Social Impact Fund's latest developments announced by GRAI
The Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland (GRAI), in partnership with Pobal, has recently released a report detailing the outcomes of a national consultation on the Social Impact Fund. This consultation, which involved 162 survey respondents and 54 focus group participants, represented various groups affected by gambling harm.
The report highlights a strong appetite for awareness campaigns co-produced with people who have lived experience. Participants expressed concerns about the widespread issue of gambling addiction, particularly its exacerbation by advertising and online accessibility. Stigma and lack of awareness were identified as major barriers to early intervention.
The consultation emphasized the need for workforce development, including specialist training and integration of gambling harm into addiction education. Current workforce training on gambling-specific interventions was considered insufficient.
Community-based aftercare and follow-up for those leaving treatment were described as underdeveloped. Families and affected others were seen as carrying significant emotional and financial burdens, but having little access to dedicated supports. Improved service coordination through national referral pathways and outreach to underserved groups is a priority.
Calls were made for multi-annual funding models to stabilize services and ensure equitable provision across geographic and demographic lines. Stakeholders advised on principles for funding design, including transparency, inclusion of lived experience, cross-sector collaboration, and sustainability.
The regulator's findings will demonstrate the level of investment required nationally and the capacity of services to expand and innovate in addressing gambling-related harm. The findings will inform draft regulations and funding structures ahead of the first licensed gambling operations contributing to the fund in 2026.
The GRAI will conduct a wider public consultation following the development of its draft funding strategy for the Social Impact Fund. The call for further engagement from service providers is available on the GRAI's website.
A recent study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) estimated that 1 in 30 adults or 130,000 people are experiencing problem gambling in Ireland, a figure ten times higher than previous estimates. However, the methods used by the ESRI to reach this conclusion are unclear.
The absence of a national framework or unified referral system was identified as a major issue, leaving services fragmented and inconsistent. The organization currently conducting the second phase of data collection for the Social Impact Fund investment strategy is not explicitly named in the provided search results.
As the first licensed gambling operations approach in 2026, it is crucial that Ireland addresses the issue of gambling-related harm comprehensively and equitably. The GRAI's report provides a valuable starting point for this conversation, and the public is encouraged to engage in the upcoming consultation process.
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