30. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide an update on the appointment of a CEO to the gambling regulatory authority. [35950/22]

53. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice if he will provide an update on work carried out to establish a gambling regulator; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35721/22]

68. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice when she will bring forward legislation on gambling; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35740/22]

523. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Justice the work her Department has carried out to date in establishing a gambling regulator; if funding has been directed to cover preparatory costs for the establishment of a gambling regulator in order that the regulator can commence work as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35796/22]

Written answers (Question to Justice), Helen McEntee: Minister for Justice: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 53, 68 and 523 together.

The Programme for Government gives a clear commitment to establish a gambling regulator, which Minister Browne and I are working to deliver.

The Regulator will be focused on public safety and wellbeing with responsibility for regulating both in-person and online gambling, gambling advertising, gambling websites and apps.

The Government has approved the Gambling Regulation Bill for priority drafting and publication. Drafting of the Bill is underway.

The publication by the Justice Committee of its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the General Scheme is another welcome step in the process. Now that Minister Browne has received the pre-legislative scrutiny report, Department officials are examining and considering the recommendations and findings of the Committee.

Last October, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned the recruitment of the CEO Designate of the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland, and the process is now in its final stages.

The start date and on boarding process for the new CEO Designate will be determined once that process is completed.

It is envisaged that the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland will become self-financing (e.g. from licence fees, etc.) over time but will require public funding in the initial phases of set-up and operation over a number of years.

As part of Budget 2022, €500,000 was allocated to meet the costs of appointing the CEO Designate and Implementation Support Team as well as non-pay related costs in establishing the Authority. This is in addition to the initial seed funding of €200,000 in Budget 2021. This €700,000 will help meet start-up costs including accommodation and professional services and I expect that further provision will be required in 2023 to be agreed as part of the Estimates process.

A Programme Board has been established in my Department to ensure that the legislation and the operational preparations are progressed in parallel so that the Authority commences operations as soon as possible after enactment.

There is a pathway mapped for this legislation progressing which, with the cooperation of the Houses of the Oireachtas, will facilitate the Authority being established.