Results 661-680 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Sports Facilities Audit: Sports Facilities Audit (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 41 together. The agreed programme for Government contains a commitment 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. I wish to advise the Deputies that an inter-agency steering group has been established to oversee the...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (16 Jun 2005)

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 throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Applications for funding under the 2005 programme were invited through advertisements in the press on 5 and 6 December 2004. The...

Written Answers — National Aquatic Centre: National Aquatic Centre (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 38 and 103 together. The National Aquatic Centre has been fully reinstated following completion of the repairs arising from the storm damage on 1 January. The centre was reopened to the public by the operators on 20 May. The findings of the independent report prepared by Kavanagh Mansfield and Partners have been taken into consideration by the contractors...

Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 43 together. Tenders from two consortia for the provision of a national conference centre were received by the Office of Public Works on 20 May 2005, the deadline for the receipt of tenders. These are currently undergoing detailed assessment and evaluation and the selection of a provisional preferred tenderer is now scheduled for later in the summer,...

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: My Department's allocation to the Arts Council in 2005 totalled €61milion, an increase of 11.9% on the 2004 figure. This builds on the increase of over 23.5% provided in 2004 over 2003, and demonstrates in the most tangible way possible the seriousness of the Government's commitment to the arts.

Written Answers — Abbey Theatre: Abbey Theatre (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The governance arrangements for the Abbey Theatre require revision and updating in order to equip the theatre for the very demanding environment in which it must operate. Although I have not yet finalised my consideration of issues arising in connection with future governance structures at the Abbey Theatre, including the need for enhanced accountability for the use of public funds, I am not...

Written Answers — Stadium Development: Stadium Development (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: As the Deputy is aware, the Government has agreed to provide €191 million towards the cost of redeveloping the stadium at Lansdowne Road, a project that has been estimated to cost €292 million in total. A special purpose vehicle, the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company, LRSDC, has been established by the IRFU and the FAI to carry out the development project. The project is overseen...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: My Department administers two capital grants schemes towards the provision of community sports facilities. Under the sports capital programme, funding is allocated to organisations and clubs to assist them in the provision of sports facilities, while under the local authority swimming pool programme, grants are available to local authorities towards the cost of building and refurbishing...

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The Arts Council operates independently of my Department on a day to day basis and is free to comment as it sees fit on any issues arising in the course of its dealings with arts organisations or venues. The question of an input from the Minister of the day does not arise in this kind of context. The Arts Council's consultation draft strategy has been made available to my officials for...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Under the local authority swimming pool programme administered by my Department, there are four principal stages in the grants process. These are feasibility study, preliminary report, contract documents and tender approval followed by construction. Specific ministerial approval is required before a project can move from one stage to the next. The original proposal submitted to the Department...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The local authority swimming pool programme administered by my Department is designed to make grant aid available to local authorities for the building or refurbishment of public swimming pools. In either case, the programme provides for a maximum grant level of 80% of eligible costs or 90% in the case of disadvantaged areas subject to a maximum of €3.8 million. There are no plans at...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The funding voted for my Department under Vote 35, together with the surplus surrendered to the Department of Finance for each of the years from 1997 to 2004, are outlined in the following table: Year Estimate (Vote 35) Surplus surrendered 1997 IR£89,324,000 IR£11,904,332 1998 IR£103,897,000 IR£5,726,309 1999 IR£144,939,000 ...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The position with regard to the proposed swimming pool in Naas is that in March 2005, I approved the contract documents, submitted by Kildare County Council, for the project. This approval allows the council to invite tenders for the work proposed. The project will be considered further when this tender documentation is received.

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 102 together. My Department's ACCESS scheme has, since 2001, provided funding of €45.7 million for the development of facilities around the country, including museums, theatres, and multi-purpose arts centres. My Department is currently examining a successor to ACCESS, and I hope to make a decision in that regard in due course. Applications for any...

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: My Department supports the film industry in Ireland at a number of levels. The Irish Film Board, an independent statutory agency under my Department's aegis, provides a broad range of supports for all stages of the industry, from up-and-coming producers to more well-established players operating at the international level. The board is also responsible for overseas marketing of Ireland as a...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sport clubs and to sporting and voluntary and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. Between 1998 and 2004, €331.55 million was allocated under the programme to 4,273 projects throughout Ireland. The programme is advertised on an...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 108 together. I refer the Deputy to my oral reply to Parliamentary Question No. 6 on today's Order Paper.

Written Answers — Cultural Events: Cultural Events (16 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: My Department supported the "ReJoyce — Dublin 2004" festival, which took place between April 2004 and August 2004. I established the Bloomsday centenary co-ordinating committee early in 2003, on which my Department was represented, with a view to co-ordinating and augmenting the many events planned to celebrate the centenary of the day on which the events in Ulysses took place. The festival...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The Garda Síochána has served this country exceptionally well since the foundation of the State and the majority of members, including those based in Donegal, have done so in a professional way and with the greatest of integrity. This State owes a great deal to the Garda Síochána which has stood as a bulwark of democracy, often in the most difficult of circumstances. Members of the Garda...

Morris Tribunal: Statements. (17 Jun 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The general issue of Garda misconduct in Donegal continued to be raised in the Dáil and elsewhere during the latter half of 2000 and in the first half of 2001. I was concerned that the matter had yet to be resolved and that public confidence was being affected. However, there remained the concern that an inquiry might prejudice criminal proceedings. In May 2001, I wrote to the then Attorney...