I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 121, 132 and 140 together.
As the Deputies are aware, I announced on 4 April 2012 that the Government has decided to hold a competition for the next National Lottery licence and that the licence will be for a 20 year period.
The new licence will involve an upfront payment to the State, with some of the payment being used to help fund the building of the proposed new National Children's Hospital.
Deputies will appreciate that in advance of the competition, it is not possible to say how much the upfront payment will be or indeed how much of it will be allocated to help fund the building of the proposed new Children's Hospital.
The ongoing provision of a fixed percentage of annual lottery turnover for good causes will be a condition of the licence. The Government has decided that this percentage is to be retained at 30.5% which was the level that was achieved in 2011.
In accordance with the indicative timetable for the award of the licence, an Invitation for Expressions of Interest in Applying for the National Lottery Licence would be published in August and an Invitation to Apply for the Licence would be published in October. I would like to assure the Deputies that the terms of the competition will be framed in such a way as to ensure that the National Lottery will continue the high standards that it has maintained since its establishment in the mid-1980s.
In relation to retail outlets authorised to sell National Lottery tickets, I am cognisant of the essential role which retailers play in the operation of the Lottery. I am also aware of the importance to retailers of income from the Lottery, particularly in the present economic climate. I can assure the Deputies that the position of retailers will be taken into consideration in the context of the arrangements for the next Lottery licence.
