McGimpsey highlights success of National Lottery aid to NI

Culture, Arts and Leisure Minister, Michael McGimpsey, has emphasised the significant contribution which the National Lottery has made to the social and economic regeneration of Northern Ireland.

Speaking at W5 at the Odyssey in Belfast, where he was attending the operating company Camelot’s National Lottery day of celebration, the Minister said that since the Lottery began in 1994 Northern Ireland’s share of the proceeds, more than £350 million, had been distributed to many good causes throughout the Province.

Mr McGimpsey said: “Almost 4,000 awards have been made and many of the projects being funded in, for example, arts and sports have helped to make these activities more accessible to more people. Indeed, without the Lottery income, many of the capital schemes which have been supported might otherwise have remained distant goals.”

Mr McGimpsey pointed out that children and young people were a particular focus of the financial benefits accruing from the National Lottery. He explained that as well as giving them more opportunities to get involved in sport, both at school and after school, the funds allocated to such programmes would also instil self-belief and provide them with life skills and a sense of achievement.

The Minister underlined the economic benefits which the Lottery had brought to Northern Ireland and said that a recent study of the Sports Council’s capital allocations to sports clubs showed that, as well as providing top class facilities, around one in ten had also resulted in the creation of new long-term jobs.

He concluded: “I am delighted that my Department is associated with such a successful enterprise, but it is important that the schemes which it supports continue to be responsive and accessible to all. These are issues which will be fundamental to the review recently announced by Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

“I look forward to the outcome of that review and to the continuation of the success story that is the National Lottery.”

Mr McGimpsey was welcomed to the Odyssey by the Chairman of Camelot, Michael Grade. (MB)