Niall Collins
Question:405. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he plans to discontinue the charitable lotteries compensation fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44393/13]
View answerTuesday, 22 October 2013
Questions (405)
Written answers
The Charitable Lotteries Scheme was established in 1997 to provide assistance to the promoters of certain private charitable lotteries that have products similar to products sold by the National Lottery. This funding was originally drawn from the National Lottery surplus but, as with other National Lottery funded subheads, it is now drawn also from exchequer funds. Because of the urgent need to make savings in Government expenditure, this Scheme cannot be sustained in the current circumstances. Beneficiaries were advised in October 2012 that it would be phased out on a gradual basis over a 3 year period, with the first reduction taking effect in late 2013. This is in order to give affected organisations as much time as possible to adjust to the change and to consider how they may increase the funding they receive through other fundraising projects. As the decision to phase out the Scheme is currently the subject of legal proceedings initiated by The Rehab Group and Rehab Lotteries, I am not in a position to comment further in relation to this issue, at this time.