Results 521-540 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

National Conference Centre. (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Deputy Deenihan will be aware that this is a public private partnership project and it would not be possible for me to give him figures. Any figures which I could supply would be commercially sensitive. The tendering process will not be completed until 20 May. The Department must then select the provisional preferred tenderer. The question of the awarding of the contract must be put before...

National Conference Centre. (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I hope the process will be completed so that progress can be made. Everything that could have been done has been done.

National Conference Centre. (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: All these issues will arise at the drafting stage of the contract. Great care must be taken to ensure public funds are spent in the most productive manner possible and taxpayers' risk is minimised to the greatest possible extent. I do not agree with Deputy Gogarty's point regarding the squandering of money. The Government has moved as expeditiously as possible on this project and has moved on...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 82 and 111 together. The year 2004 saw a record number of visitors to our shores, with overseas visitor numbers up over 3%. Numbers were up but revenue growth was soft, resulting in increased pressure on yields for tourism operators. The international tourism marketplace is challenging and is likely to become even more so. If we are to secure future...

Written Answers — Athens Olympics Review: Athens Olympics Review (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 76 together. In July 2004, the Irish Sports Council in conjunction with the Olympic Council of Ireland and the Paralympic Council of Ireland commissioned the Athens review to produce an objective assessment of the preparation and performance of the Irish teams at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Athens 2004. The review was to identify the strengths...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 73 and 100 together. The Government has committed under An Agreed Programme for Government to complete a national audit of local sports facilities and to put in place a long-term strategic plan to ensure the development of such necessary facilities throughout the country. Since 1997, €331 million has been allocated by my Department under the sports...

Written Answers — Croke Park: Croke Park (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: On 16 April, GAA Congress took a decision to give the power to central council to authorise the renting or leasing of Croke Park for events other than those controlled by the association during a period when Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped. I was very happy to attend the congress to congratulate the GAA at first hand on making such a positive decision.

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The ACCESS scheme, which commenced in 2001, provided grants of €45.71 million for the development of 44 arts and cultural facilities around the country. This scheme, which provided funding for theatres, museums, and multi-purpose arts centres, has transformed the level of access to arts and cultural activities for a great many people in all parts of the State. Since assuming responsibility...

Written Answers — Abbey Theatre: Abbey Theatre (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 74 and 75 together. As I have previously informed the House on a number of occasions, I was authorised by Government to invite expressions of interest by way of public invitation from the private sector in participating, on the basis of a PPP, in the capital redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre in and-or around the vicinity of the site of the existing...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The expenditure review of the local authority swimming pool programme which is being carried out by my Department is expected to be completed later this year. The review is examining issues such as how the programme has worked to date, the benefits which have accrued to the areas where pools have been built and what amendments, if any, are required to ensure the effective and efficient...

Written Answers — Horse Racing Ireland: Horse Racing Ireland (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Horse Racing Ireland, HRI, was established as the statutory body with responsibility for the horseracing industry under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. HRI provides annual funding to the Turf Club which is the independent body responsible for enforcing the rules of racing and maintaining the integrity of the sport. The incident at Cork represents an isolated case out of close to...

Written Answers — Ticket Touting: Ticket Touting (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: While my Department has no statutory or regulatory responsibility in the area of ticket touting and ticket forgery, the three main national governing bodies of sport, the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI, were consulted by departmental officials on the issue some time ago. These consultations revealed a strong commitment on the part of the governing bodies to the elimination of ticket touting in...

Written Answers — National Aquatic Centre: National Aquatic Centre (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 85, 97 and 105 together. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited has advised me that based on confirmation which its structural engineers have received from the contractors, Rohcon Limited, that the repairs to the national aquatic centre are expected to be completed by 20 May 2005, save for the neon lighting, where there is a seven-week delivery...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 112 together. I have received a copy of the Reeks Action plan and am aware of the significant work invested in it by Beaufort Community Council to address a number of issues surrounding the route to Carrauntoohil. While neither I nor my Department directly administer any schemes to support such projects, I did refer the matter to Fáilte Ireland for its...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I am aware that the IRFU and the FAI have considered a number of contingency options for rugby and soccer matches during the period when the existing pitch at Lansdowne Road stadium will be unavailable due to the redevelopment work. It is a matter for these autonomous sporting bodies to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that their match commitments are met.

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to the text of my reply to a similar question on this matter, Question No. 24 dated 22 March 2005. In keeping with the commitment in the programme for Government to encourage special interest tourism, Fáilte Ireland will in 2005 spend more than €6 million on promoting special interest tourism. I understand that this funding is being made available primarily to promote...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 114 together. I am pleased to confirm that I recently received the second report of the independent group which I established in January 2004 to oversee progress on the implementation of the strategy set out in the report of the tourism policy review group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action. The second progress report was published on...

Written Answers — Sports Stadium: Sports Stadium (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 94 and 98 together. On 25 April I announced the awarding by the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company of the design and project management contracts for the stadium, moving the development plan for the new Lansdowne Road stadium to a new phase. The contracts have been awarded following tender competitions, advertised internationally through the EU...

Written Answers — National Stadium: National Stadium (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my response to Priority Questions Nos. 62 and 63 of today.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (10 May 2005)

John O'Donoghue: As I indicated previously, capital grants totalling €2.57 million were allocated in respect of the Shamrock Rovers stadium in Tallaght, under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department. A total of €2.44 million of this amount has been paid out to Slonepark Limited, the Shamrock Rovers stadium development company, in respect of works certified by invoices to the...