Results 8,641-8,660 of 9,844 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Leas-Cheann Chomhairle. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague in the Department of Education, the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, who is not available. I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position in respect of the accommodation needs of Ratoath Junior National School, in...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The situation is that there was much discussion about this issue, with parents being on to all of us last year. I was engaging with the board of management at that time, and with Department officials as well. On 2 September 2022, an agreement was completed regarding this project happening. The school was then told to go about doing it. It did that and appointed a design team to do the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Senator Currie for raising the matter. It is vital that every child and young person with special educational needs be fully supported in the education sector, whether in mainstream, a special class or a special school. Significant investment and reforms have been made to ensure this is the case. A priority for the Government is to ensure that all children have an appropriate...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I will ensure the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, is made aware of the specific points the Senator raised. She has visited a large number of special schools and special classes since she took office and has seen the excellent work done for and with students. I have no doubt she would be more than happy to visit the Senator's area and the school in question. There are challenges and the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I absolutely agree with the Deputy that it would be wonderful to see Katie Taylor in Croke Park. To that end, my very first meeting with anyone from outside the Department was with Katie Taylor's manager, Brian Peters, in the early part of January. It was explained to us that there was a funding gap between what the promoters were prepared to pay for the fight and what the fight would...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Schemes (2 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy raised the issue of support schemes and compensation measures to help businesses and individuals that are dependent on seasonal tourism, which could be adversely affected by the reduction in capacity available this season due to hotels and other tourism accommodation being used to house international asylum seekers and Ukrainian people fleeing war. I thank her for relaying the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Schemes (2 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising the issue. I thank her and her colleagues for their relentless advocacy of tourism and business in Sligo and for the constructive approach they have taken on this. I am fully aware of the beautiful tourist sites in Sligo. Deputy Harkin mentioned Rosses Point in particular but she is right to say there are many others, including Knocknarea, Lough Gara and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: There are a number of existing policies which refer to the importance of physical literacy and physical literacy development.  These include the Get Ireland Active National Physical Activity Plan, The Wellbeing Statement and Framework for practice, National Sports Policy 2018 – 2027, as well as the Department of Education funded Move Well Move Often Physical Literacy...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sport and Recreational Development (9 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply regarding programmes in 2022 to support children and young people to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Sports Capital and Equipment Programme (SCEP) is the primary vehicle for Government support for the development of sports and recreation facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment throughout the country. Over 13,000 projects have now benefited from sports capital funding since 1998, bringing the total allocations in that time to over €1.15 billion. The Programme...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Tá áthas orm an deis seo a thapú chun labhairt le comhaltaí an choiste den chéad uair mar Aire Stáit don spórt agus don chorpoideachas inniu agus tá mé ag súil le plé leis an gcoiste sa tréimhse atá romhainn. Gabhaim buíochas leo as an bhfáilte a chur siad romham. Inniu, ba mhaith liom nuashonrú gairid a...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: It is exactly as the Minister outlined in terms of the entire Department. First, the 2022 budget was cast at a time when Covid was still a thing; in fact, it is still a thing but I mean when it impacted on activities, keeping clubs open and so on. The 2022 budget had funding to support sectors through the worst of the pandemic. If we look at the sports budget, diving deep into the figures,...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: It is the intention to open a new scheme. We are finalising the review of the sports capital programme. I came in at Christmas and have been looking at the document. The sports capital programme is popular and many of my constituents are asking me the same question the Deputy has asked. The total allocation under that programme has been €1.15 billion since it was founded in 1998....

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: This is important work. We as a country have consistently demonstrated our ambition to attract major international sports events that make a positive return to the economy, to tourism and to participation in those sports. Bidding is under way to host the Euro 2028 football championships jointly with the United Kingdom nations and Northern Ireland. The Minister has mentioned the US college...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Yes, I think so.

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: There is. In the Department’s offices in Killarney there is a specific unit under a principal officer dedicated to these issues. It is very busy at the moment. There is much work going on, for example, on Euro 2028.

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I am keen to have a regional focus as well. We see that with the Ryder Cup but there are other opportunities as well. It will not all be in Dublin. Dublin has obvious advantages in terms of the stadiums there but there is room for regional focus, as well as a focus on wider participation in sports and reaching our targets of having 60% of the population physically active or participating....

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I was not involved in previous bids but even the process of bidding requires much work involving various bodies. It is not just the Department, but also Tourism Ireland. It could involve the Garda, local authorities or the National Transport Authority. It is a multi-agency approach and the questions you get asked when bidding for these events encompass all those things. How do people get...

Select Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport And Media: Estimates for Public Services 2023
Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media (Revised) (8 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The funding that goes to the national governing bodies will be announced next Tuesday. A large part of that money will go to the various national governing bodies. It is very important-----