National Lottery may seek partner to fund licence bid

THE National Lottery has said it might need a new partner if the Government goes ahead with plans to seek an upfront payment of about €650 million from the winners of a lottery licence to fund the National Children’s Hospital.

National Lottery chief executive Donal Connell said the company, which is a subsidiary of An Post, might have to consider a partnership arrangement to fund the cost of a successful bid to retain its current licence.

Mr Connell told the Oireachtas committee on finance, public expenditure and reform that the situation was dependent on how the terms of any new licence would be framed.