Vol. 438 No. 8
66 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Finance if he will ensure that there is no reduction in the allocation promised for tourism in the National Development Plan, 1994-1999, in view of the reduced Structural Funding for Ireland.
Discussions are under way currently with the European Commission on the National Development Plan 1994-99 with a view to agreeing the Community Support Framework which will set out the broad national and sectoral strategies for the use of EU Structural Funds. In the light of these discussions the Government will be considering the investments to be included in the Community Support Framework consistent with the Commission decision on the EC aid available for Ireland's Community Support Framework. The Government is confident that over the full period of the plan it will prove possible to undertake all the investments proposed in the plan.
67 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the reason for the drop in national lottery surplus funds available to the Government in 1993 as compared to 1992; his views on whether there will be an increase or reduction in such funds in 1994; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
68 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance whether he has satisfied himself that all of the moneys awarded by Government Departments from the proceeds of the national lottery to various organisations throughout the country since 1989 have been drawn down by the organisations involved; the instances where payment has not taken place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together.
The position regarding the distribution of national lottery grants is that, while as Minister for Finance, I have overall responsibility for the national lottery, the operation of the various national lottery-funded spending programmes is a matter for each of the Ministers concerned. In relation to the lottery funds distributed by my Department, grants amounting to £635,540 were paid in the period 1989 to 1993 inclusive. Apart from a grant for £250,000 paid to the Irish Institute for European Affairs in Louvain in 1992, included in the above, all other payments were to Gaeleagras na Séirbhise Poiblí. The Vote for the Office of Public Works also comes under my responsibility. To end 1993, expenditure was £8.08 million, mainly for conservation works.
Details of national lottery-funded allocations and the related outturn figures for the years in question are contained in the relevant Appropriation Accounts, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
Expenditure patterns on national lottery-funded schemes depend on a number of factors such as the time required for approved projects to mature for payment, national lottery sales and the carry-over from one year to another of unspent allocations. Such factors account for the differing overall expenditure levels in 1992 and 1993.
