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National Lottery Funding Disbursement

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 March 2018

Tuesday, 6 March 2018

Ceisteanna (62, 63)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

62. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason under the new licence for the national lottery, all unclaimed money does not revert to the prize fund; the value of these moneys since the new licence came into place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10513/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

63. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the €16 million noted in the regulator of the national lottery's report relating to unclaimed prizes before 31 December 2016 will be added to the prizes available as per the old licence or if it will be used by the new licensee for advertising purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10514/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together.

The National Lottery was established under the National Lottery Act 1986 and continues in accordance with the National Lottery Act 2013. A competition for the award of the twenty year licence to operate the National Lottery took place between May and October 2013. On 27 February 2014 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform granted the new licence to Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) Limited who then entered into a transition phase with the previous operator, An Post National Lottery Company. Premier Lotteries Ireland Ltd was incorporated on 22 May 2013 and began operations as Operator of the National Lottery on 30 November 2014.  A fee of €405m was received into the Exchequer for the National Lottery licence in 2014.

In addition, the following amounts have been transferred to the Exchequer from the National Lottery in each of the years 2008 to 2017:

2008 €265m

2009 €275m

2010 €250m

2011 €230m

2012 €220m

2013 €210m

2014 €178m

2015 €193m

2016 €219m

2017 €227m

The current Licence, which was agreed in February 2014, defines an "expired unclaimed prize" as any prize not claimed within the time frame and in the manner specified in the relevant Lottery Game rules. Clause 6.9.2 of the Licence provides that any expired Unclaimed Prizes shall be forfeited in favour of the Licensee, provided that such Expired Unclaimed Prizes shall be used: solely for the promotion of the National Lottery and/or the Lottery Games (excluding Base Marketing), in a manner determined by the Licensee, which shall include the funding of special draws and additional or top-up prizes; and which may include Incremental Marketing and advertising of the National Lottery and/or Lottery Games; or such other activities to promote the National Lottery and/or Lottery Games as specifically agreed in writing with the Regulator from time to time; and no later than within three hundred and sixty five (365) days from the day on which they were forfeited in favour of the Licensee.

The Licence is available to read on the website of the Regulator of the National Lottery: http://www.rnl.ie/publications-and-research/legislation-licence/.

I have been advised by the Regulator of the National Lottery that the information sought regarding the value of expired unclaimed prizes since the new licence came into place is the Licensee’s confidential information and under Clause 20.6.1 of the Licence cannot be disclosed by the Regulator. I am further advised that the Regulator has asked the Licensee’s permission to disclose this confidential information and the Licensee is considering this request.

As regards the €16.092 million in respect of expired  unclaimed prizes arising under the previous Licence with An Post National Lottery Company, it should be noted that this is a complex legal matter requiring consideration of detailed technical and legal argument. Officials in my Department are consulting with the parties involved with a view to bringing the matter to a timely conclusion.

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