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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath TD, has welcomed the transfer of €289 million from the National Lottery Fund to the Exchequer in 2021. This transfer represents a significant 14% increase on last year and is a record, unprecedented figure under the license commenced by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) in 2014 and a commendable achievement in light of the challenging trading environment in 2021.

Commenting on this development, Minister McGrath said:

“The 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.

"It is absolutely critical that members of the public and those who play the National Lottery are fully aware of how this funding is accessed and distributed to Good Causes, to the benefit of local communities.  €6 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery commenced operations in 1987.”

Minister McGrath  recently commissioned Indecon Consultats to support his Department in a review of the transparency and effectiveness of how National Lottery funding is distributed, to ensure that it is best targeted to support Good Causes. It is envisaged that this work will conclude in the second quarter of 2022.

 ENDS        

Notes for Editors 

• Premier Lotteries Ireland DAC (PLI) is the operator of the Irish National Lottery were granted a 20-year license by the Irish Government in November 2014. 
• As per the terms of the National Lottery license, almost 30 cents from every €1 spent on National Lottery games is returned to the Exchequer to be utilised by Good Causes projects.
• The National Lottery Fund is managed and controlled by the Office of the National Lottery Regulator. At intervals determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Regulator pays sums allocated for use by good causes into the Central Fund of the Exchequer.
• As set out in the National Lottery Act 2013, moneys paid into the Central Fund shall be applied to one or more of the following areas:

o    sport and recreation;

o    national culture and heritage (including the Irish language);

o    the arts (within the meaning of the Arts Act, 2003);

o    the health of the community;

o    youth, welfare and amenities;

o    the natural environment;

and such other objectives (if any) as the Government may determine from time to time.

• Appendix 1 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services, which is published each year, provides a breakdown by Department of all the expenditure areas that are supported by the proceeds of the National Lottery.

Contact: Claire Godkin - Press Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - 085 806 3969, pressoffice@per.gov.ie