FRS 17 as at 31December 2011 were as follows:Valuation Method Projected Unit Projected Unit2011 2010Discount Rate 5.00% 5.50%Future pensionable salary increases 1.75% 1.75%Future pension increases 2.50% / 1.25% (where applicable) 2.50%Future inflation 2.00% 2.00%Horse Racing Ireland Annual Report 2011 49