Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 7

Written Answers. - National Lottery.

Michael McDowell

Ceist:

53 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the success of the national lottery has had a serious effect on the fundraising capacity of other charities; the proposals, if any, he has made to or received from the Department of Justice in relation to raising the weekly limit on charitable lotteries from £10,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4417/95]

Desmond J. O'Malley

Ceist:

61 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the success of the national lottery has had a serious effect on the fund-raising capacity of other charities; the proposals, if any, he has made to or received from the Department of Justice in relation to raising the weekly limit on charitable lotteries from £10,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4418/95]

Minister for Finance (Mr. Quinn)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 61 together.

Independent market research has shown that public contributions to charitable fundraising have continued to grow since the introduction of the national lottery. This research has also shown that most people clearly differentiate between the money they spend on the national lottery and the money they give to charity. People who play the national lottery do so on the basis of a potentially large win for a small stake: when they give to charities it is on the basis that their contributions will go to a cause which is of particular concern to them. There is considerable evidence that charities themselves are successfully adopting innovative fund-raising methods.

I would remind the House that very many social and charitable bodies have received grants of national lottery funds since the lottery was introduced. Spending under the health/welfare category of the national lottery beneficiary fund, for example, from which many charitable organisations will have benefited directly or indirectly amounted to £180 million in the period 1987-1994.

Questions in relation to the prize limits applicable to charitable lotteries are a matter for the Minister for Justice.