2021 was record year for National Lottery funding in Ireland

A record amount of National Lottery Fund money was allocated to good causes in Ireland last year.

€289 million was sent to the Exchequer to be used by good causes. This is a 14% increase on the previous year and a record figure since Irish National Lottery operator Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) received its licence in 2014.

Under the terms of the National Lottery license, almost 30 cents from every €1 spent on National Lottery games is directed to good causes. Areas covered include sport and recreation, national culture and heritage (including the Irish language), the arts, the health of the community, youth, welfare and amenities, and the natural environment.

Charities Institute Ireland (Cii) CEO Áine Myler said:

“Receiving a grant has a positive effect on many charities to deliver new projects, and means core services are maintained.”

Also commenting on the development, The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath added:

“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. 

“It is absolutely critical that members of the public and those who play the National Lottery are fully aware of how this funding is accessed and distributed to good causes, to the benefit of local communities. €6 billion has been raised for good causes since the National Lottery commenced operations in 1987.”

Cii is currently working with a consultancy firm commissioned by the government to undertake a review of how National Lottery funding is distributed in Ireland, with a new and transparent funding model expected to be introduced later in 2022, once the report has been published.

Picture by Paulo Diniz on Pixabay