Results 201-220 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Our tourism agencies have set an ambitious target of approximately 4% growth in visitor numbers again this year. Both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland have put in place a comprehensive suite of marketing activities across all product niches and markets to help realise those objectives. In am glad to say that the CSO figures for the first two months of this year show a promising start to...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (1 Jun 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Requests for financial assistance from Irish artists who wish to perform abroad are considered by the cultural relations committee, CRC, an independent body under my Department's aegis which then makes recommendations to me as Minister. The CRC has not recommended assistance in this instance and there do not appear to be any grounds for a review of its decision.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (1 Jun 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level. A total of 1,304 applications were received under the 2004 sports capital programme, including 50 from County Mayo. All applications under the programme were evaluated by my Department in accordance with...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (1 Jun 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The contract documents for the provision of a replacement swimming pool in Monaghan town were submitted to my Department on 17 May 2004. This documentation is now being examined by my Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works. The proposal will be considered further when its report is received.

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (1 Jun 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Further to my reply of 25 May 2004 referred to by the Deputy, a provision of €15 million has been made in my Department's Estimates to meet costs associated with the local authority swimming pool programme for 2004. The likely drawdown this year arising from grant commitments carried forward from earlier years and from the projects approved this year is estimated at €12 million which...

Written Answers — Departmental Audits: Departmental Audits (1 Jun 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Since the establishment of my Department in June 2002, a total of seven internal audit reports have been completed to date. The title of each report is as follows: survey of procedures for payments of grants and grants-in-aid to bodies under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism; arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, ACCESS; postal and telecommunications...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (1 Jun 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Under the local authority swimming pool programme, LASPP, grants of up to €3.8 million are made available towards either the refurbishment of existing pools or the provision of new pools, subject, in both cases, to the total grant not exceeding 80% of the eligible cost of the project or 90% for projects located in designated disadvantaged areas. There are no plans at present to increase...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Jun 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The individual referred to in the Deputy's question, who is currently serving in my Department, applied for a transfer to the offices of the Department of Agriculture and Food in Backweston or Maynooth in January 2003. In accordance with normal procedure, this application was passed on to the Department of Agriculture and Food. The question, therefore, relates to a matter which is more...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (5 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The contract documents, submitted by Kildare County Council, for the refurbishment of the swimming pool in Athy are under consideration in my Department. Kildare County Council has also applied for grant aid for the replacement of the swimming pool in Naas and the contract documents for that project are also under consideration. Under the local authority swimming pool programme, projects are...

Written Answers — Ancestry Office: Ancestry Office (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I have no statutory responsibility in respect of this matter.

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Under the local authority swimming pool programme, there are four principal stages in a swimming pool project. These, in order of progress, are feasibility study and preliminary report, contract documents, tender and construction. My Department's technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless prior...

Written Answers — Olympic Games: Olympic Games (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The Irish Sports Council, which is the statutory body charged with responsibility for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland, is directly responsible with the Olympic Council of Ireland and the relevant national governing bodies of sport, in all matters relating to the preparation and participation of Irish competitors at the Olympic Games. My Department has already been in contact...

Written Answers — National Community Games: National Community Games (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I and officials of my Department have had a number of meetings and contacts with representatives of the National Community Games during the past 12 months. Officials of my Department visited Mosney last February to meet with the Reception and Integration Agency and with representatives of the community games organisation to discuss issues relating to the costing of the annual community games...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Horse Racing Ireland was established as the statutory body with responsibility for the horseracing industry under the Horse and Greyhound Act 2001. The general functions of Horse Racing Ireland, as outlined in the Irish Horseracing Industry Act 1994, as amended by the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, include the development and promotion of the Irish horseracing industry including the...

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I intend to travel to the United States of America to meet key film producers to promote Ireland as a location for film production. The dates for this visit have not been finalised, but I intend to travel at the time most likely to facilitate an effective outcome. Meetings of this nature can be very beneficial in raising the general awareness among producers of the advantages offered by...

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: My Department's area of responsibility relates to the certification of films under the section 481 tax relief scheme. It is not yet possible to say how many films will be shot on location in Ireland for 2004 and 2005. However, a total of 16 projects have been certified to date under the scheme.

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (12 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: My Department cannot give financial assistance to this project as State support for the arts is, in the main, channelled through the Arts Council, which is independent of Government regarding its funding decisions.

Order of Business. (19 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Deputy Costello is firing on all cylinders.

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Order: Motion. (19 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2004, a copy of which order in draft was laid before Dáil Éireann on 22 September, 2004. The Government is committed to the ongoing development of the Irish racehorse and greyhound industries. In 2001, following the establishment of the horse and greyhound racing fund under the...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Order: Motion. (19 Oct 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I thank everyone for making a contribution to this thoughtful debate. Responsibility for Horse Racing Ireland was transferred to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism when the Government was elected. It is true that the outgoing Minister for Agriculture and Food did make an enormous contribution to the development of the greyhound and horseracing sectors, but Deputy Boyle is incorrect to...