The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, has today published an Independent Review of the Distribution and Utilisation of National Lottery funding.
Following a competitive process, Indecon Economic Consultants were appointed to carry out the review which aims to reinforce the sustainability of the National Lottery as a source of funding for good causes into the future.
Since its inception in 1987, the National Lottery has raised more than €6 billion for areas such as sport, arts, culture, heritage and community projects
The report encompasses a review of the current model for distribution and utilisation of Lottery funding in the light of international best practice and included a public consultation process, a survey of the general population, a survey of beneficiaries and a review of lottery operations in the UK, New Zealand and Finland.
Welcoming the review, the Minister stated:
“Significant positive benefits are generated through National Lottery good causes funding for thousands of clubs and communities right across Ireland. The aim of this review is to strengthen this impact and set out a long term framework for enhancing the sustainability of the National Lottery as a source of funding for good causes into the future.
"The report encompasses a number of recommendations which will provide the public with more information as to the projects supported through the National Lottery and I am particularly pleased that there will be an new Open Fund to which organisation can apply for funding.”
On foot of the review, a number of reform options, to be delivered sequentially across 2023 to 2025, have been developed. These include:
- ensuring a greater acknowledgement of the National Lottery by beneficiaries and a reduction and refocussing of schemes that are supported, without reducing allocations for individual schemes;
- the creation of a Cross-Departmental liaison group to promote a greater acknowledgement of National Lottery support, data collection and any necessary coordination on any other operational issues;
- creation of a database of beneficiaries;
- the publication of an annual report setting out information on the beneficiaries of good causes funding; and
- regular independent evaluation of the impact of National Lottery disbursement, and the creation of an open fund for which applications can be made.
It is anticipated that these recommendations will lead to greater public awareness of the benefits of Lottery funding and will underline the “supporting good causes” rationale for buying National Lottery products. The recommendations will also help engender public confidence in the transparency and effectiveness of the operating framework for distributing and using National Lottery funding for good causes.
The Minister also stated:
“The progressively rolling out the recommendations set out in the review provides a solid foundation for the National Lottery for the foreseeable future and my Department will be engaging with the relevant Government Departments to progress these measures”.
The full report can be accessed here.
ENDS