The detailed terms of reference of the national lottery review group are set out below:—
In considering the overall thrust and impact of spending financed from the surplus of the national lottery, the group should focus on the allocation of funds administered by Departments under discretionary schemes involving financial support for voluntary, e.g. sporting and community, agencies.
The group should review the procedures for processing applications and should recommend such improvements as it considers necessary to ensure maximum transparency in the allocation of the lottery surplus. It is not envisaged, however, that the group should review lottery allocations where, by virtue of earlier Government decisions, lottery funding is deemed to be in substitution for Exchequer spending. The group should submit its report to the Minister for Finance by end-February 1997.
Subject to the foregoing, the group will review the procedures by which all allocations from the beneficiary fund for cultural purposes are proposed to Government; and will recommend whatever changes may be necessary to ensure the beneficiary fund contributes effectively to development of the arts, heritage and Irish language sectors as intended at the inception of the national lottery.