John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased that my matter has been accepted and I am grateful to the Minister of State for attending to answer it. I am here to make an appeal on behalf of natural environment organisations that they would finally receive their fair share of lottery funding for the fantastic work they do the length and breadth of the country on a variety of community, conservation, habitat protection and wildlife protection projects. It is a very broad spectrum. Wisely, back in 2013, when the Government introduced the new National Lottery Bill, it agreed to an amendment to incorporate the natural environment as one of the six qualifying categories that could apply for lottery funding, along with other sporting and community categories. However, none of the bodies or organisations represented by the umbrella group the Irish Environmental Network, which is made up of over 30 different NGOs, has been able to secure lottery funding since. I know this funding is disbursed through up to eight different Departments, but it seems bizarre, to say the least, that while they have been able to put forward many projects of merit, deserving of national ottery funding and while this has been included as a qualifying sector, it has not been able to draw down any national lottery funding to date.I hope that can be put to rights in the next round of funding.

We have a difficulty in this country with what has been referred to as implementation deficit disorder. This can result from local resistance and suspicion, which is well founded in some cases, such as those in which State agencies try to impose structures and projects on the community. That is why I believe organic projects that are built by communities from the ground up, with local ownership and community buy-in, work very well. I am in favour of direct community input from the ground, in collaboration with State agencies, when work is being done in areas such as conservation, habitat protection, biodiversity education, eco-tourism, adding value to the landscape and protecting wild flora and fauna. It is estimated that this range of activity is worth up to €2 billion per annum to our economy. As I have said, it is spearheaded by bodies such as the Irish Environmental Network and Irish Rural Link. However, it has certainly been the poor relation in terms of lottery funding to date. I have seen successful projects on the ground in my own community organised by groups such as the Abbeyleix Bog Project, the Portarlington Community Development Association and the Mountmellick justice and environment group, which is inspired and led by the local Presentation sisters. These organisations have done great work to restore areas such as river walks and to reclaim bogs to make them available to communities to enjoy. Their work has climate change benefits and all sorts of ecological and environmental dividends. Communities are proud of these groups, which are spread across the country, and feel they have ownership of them. I would also like to mention the work that has been done at Fenor Bog in County Waterford, the Wexford Slobs and Wildlife Reserve, Clara Bog in County Offaly, the Ballybay wetlands in County Monaghan, the Cabragh wetlands in County Tipperary and the Ballyhoura Mountains in County Limerick.

If the Government takes the great opportunity it has to support such projects throughout the country, it will get a really good bang for its buck. Those who support this kind of community organisation really get good value. The dividend in terms of community buy-in, public participation and tourism, and the economic and environmental benefits, cannot be exaggerated. There is an opportunity to get good value for money. I think that was the purpose - the pure and real intention - of those who first founded the national lottery and provided for the allocation of this funding in 1986. I do not want to pick on anyone when I say that in my view, national lottery funding was never supposed to replace core Government funding for services. It was supposed to be an additional benefit for communities. I know the Cathaoirleach is an avid and enthusiastic golfer, but I do not think national lottery funding was ever intended for the construction of new golf clubs. I do not think that was the purpose or intention of this structure when it was designed. It was supposed to provide additional resources to voluntary and community organisations, which were supposed to be the main beneficiaries. I would like to see us revisit the matter to ensure that the allocation of the next round of national lottery funding is grounded in such a principle. I am particularly keen for us to make up for lost ground in terms of projects that pertain to the natural environment.