The Government has decided to conduct an independent review of the National Lottery which raises £100 million a year. The review will examine the lottery's strategic objectives and the procedures for distributing and allocating its resources.
Government sources confirmed yesterday that an interdepartmental review group with an independent chairman and two external independent members, would be set up soon.
The Department of Finance has sole discretion for the allocation of lottery funding and the Government policy programme - agreed by the leaders of Fine Gael, Labour and Democratic Left almost two years ago - promised a review.