James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Funding and administration of addiction treatment and support services falls within the remit of the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive.

Neither I nor my Department have any role in, or responsibility for, funding of supports for people with a gambling addiction.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Gambling Regulation Bill 2022 was published on 2 December 2022. The Bill sets out the framework and legislative basis for the establishment of a new, independent statutory body – Údarás Rialála Cearrbhachais na hÉireann, the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland - and for a robust regulatory and licensing regime to regulate gambling in-person and online, and for the regulation of gambling advertising, websites and apps.

The Bill completed Second Stage in the Dáil on Tuesday, 6 December 2022 and my Department is currently preparing amendments to the Bill for Committee Stage which is expected to take place in the coming months.

Once enacted, the provisions of the Bill will affect a wide range of stakeholders in the gambling, charity, advertising, and broadcasting sectors, as well as other parties. In this context, the Deputy will appreciate that stakeholder engagement is an important aspect of informing and developing new legislation. Hearing the views of all stakeholders in respect of legislative proposals which will affect them is a key aspect of a robust, transparent and democratic legislative process. As such, my Department has received correspondence including submissions, from or on behalf of the following stakeholders following publication of the Bill:

• Boylesports;
• Capital Entertainment and Leisure;
• Entain;
• European Gaming and Betting Association
• Flutter;
• International Betting Integrity Association;
• Irish Bookmakers Association;
• Racecourse Media Group;
• AsIAm;
• Alzheimer Society of Ireland;
• Beaumont Hospital Foundation;
• BelongTo;
• Care Trust (supporting CRC, Rehab, A Lustfor Life, and HUGG (Healing Untold Grief Groups));
• Charities Institute Ireland (Please see note below);
• Children’s Books Ireland;
• Congregation of the Holy Spirit;
• Cork Simon Community;
• Croí, West of Ireland Cardiac and Stroke Foundation;
• Down Syndrome Centre;
• Early Childhood Ireland;
• National Breast Cancer Research Institute;
• Enable Ireland;
• Family Carers Ireland;
• Fighting Blindness;
• Focus Ireland;
• Galway Simon Community;
• Hope Foundation;
• Irish Heart Foundation;
• Jack and Jill Foundation;
• Make-A-Wish Foundation;
• Marie Keating Foundation;
• Mercy Hospital Foundation;
• National Breast Cancer Research Institute;
• National College of Ireland;
• Oxfam Ireland;
• Plan International Ireland;
• Respond;
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul;
• Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland;
• Spinal Injuries Ireland;
• St Francis Hospice Dublin;
• St. Joseph’s Foundation;
• St. Michael’s House;
• Tallaght University Hospital Foundation;
• Tasc; and
• Trócaire.

I can also confirm that I, and officials from my Department, have met with individuals and representatives of the following organisations to hear their views on the Bill:

• Boylesports;
• Entain;
• Flutter;
• Greyhound Racing Ireland;
• Horse Racing Ireland;
• Irish Bookmakers Association;
• QuinnBet;
• The Alzheimer Society of Ireland;
• Beaumont Hospital Foundation;
• Charities Institute Ireland (Please see note below);
• Congregation of the Holy Spirit;
• Cork Simon Community;
• Croí, the West of Ireland Cardiac & Stroke Foundation;
• Enable Ireland Disability Services;
• Fighting Blindness;
• Galway Simon Community;
• Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation;
• Make-A-Wish Ireland;
• National College of Ireland;
• Spinal Injuries Ireland;
• St Francis Hospice Dublin;
• Trócaire;
• The Institute of Public Health;
• Gambling Awareness Trust;
• Extern (Problem Gambling) Ireland;
• Prof. Colin O’Gara - Head of Addiction Services, Saint John of God Hospital;
• Sky TV; and
• McCann FitzGerald.

Note: The Charities Institute Ireland represent the following organisations: 

• As I Am,
• Belong To LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland;
• Early Childhood Ireland;
• Family Carers Ireland;
• The Hope Foundation;
• Irish Heart Foundation;
• Mercy University Hospital Foundation;
• National Breast Cancer Research Institute;
• Outhouse CLG;
• Oxfam Ireland;
• Respond;
• St. Joseph's Foundation; and
• St. Michael's House.