State archives: Rehab boss Flannery lobbied for lottery licence

The Government’s proposals to introduce the first-ever State lottery caused alarm among charity organisations which already operated similar schemes.

Frank Flannery, the head of Rehab and a senior Fine Gael advisor, had lobbied the Government intensely to allow his organisation to operate the proposed new national lottery.

In a joint proposal on behalf of Rehab and the Central Remedial Clinic, Mr Flannery said the lottery was capable of generating a turnover of not less than IR£1m per week, with annual revenue quickly rising to IR£100m and to IR250m after five years. Such turnover would generate annual income for the Government of IR£30m per annum, rising eventually to IR£75m.