Results 4,221-4,240 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 4 earlier today.

Written Answers — Stadium Development: Stadium Development (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: In response to approaches from South Dublin County Council, the FAI and Shamrock Rovers FC, a commitment was given that funding would be provided towards the completion of Tallaght Stadium as a soccer stadium. I understand that a local GAA club has sought a judicial review of the decision of South Dublin County Council to develop the facility as a soccer facility. It is unfortunate that the...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: A special grant of €200,000 has been allocated in 2007 towards the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Dublin Theatre Festival. This is a very prestigious festival and it is worthy of this special recognition this year. In addition, the Arts Council has provided €805,000 in the current year to the Festival for its theatre programme, administrative cost etc. The 50th...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Overseas development policy and programmes in general are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The White Paper on Irish Aid, published by the Government last September, outlines the challenges and opportunities for the Government's aid programme, entitled Irish Aid, over the coming years. The White Paper, inter alia, aims to strengthen coherence in our approach to...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The group in question were provisionally allocated €9,000 for sports equipment under the 2006 Sports Capital Programme. No drawdown of this grant has taken place to date and, in this context, the...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: One test of competitiveness is whether we can maintain and increase market share. Certainly, on the basis of our record-breaking performance in 2006, we are doing that. That record run has continued into 2007. For the first quarter of 2007, reports from the Central Statistics Office show that visitor numbers are up by over 6% on the corresponding period in 2006 while the associated revenue is...

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together. All of the information sought by the Deputy is not currently available, other than for the Great Southern Hotels collection, which was returned to the State last year. Last April my Department requested the Arts Council to carry out an audit of purchases made under the Joint Purchase Scheme. The Council estimate that the audit will take...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The number of posts decentralised by my Department, under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, is 49 to date. The location of these posts is in the temporary accommodation secured for my Department in Fossa, Killarney. The number of posts in my Department in Dublin has been reduced by a corresponding number and there has been no material effect on my Department's overall number of...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sporting facilities. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. It is open to the organisation in question, should they have a project which satisfies the terms and...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 562 together. My Department is completing an Expenditure Review of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme at present. The Review is examining, among other things, how the programme has worked to date and what changes, if any, are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery. Following consideration of the recommendations in the...

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Irish Film Board (IFB) is a statutorily independent agency established under the Irish Film Board Act, 1980. Accordingly, matters regarding the allocation of an investment, loan or grant that the IFB makes is a matter for the Board of the IFB. The role of the Board is to provide development and production finance for Irish film projects (feature, documentary, animation) and to promote...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Irish Sports Council (ISC) acknowledges that many people throughout the country participate in chess and bridge. However, the Council does not recognise these activities as they do not come within the definition of sport in the Irish Sports Council Act, 1999, under which the Council was established on a statutory basis. Under the Act, competitive sport is defined as "all forms of...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The organisation applied to the Irish Sports Council (ISC) on 27th March 2007 seeking approval as an eligible National Governing Body of Sport. The ISC Eligibility Committee met on 25th July 2007, to consider and decide on the application. The committee decided that the application does not comply with a number of essential criteria, including the requirement for the core activity to come...

Written Answers — Stadium Redevelopment: Stadium Redevelopment (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As the Deputy is aware, in January, 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of €191m towards the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Stadium as a 50,000-capacity all-seater state-of-the-art facility. It has been agreed with the IRFU and FAI who are jointly leading the project that they are to provide the balance of the funding. I am informed that the IRFU and FAI are providing their...

Written Answers — Performing Arts: Performing Arts (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Responsibility for the establishment of a third-level Irish Academy for the Performing Arts was transferred from the Department of Education and Science to my Department in 2003. However, no transfer of capital funding for the project occurred and Capital funding is not currently available to progress the development of an Irish Academy for the Performing Arts. It should be borne in mind...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Feasibility Study submitted by Roscommon County Council in relation to the Ballaghaderreen swimming pool project is currently being considered by my Department and I expect to be in a position to make a decision on the matter shortly.

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism I am committed to securing the best possible funding for the Arts Council and the arts sector generally. The Arts Council's funding requirement for the year ahead will be addressed in the context of the consideration of the Estimates for the Public Services for 2008. The Deputy will be aware that in that context the Government must balance competing...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Arts & Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS), which commenced in 2001, provides grants for the development of arts and cultural facilities around the country. This scheme has transformed the level of access to arts and cultural activities for a great many people in all parts of the State. In April 2007 a second round of ACCESS funding was announced and a total of €32m...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The organisation in question has capital funding from the Sports Capital Programme and current funding from the Irish Sports Council. Under the Sports Capital Programme an amount of €700,000 was awarded to the organisation in 2006 and no application for funding was received in 2007. In addition to this funding, local clubs throughout the country affiliated to the organisation also...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Sep 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sporting facilities. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Since 2003, Kilbarrack United Football Club has been allocated a total of €510,000 under the...