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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath T.D. today, 28th April 2021, has announced plans to review 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 €245 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: "The National Lottery plays a vital role in generating funding for a huge range of Good Causes projects throughout Ireland each year. My Department’s mission is to serve the public interest through sound governance of public expenditure and by leading and enabling reform across the Civil and Public Service. "This review is reflective of the Department’s overall mission, and in embarking on this project we are taking steps to ensure that National Lottery funding is distributed in the most transparent and effective way possible.

"It is absolutely critical that members of the public and the people who play the National Lottery are fully aware of how this funding is accessed and distributed to Good Causes projects. They must be able to see, on the ground, how Good Cause funding benefits their communities."

ENDSNotes for EditorsIt is envisaged that the review will commence in Q2 2021, and conclude in Q2 2022. 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. 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. 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.

This funding is assigned by Government Departments and Offices, via the annual estimates process, who have policy responsibility for these areas.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

Contact: Claire Godkin - Press Officer, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - 085 806 3969