Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 258: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views that initiatives in his Department funded by national lottery funding will be impacted upon if the sale of the lotto goes ahead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36602/11]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

As Minister with responsibility for the National Lottery, I announced on 10 November 2011, in the context of unveiling the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework 2012 – 2016, that the Government has decided to review a number of options regarding the future of the National Lottery. My Department is currently examining the various options with respect to the next Lottery licence and I expect to be in a position to revert to Government in a matter of weeks. The Government's intention is to seek a large up-front payment to the State as part of the arrangements for the new licence, with some of the payment to be used to part fund the building of the new National Paediatric Hospital.

I would stress that any new arrangements for the National Lottery will involve the continued provision of significant annual revenues from the Lottery for good causes. My Department is not directly responsible for any programmes that receive funding from the Lottery.