Results 4,641-4,660 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Arts Council. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I have informed the Arts Council that I will continue to pursue its interest in multi-annual funding. This should not distract the council from being able to anticipate a fairly strong level of funding and to be accurate in anticipating what that funding will be. If it considers the funding for recent years, it will be in a good position to calculate what the annual figures should be. I...

Arts Council. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I can see the need for advance funding in the case of a special event. I have said to the Arts Council and to the other agencies under the aegis of the Department that if such a situation arises, the Department can discuss how the organisation being bid for can be reassured that the amount of payment will not be an issue. My Department could work with the Arts Council if it needs to pursue...

Arts Council. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: We should not confuse two streams of funds. The annual Arts Council funding is current money——

Arts Council. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I was about to explain that the second stream of money is called ACCESS and this provides capital money. I will make an announcement about those capital funds shortly. A total of €184 million in the national development programme is provided specifically for the kind of bricks and mortar and investment in infrastructure to which the Deputy refers. There would be no need to have...

Museum Projects. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: Capital funding of €45 million is provided in the culture sub-programme of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, for a major development programme at the Irish Museum of Modern Art at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. This development programme will enhance the museum's position as a major national and international venue for the exhibition of modern art. In 2008, the museum will receive...

Museum Projects. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: Recently, I paid two visits to IMMA to see it for myself. A total of €45 million is earmarked in the cultural sub-programme of the national development plan. I wish to confirm that it does not and cannot come out of the ACCESS programme.

Museum Projects. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I wish to be clear on this because substantial confusion arises on it. IMMA has been offered exhibition space in the Westgate building being erected on St. John's Road near Heuston Station. The provision of this cultural space is a condition of the planning permission the developer received for the Westgate project. The offer to IMMA of this cultural space is being considered by its board...

Museum Projects. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Deputy and pay tribute to the staff of IMMA who put in a great deal of hard work. I will take up the issues she raised as soon as possible.

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: Under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, the individual actions and measures relating to tourism promotion and development at regional level are day-to-day functions of State agencies. The Government is taking a number of steps to support the agencies in pursuing the objective of ensuring as wide as possible a spread of tourism business throughout the country. During 2008...

Tourism Industry. (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: It is not that Fáilte Ireland decided not to promote it. It will continue to be promoted. However, Fáilte Ireland will not administer it and will let the self-catering industry develop its own strategies. With regard to regional tourism, in 2006 70% of total tourism revenue was spent in regions outside of Dublin, which is a significant figure.

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 134 together. The publication of the report of the Arts and Education Committee is a matter for the Arts Council, as the Committee's remit was to advise the Council on how best to align the Council's strategies for the promotion and encouragement of the arts with the priorities of the formal education system. Since the Arts Council presented me with a...

Written Answers — National Museum: National Museum (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 135 together. As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 35067/07 on the 18th December 2007, the Natural History Museum is a particularly popular institution with the public and I am anxious that they would not be deprived of the opportunity to view its exhibits for the duration of the period necessary for its repair and redevelopment, if at...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: The Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action, was published in September 2003. It set out a 10 year Strategy for the tourism sector and laid down ambitious targets for the industry namely, 10 million visitors per annum and €6 billion in foreign revenue earnings by 2012. Following publication of the New Horizons Report, a high-level...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: A Value for Money and Policy Review Report of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme has been completed by my Department. The Report examined, 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 Report, it is my intention to launch a new...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 338 and 339 together. Following the announcement of the Government's decentralisation programme in the 2004 Budget, my Department, which has a staff of 131 excluding the National Archives, was designated an "early mover" by the Decentralisation Implementation Group. (DIG). To date, 70 staff have relocated to temporary accommodation in Fossa, Killarney,...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The 2008 Sports Capital Programme was advertised on 13th & 14th of January last and the closing date for receipt of applications is...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, €184m has been allocated for the provision of public swimming pools under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme. In 2008, the Subhead provision for this programme is €20m. A Value for Money and Policy Review Report of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme has been completed by my Department. The Report examined, among other...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: As I have previously informed the House, the nationwide audit of sports facilities has commenced and is being carried out in stages to help speed up the availability of information. Phase One, which focuses on national and regional sports facilities, has now been completed within my Department. A database of sports facilities of national and regional significance has been compiled including...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: I have no function in relation to issuing instructions to An Taisce, which is an independent non-governmental body. I understand that The Heritage Council and Fáilte Ireland have jointly commissioned a desk-based study to assess the impact of climate change on marine heritage and inland waterways, and the implications of these impacts for tourism. The project is currently underway and is...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (12 Feb 2008)

Séamus Brennan: The Department of Education and Science is represented on the inter-agency steering group which has been established by my Department to oversee the development of a National Sports Facility Strategy. The aim of the strategy is to provide high-level policy direction for future investment at national, regional and local level. The work of this group has included discussions with the...