Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 September 2013
32. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the planned timeframe for the intended phasing out of the charitable lotteries scheme; his plans to increase the prize limit applicable to private lotteries by regulation under the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 in order to assist charitable organisations operating private lottery schemes who are directly affected by the winding up of the charitable lotteries scheme. [39613/13]
View answerBeneficiaries of the Charitable Lotteries Scheme were advised in October 2012 that the Scheme would be phased out over a 3 year period beginning in late 2013. This is necessitated by the urgent need to make savings in Government expenditure across many programmes. The Scheme is being phased out on this gradual basis in order to give affected organisations as much time as possible to adjust to the change and to consider alternative methods of charitable fundraising. The planned timeframe for winding down the Scheme is as follows. In 2012, the total amount of assistance disbursed under the Scheme was €6 million. In 2013 this will reduce to €4 million, in 2014 to €2 million, and in 2015 - the final year of the Scheme - to €1 million.
All payments under the Scheme are of course subject in the usual way to availability of funding on an annual basis, receipt of satisfactory applications from eligible organisations, and compliance by beneficiaries with the terms and conditions of the Scheme. Provision for an increase in the prize fund limits applicable to private charitable lotteries is included in the National Lottery Act 2013 which is the responsibility of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It is the intention of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to commence this provision shortly. This will update the total prize fund limit for lotteries held under section 27 of the 1956 Gaming and Lotteries Act from £3,000, where it has stood since 1987, to €5,000. For lotteries held under section 28 of the 1956 Act, the limit will increase from €20,000 (set in 2002) to €30,000.
Separately, in July 2013, the Government approved the General Scheme of a Gambling Control Bill, which will update our laws on gambling, and will involve the repeal of the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956. This legislation will cover lotteries, but will exclude the National Lottery. The General Scheme, which is available on my Department's website, sets out the proposed increases in prize fund limits for lotteries that fall within the remit of this proposed legislation. The General Scheme has been referred to the Attorney General's Office for formal legal drafting. It is anticipated that this will be a lengthy process, given the complexities of the issues involved.
