Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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508. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the amendment accepted to the National Lottery Bill, including natural environment agencies, as potential recipients as of April 2013, the procedure for agencies and groups that qualify for funding under the amendment to apply for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47713/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The inclusion of Section 41(1) of the National Lottery Act 2013 , incorporating the new heading “natural environment” as one of the purposes for which the proceeds of the National Lottery may be applied, is to be welcomed. My Department is currently giving consideration to an appropriate mechanism for the disbursement of funds under this heading.

It is worth noting that my Department already provides funding to a wide range of environmental initiatives, including the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund which provides grants to small-scale environmental projects at local level. My Department provided €397,000 under this scheme in 2014 and this was matched with an equivalent amount from the relevant local authorities. This funding scheme is advertised in national and local papers and groups apply for funding through their relevant local authority. The 2015 scheme will be announced later this year.

My Department also provides core funding and capacity building funding to environmental Non-Governmental Organisations, including the Irish Environmental Network (IEN) and the Sustainable Water Network (SWAN). Funding of €867,000 was provided for IEN, Environmental Pillar and Environmental Law Implementation Group activities in 2014, of which €415,000 was provided for disbursal to IEN member organisations. Funding of €168,000 was provided to SWAN in 2014. It is also open to environmental NGOs to apply for National Lottery funding, for relevant projects, through the Heritage Council’s National Lottery Scheme.