Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

No. The Deputy makes a number of valid and fair points. This is a balance that I and the Government have sought to strike in terms of maximising the up-front payment without damaging the constant annual flow of money for good causes. It is our estimate that we can increase the volume and flow of money for good causes. All of these are theoretical until we see the structure of the new licence at work, but we have taken the best advice. We have looked at operations internationally. The nature of the lotto is changing. For example, for scratch cards, which are a chunk of the lotto, the prize fund is much bigger and therefore the actual sum accruing to good causes under the current regime from scratch cards is not great. There is no limit to the prize fund under the current legislation. We are looking, in the round, at a robust system. I picked a figure of 65% for good causes, which is considerable.

There would have been suggestions from some of our advisors that we go for a lower figure that would ensure we would get a bigger up-front payment but I was willing to take a smaller up-front payment if it meant we would have a good growing annual fund for the good causes that are so important into the future.

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