Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Jun 1993

Vol. 432 No. 8

Written Answers. - National Lottery Funding.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

67 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will seek Government approval for a portion of national lottery funds to be allocated to famine relief in countries such as the Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

In the Estimates for the Vote for International Co-operation a provision of £3.35 million has been made for emergency humanitarian assistance, in comparison with expenditure of £1.689 million in 1992.

So far this year £1.3 million has been spent on humanitarian emergency assistance, of which the bulk (£1 million) was allocated to Southern Sudan. A balance of £2 million remains.

It may be that the balance available will be sufficient to meet requirements for emergency humanitarian assistance for the rest of 1993. Should this not be the case, I shall give consideration to the question of seeking additional funding.

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

68 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Finance if he will seek Government approval for a portion of national lottery funds to be allocated to famine relief in countries such as the Sudan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Finance (Mr. B. Ahern)

The matter of whether additional funds are required for famine relief in the Sudan or elsewhere would be a matter for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to consider in the first instance.

As regards the other aspect of the Deputy's question, I might explain that the surplus from the national lottery is taken into the Central Fund (i.e. Exchequer) as non-tax revenue. All issues to the Supply Services generally — including disaster relief — which are voted annually by the Dáil are funded out of the Central Fund.

Accordingly, ear-marking a proportion of the national lottery surplus for disaster relief would not increase the overall resources of the Central Fund or the specific amount available for disaster relief.

The allocation of resources to the various Supply Services — including disaster relief — are decided each year by the Government in the context of the annual estimates discussions.