Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will report on the progress of the review into the National Lottery good causes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45014/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The National Lottery is a significant asset which plays an important role in generating funds for Good Causes throughout Ireland and across a range of areas including sport and recreation, culture and heritage, community health, the arts, and youth affairs.

The National Lottery Fund transferred €289m to the Exchequer in 2021 which represents a significant 14% increase on 2020 and is a record, unprecedented figure under the license commenced by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) in 2014.

Circa €6 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery commenced operations in 1987.

As agreed by Government, I commissioned an independent, external review to explore potential policy options to help provide a more transparent and effective model for distributing National Lottery related funding to Good Causes as per section 41 of the National Lottery Act 2013; and, on foot of that review, to bring proposals to Government for decision.

I believe that work on finalising and submitting the report is close to completion and I understand that the report will be available for my consideration sometime after the budget