Seanad approves bill to safeguard ‘good causes’ funding – Ward

A Bill drafted by Fine Gael’s Barry Ward which aims to ensure National Lottery funding is guaranteed to go to fund sports groups, arts and community activities across the country is progressing through the Oireachtas.

The National Lottery (Amendment) Bill 2021, which aims to prevent the abuse of the National Lottery for private profit by commercial gambling outfits, passed second stage in the Seanad this week. Drafted by Senator Barry Ward, it is co-sponsored by Senators Barry Ward, Emer Currie and Micheál Carrigy.

Senator Barry Ward said, “This bill will safeguard money for community activities and maintain footfall into small shops and businesses around Ireland. The social dividend that comes from the ‘good causes’ fund is funded from a portion of every euro spent on National Lottery products and benefits voluntary organisations the length and breadth of the country.

“Private corporations should not be allowed to piggyback on infrastructure that is put in place by the National Lottery. When people spend money betting on the lotto at the bookies, that money is diverted from good causes and jeopardises sports capital funding and grants for community groups.

“The National Lottery is regulated and there are restrictions to protect consumers.

“We still have work to do to improve those protections, but bookmakers are unregulated and provide no social dividend. It does not make sense to allow private interests to continue to divert an estimated €40 to €60 million from ‘good causes’ and community funding,” Senator Ward said.

The National Lottery (Amendment) Bill 2021 unanimously passed second stage in the Seanad with government support and will now proceed to committee stage.