Results 2,981-3,000 of 3,053 for speaker:Mary Upton

Written Answers — School Evaluations: School Evaluations (23 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 94: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of whole school inspections carried out in 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010; the schools where these were carried out; the number carried out in each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43612/10]

Written Answers — Labour Market Activation Fund: Labour Market Activation Fund (23 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 108: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a breakdown of the number of organisations in the greater Dublin area that submitted tenders for the labour market activation scheme; the number and names of organisations that have received funding; the numbers of places provided in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43955/10]

Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Seven of the oral parliamentary questions I tabled to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport have been rejected. It was stated that the Minister had no official responsibility to Dáil Éireann for the matter. One of the questions, for example, relates to Tourism Ireland. I am at a complete loss as to how I will access much of the information I requested in the seven questions....

Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: It creates a vacuum in accessing this information.

Order of Business (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Almost half the questions - seven from 19 - were returned. That puts me in a position where I am unable to get that information today.

Expenditure Programme (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 22: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport in view of the implications of the recommendations of the Report on the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programme regarding her Department, the actions she has taken to evaluate the recommendations of the report; if she has identified ways by which similar efficiencies or savings could be made without...

Expenditure Programme (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: I am pleased to hear that changes are to be proposed. Correspondence I received in August stated that the Department then employed 156 staff, of whom 77, or 48 full-time equivalents, had responsibilities in the arts and culture section. Given the number of staff employed by the Department, why do several quangos continue to exist? The replies to seven parliamentary questions I submitted...

Expenditure Programme (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: My main concern is the lack of accountability. I have raised this issue in a recent policy document in respect of sporting organisations. Direct ministerial responsibility is the way to proceed and significantly greater accountability is required.

Expenditure Programme (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: That is my point.

Arts Funding (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 24: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport if she will detail in tabular form the annual percentage change in funding in real terms, taking account of inflation, of the Arts Council for each year from 2000 to date in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44228/10]

Arts Funding (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: I thank the Minister. I appreciate that my question related to the period from 2000-10. However, if we move to 2005 and consider the relative changes between 2005, when we were still in Celtic tiger mode, and 2010, there was a decrease in real terms when corrected for inflation. While there was still an option for increasing the relative amounts, taking account of inflation, the figure was...

Arts Funding (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: One of my concerns is in regard to the small theatre companies throughout the country. Although these are not high profile nationally, they are very high profile locally and are extremely important. I am aware of some small theatre groups and companies that are already in a difficult situation and are very concerned about funding for next year. Some of this relates to local government...

Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: I thank the Minister. I believe this question was answered, more or less, in the answer to the first priority question. I emphasise that I do not, in any way, question the importance of the arts in terms of the number of people working to support them. My key question remains the same regarding accountability and policy formulation. If I may reflect on the previous question, it relates to...

Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: I did not refer in particular to the arts when I referred to quangos but as the Minister raised the issue of the Irish Film Board I give the example of the gaming industry as one area in which we should take much greater interest. There is considerable potential in it and perhaps there should be a place for it. Incidentally, I do not suggest setting up another quango but if I may refer back...

Departmental Staff (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: There is an urgency about the audio-visual gaming industry. There is an opportunity here which is likely to be lost if we do not grasp it and move forward very quickly.

Tourism Industry (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Many hotels in the current climate will only be open for a portion of the year. Is it possible to give some consideration to basing rates on the length of time for which hotels remain open? It seems very unfair that they continue to pay rates for 12 months when they may be operational for seven or eight months of the year.

London 2012 Olympics (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Question 29: To ask the Minister for Tourism; Culture and Sport in view of the expenditure of €114,000 on a consultants report on the potential economic benefits of the London 2012 Olympics, the number of times the high level coordinating group chaired by her Department met; when did the first meeting take place; the specific targets the group set for tourist visitor numbers, utilisation...

London 2012 Olympics (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: I suppose we should all be delighted about the synchronised swimming team coming to Ireland. It is a hugely popular sport here. We are talking about a huge international event. I am quite surprised there have not been formal bookings at this stage. A number of proposals have been put forward and the Minister identified a list of them. Having spent €114,000 on a consultants' report, I...

London 2012 Olympics (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: It was not synchronised swimming.

London 2012 Olympics (24 Nov 2010)

Mary Upton: Earlier, the Minister referred to the tourism opportunities. I would have thought that if key media contacts were coming, there would be a commitment at this stage. Do we have an update on that? I am also concerned about the business side and the Minister mentioned Enterprise Ireland. There is a knock-on effect from the Olympics and it will be a long time until we will be as near to the...