asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, he has with regard to the surplus funds produced by the National Lottery; and the way in which moneys paid into the fund is divided between prize money, An Post and the Exchequer.
20.
Written Answers. - National Lottery.
17.
asked the Minister for Finance the total revenue now estimated to accrue to the Exchequer from the National Lottery; if he intends to disburse these funds in the manner already announced by the previous Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
25.
asked the Minister for Finance the percentage of the National Lottery profits being allocated to the grant-in-aid fund for general expenses of sports organisations and miscellaneous sports activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
56.
asked the Minister for Finance in view of the difficult circumstances in providing a level of services particularly in the area of health, if any consideration has been given for a temporary re-allocation of proceeds from the National Lottery to help provide these services; if amending legislation is required in this regard; if it is a case that the headings of expenditure for which it is intended the proceeds of the lottery will be used have been substantially cut in the Estimates to those areas of expenditure in the current year, and if he will make a statement on the matter.
58.
asked the Minister for Finance if he will make a grant available to the Olympia Theatre to cover the cost of building and refurbishment from the proceeds of the National Lottery.
59.
asked the Minister for Finance the amount of money which has been raised up to 30 April 1987 by the National Lottery; the amount which has been lodged directly with his Department; when that sum will be made available for allocation; to which body or bodies money will be assigned and in what proportion will they receive it; when those bodies will be in a position to issue cheques to recipient groups; and will he make a statement on the matter.
60.
asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the financial difficulties of the Olympia Theatre; if he is prepared to meet with a deputation from the company, including public representatives; if he will give directions to have more of the proceeds of the National Lottery allocated, through the Arts Council, to meet the needs of the theatre; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 20, 25, 56, 58, 59 and 60 together. Total sales of lottery tickets to 30 April 1987 amount to just over £22 million.
The balance in the National Lottery Fund Deposit Account at 30 April was £10,275,939.55. From this, some operating costs and prize liability remain to be met. No surplus funds have as yet been transferred to the Exchequer.
The terms of the licence under which An Post National Lottery Company operates the lottery on the Minister's behalf envisaged that when the lottery is fully operational, its proceeds will break down as follows: Prizes, 45-50 per cent; APNLC—operating expenses, 18.65 per cent; management fees, 1.1 per cent. Surplus paid over to Exchequer, 30.25-35.25 per cent. Operating costs are projected to be somewhat in excess of 18.65 per cent for 1987 since start-up costs have to be met and the sales-cost ratio will be relatively high.
The revised Estimates for the Public Service include £7 million which will be available to the Exchequer from the national lottery in 1987. The Government have decided that this should be allocated in the following proportions: £3,150,000 for youth and sports projects; £1,750,000 to arts, culture and the Irish language; £2,100,000 to projects in the health area.
Youth activities are to be included among the purposes to which lottery moneys may be applied. The Minister for Education will determine in the first instance the apportionment of the £3.15 million allocated for youth and sport as between youth activities and sporting activities.
The Health Education Bureau is to be entirely financed from the national lottery and £2 million is being allocated for this purpose this year.
It has already been announced that £0.25 million of the £1.75 million allocated for arts, culture and the Irish language will be made available to the Irish Film Board. Decisions on the allocation of the balance will be taken by the Ministers directly involved.
These allocations will not require any amendment of existing law.
A decision regarding the distribution of any additional income accruing to the Exchequer from the national lottery over and above the £7 million referred to above will be announced later in the year when the total surplus available for 1987 has been more clearly quantified.