Results 8,381-8,400 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The amount of funding available for spending on sport in 2008 is €336 million which demonstrates a clear and substantial commitment to investment in sport by this Government. In 2008 my Department has allocated €57.631 million to the Irish Sports Council, an increase since the last Olympic year of €26.9 million, or 87%. One of the ISC's primary functions is to encourage the promotion,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The funding of the Irish Sports Council and the Arts Council, as with all Departments and State agencies, is a matter for consideration under the annual Budget and Estimates process. Under this process, the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society. My Department, like all other Departments, is provided with its annual expenditure budget through...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy will be aware that the Report in question contained a number of recommendations. While some of these recommendations were relevant to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (and Agencies under the Department's remit), there were a number of recommendations which come under the remit of other Government Departments, including the Department of Education and Science. The Irish...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I understand that a levy of €1 per bed per night is among a number of measures considered by Dublin City Council to raise revenue in the context of a submission to the Commission on Taxation and that this has been included in the Council's proposals to the Commission on Taxation, which falls under the aegis of the Minister for Finance. The tourism industry, including hotels, already...

Written Answers — National Museum: National Museum (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 104 together. Since the National Museum of Ireland became an autonomous statutory body under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 on 3rd May 2005, the Board of the National Museum is statutorily responsible for operational matters concerning its collection and I, as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, do not have a statutory function in...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Funding for the Arts Council has increased by over 72% from €47.67 million in 2002 to €82.102 million in 2008. These are significant amounts of taxpayers' money in any context and have transformed the arts sector, increasing access to and participation in the arts for all our citizens. The Government's commitment to the arts is evidenced by these substantial increases in funding. This...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: 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. The Sports Capital Programme is the primary vehicle for the development of sports facilities across the country. The aim of the Programme is to maximise participation in sport through the...

Written Answers — Arts Promotion: Arts Promotion (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: It is my belief that the arts are critical to the well-being of society, enhancing the life of local communities, and giving artistic expression to place and identity. Much work has been done to develop the arts at a local level, not necessarily based on the Local Sports Partnerships, which are a specific model of practice. The Arts Council, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, which is funded by the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Two of the three Assistant Secretaries serving in the Department have agreed to serve in Killarney in due course under the Government's programme of decentralisation.

Written Answers — Cultural Institutions: Cultural Institutions (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Consideration is not currently being given to a proposal to create a museum quarter on a green field site as referred to by the Deputy. The national cultural institutions currently occupy buildings and locations, which are of great aesthetic, historical and cultural significance. The State has invested considerably in the development of these locations and is continuing to do so. The...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: In the Arts and Culture Plan 2008 the Department has indicated that it aims to undertake a programme to encourage philanthropic support of the arts, and the Arts Council, funded by the Department, has completed a position paper on the subject. This paper is currently under active internal discussion and once this has been completed it is intended to develop a more precise strategy in...

Written Answers — Sport Facilities Audit: Sport Facilities Audit (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: 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. Phase two of the audit, which is a more complex undertaking to establish a record of existing sports facilities at local level and...

Written Answers — Arts Schemes: Arts Schemes (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: While responsibility for any system to promote internships would come within the remit of the Boards and management of the individual Institutions, I will bring the Deputy's interest in this matter to their attention.

Written Answers — National Stadium: National Stadium (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 300 together. The Government has provided an amount of €149m in the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 for the development of a National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. In November 2005 the Government approved the commencement of Phase One of the development of the National Sports Campus on the basis of a Development Control Plan prepared by...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: 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 are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery in the future. The recommendations in the report will be used to assist in formulating future policy in this...

Written Answers — Arts Promotion: Arts Promotion (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Department supports the provision of new arts facilities around the country through the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS). The ACCESS scheme is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved participation in the arts for large numbers of people, including community groups, nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, 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 Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical...

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: In November 2007, the National Archives of Ireland launched the on-line version of the 1901 & 1911 National Census. Access to this service is available free of charge and has proven to be very popular already with up to 17 million hits on the web site in its first month of operation. In relation to the availability of the pre-1900 Church Birth, Marriage and Death records, in 2006 an Advisory...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: In 2007, funding of almost €2 million was allocated from the dormant accounts fund through my Department for projects to increase participation in sports and recreation in disadvantaged areas. In total 781 worthwhile projects throughout the country, including a number of GAA clubs, are benefiting from grants ranging from €500 to €10,000. A variety of sporting and recreation activities...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I am informed that Fáilte Ireland have launched an innovation fund which offers assistance towards the production of feasibility studies for innovative tourism products. Details of the scheme can be found on the Fáilte Ireland website www.failteireland.ie. This fund complements a range of other product development schemes which have been launched over the past year to support tourism...