Almost €228 million was raised for good causes through National Lottery ticket sales in 2023.
This brings the total amount raised for good causes to €2.1 billion since Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) won the licence to operate the National Lottery in 2014 and over €6 billion since 1989.
The National Lottery Good Causes Annual Report 2023 showed that 1.2 million people played National Lottery games each week in 2023, with 27 cents of every euro spent going directly to good causes.
Some €405.4 million was allocated across exchequer and good causes programmes in 2023, an increase of €11.5 million from the previous year.
One housing and heritage cause to receive funding was the Donegal Railway Heritage Museum in Donegal Town.
Based in what was once Donegal Town’s train station, it showcases the unique railway heritage that once connected the towns in the county but ceased operations in 1959.
The museum used National Lottery funding through The Heritage Council for projects such as an Archive Storage System for Donegal Railway Artefacts and the commissioning of the design and build of an interactive railway steam cab to be hosted within an original carriage onsite.
Chief executive of Premier Lotteries Ireland, Cian Murphy, said: “We welcome the publication of the National Lottery Good Causes Annual Report by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, the first of its kind, which provides the public with greater transparency around the allocation of funding to good causes.
“Nearly €228 million was raised for the Good Causes Fund in 2023, and we are delighted with the continued positive impact those resources have on thousands of Good Causes throughout the country.
"It is hugely important our players understand and see first-hand how and where good causes funding is distributed and in particular the impact this funding has locally, within their own community.
"This report is a vital first step in helping to improve clarity around the funding model and we look forward to working closely with the department to implement further measures that will deepen players awareness with good causes nationwide”.
“It is vital that we safeguard future Good Causes funding, to guarantee continued revenue streams for these organisations and groups to continue carrying out their amazing work in communities nationwide.”
