From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath T.D. has commissioned Indecon consultants, following a competitive process, to support his Department in a review of the transparency and effectiveness of how National Lottery Good Causes funding is distributed.
Close to 30c of every €1 spent on National Lottery games is returned to the Exchequer to fund Good Cause projects throughout Ireland. Almost €6bn has been raised since the National Lottery commenced operations in 1987.
€425 million will be spent on Good Cause projects in 2021, part-funded by approximately €250 million raised by the National Lottery.
This funding is assigned to a range of projects in areas such as sports, culture, the arts, the Irish language, heritage, health and youth projects.
Announcing the development, Minister McGrath said:
"I am very pleased that Indecon will be supporting my Department in this project to reform the way in which National Lottery funding is allocated. Since its establishment in 1986, National Lottery funding has played a vital role in generating funding for a huge range of Good Causes projects throughout Ireland each year.
"It is timely now that we should review how that funding is allocated, to ensure that it is best targeted to support Good Causes. My Department will be engaging with other Government Departments, and other key stakeholders to consider how this can be improved. We will also draw on evidence of best practice internationally, to generate new proposals for consideration by Government.
"Many other countries such as the UK, New Zealand and Denmark, to name but a few, have different systems to manage the allocation of Lottery funding and we will look to learn from the lessons that can be drawn from the experience of others."
ENDS
Notes for Editors
1. It is envisaged that the review will conclude in Q2 2022.
2. Premier Lotteries Ireland DAC(PLI) is the operator of the Irish National Lottery, having been granted a 20-year licence by the Irish Government in November 2014.
3. As part of the terms of the National Lottery licence, almost 30c from every €1 spent on National Lottery games is returned to the Exchequer to be utilised by Good Cause projects.
4. As set out in section 41 of the National Lottery Act 2013, funding returned by the National Lottery to the Exchequer shall be assigned to one or more of the following areas:
• Sport and Recreation
• National Culture and Heritage
• The Arts (within the meaning of the Arts Act 2003)
• Health of the Community
• Youth, Welfare and Amenities
• Natural Environment
• Such other objectives (if any) that the Government may determine from time to time.
1. This funding is assigned by Government Departments and Offices, via the annual estimates process, who have policy responsibility for these areas.
2. Further details on estimated expenditure for 2021, and where funding has been assigned is outlined in Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services: https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/#2021
1. Indecon were selected to undertake this project following a public procurement process undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with the support of the Office of Government Procurement.
Contact:
Claire Godkin - Press Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - pressoffice@per.gov.ie