Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 December 2022
211. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the need for the annual publication in a national newspaper of details of the disbursement of "Funds for Good Causes", in light of the report on the independent review of the allocation and utilisation of National Lottery funding. [63056/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Lottery is a significant asset which plays an important role in generating funds for Good Causes throughout Ireland and across a range of areas including sport and recreation, culture and heritage, community health, the arts, and youth affairs.
The National Lottery Fund transferred €289m to the Exchequer in 2021, which represents a significant 14% increase on 2020 and is a record, unprecedented figure under the license commenced by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) in 2014.
Approximately €6 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery commenced operations in 1987.
An important element of the ‘Review of the Distribution and Utilisation Lottery Funding’ published by my Department in recent weeks is to highlight to a greater extent the disbursement of funds for Good Causes arising from the sale of National Lottery tickets.
In this regard, the report encompasses a review of the current model for distribution and utilisation of Lottery funding in the light of international best practice. As I acknowledged at the time of publication, significant positive benefits are generated through National Lottery Good Causes funding for thousands of clubs and communities right across Ireland and the aim of the review was to strengthen this impact.
One of the recommendations in the review is the publication of an annual report setting out information on the beneficiaries of Good Causes funding. This type of publication would provide transparency around Good Causes funding and build on the publication of Appendix 1 in the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) each year, which provides details of expenditure that is part funded by the Exchequer.
