Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 41: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he is taking to secure funding from the National Lottery in respect of sports projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8412/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The position in relation to National Lottery funding is that receipts from the sale of National Lottery tickets are deposited in the National Lottery Fund in the Central Bank. A portion of these funds is transferred by my Department into the Exchequer over the course of each year on the basis of the projected surplus for that year. The monies transferred into the Exchequer are entered as non-tax revenue and, as such, form part of the general pool out of which expenditure is financed.

Since 2005, the total allocation for subheads which had formerly been funded entirely from the proceeds of the National Lottery has exceeded the funds available from the National Lottery. The total amount of funding is determined in the Estimates process, and is paid out of the general pool of revenue of which National Lottery proceeds form part. The annual allocation for sports projects is therefore decided in the context of the normal Estimates process.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 42: To ask the Minister for Finance the overall national lottery funding in 2008 which was allocated to sport; the percentage given towards the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8487/09]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 70: To ask the Minister for Finance the percentage of the proceeds of the national lottery which will be awarded to fund sport here in 2009; the way this compares with 2007 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8498/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 70 together.

Since 2005, the total allocation for subheads which had formerly been funded entirely from the proceeds of the National Lottery has exceeded the funds available from the National Lottery. The total amount of funding is determined in the Estimates process, and is paid out of the general pool of revenue of which National Lottery proceeds form part. Subheads that, prior to 2005, were exclusively funded by National Lottery funds are now funded by a combination of National Lottery and Exchequer funding. It is not, therefore, possible to indicate the percentage of National Lottery funding which was included in the allocations provided in the subheads relating to sport which are part-funded by the National Lottery in the Vote for the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

Funds from the National Lottery as a percentage of the total allocation for all subheads which are part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery amounted to 52% in 2007 and 57% in 2008. As the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2009 has not yet been finalised, corresponding figures for 2009 are not yet available.