Results 881-900 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (2 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Three members of staff are employed in my press office. The breakdown is as follows: one higher executive officer; one executive officer; and one clerical officer. All are paid at the appropriate Civil Service rates.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I am not aware of the company in question having sought funding from my Department. As my Department does not directly disburse tourism grants to individual enterprises, neither the company in question nor any other tourism enterprise would be able to obtain funding from my Department. Tourism Ireland, likewise, does not operate a grants support scheme. As a public agency, it works with trade...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: In the context of giving effect to the Government's decision to decentralise my Department to Killarney, a decentralisation implementation plan has been prepared. The main risks identified in the plan relate to the loss of expertise and corporate knowledge owing to the high turnover of staff. The provision of appropriate and timely training for new staff will be key in addressing the issue....

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: My Department has been selected to transfer to Killarney. My Department does not have any offices on the north side of Dublin.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (3 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The national lottery-funded sports capital programme 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. In order for an organisation to be eligible for funding, it must submit an application within the application period in any given year. I am...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: It has been my Department's policy since its establishment in mid-2002 to facilitate the public and staff who wish to use the Irish language. Even prior to the enactment of the Official Languages Act 2003, my Department has made every effort to make all key publications and leaflets available in both Irish and English and the Department's stationery is in bilingual form. It is also general...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply to Question No. 638 of 28 September 2005, I approved the detailed contract documents, submitted by Kildare County Council, for the Naas swimming pool project in March 2005. Following this approval, Kildare County Council indicated to my Department that it proposed to change the site for the project. My Department understands that the council will...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (8 Nov 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. All applications received under the programme are assessed on an individual basis by officials in the sports unit of my Department in...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The Department's audit committee has five members, three external members and two internal members. The committee, which is chaired by Mr. Sean Dorgan, chief executive of the IDA, met on three occasions in the past 12 months. The agenda for each meeting of the committee is dictated by the committee's terms of reference and usually consists of an examination of audit reports completed, an...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The main costs of the decentralisation of my Department will be those relating to the acquisition of the site in Killarney and the construction of the new building. These costs will be borne and monitored by the OPW. I understand that such costs are likely to be offset by the disposal of property in Dublin. My Department has an ongoing training programme for all staff for which a budget is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The mandate being operated by the audit committee of my Department includes the consideration of how risk management is integrated into the Department's business process. My Department's decentralisation implementation plan includes an associated risk analysis. As the plan is being refined and updated on an ongoing basis, the audit committee has not considered it to date. However, it is...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: Monaghan County Council applied for funding under the local authority swimming pool programme to replace the existing swimming pool in Monaghan town. I approved the tender documentation and grant aid of €3.8 million for the pool in January 2005. I understand that construction work is ongoing and is due to be completed mid-2006.

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The Irish Film Board is funded by my Department and operates independently. It is responsible for the day-to-day promoting of the Irish film sector. The amounts made available to the board over the past four years were as follows: 2002 —€12.265 million; 2003 —€10.768 million; 2004 —€11.846 million; and 2005 —€14.45 million. The other major strand of State support for film is...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: All appointments made by me to State boards under the aegis of my Department are made on the basis of the relevant competencies, knowledge and experience each appointee can bring to the board. Since the establishment of my Department in June 2002 I have not, to my knowledge, appointed any persons with disabilities.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: There were no contracts that over-ran financially as a result of jobs being incorrectly specified since the establishment of my Department in June 2002.

Seanad: Swimming Pool Projects. (9 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I thank Senator Feighan for raising this matter and providing me with an opportunity to outline the current position regarding both the local authority swimming pool programme and the Ballaghaderreen swimming pool project under the programme. Under the local authority swimming pool programme, there are four principal stages in a swimming pool project. These, in order of progress, are...

Seanad: Refugee Status. (9 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: I thank Senator Tuffy for raising the matter. The person referred to in the matter is a woman born in the Democratic Republic of Congo who arrived in the State on 6 January 2003 and claimed asylum. Her claim for refugee status was examined by two independent statutory offices established to consider applications for refugee status and make recommendations to the Minister for Justice, Equality...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Funding: Sports Capital Funding (10 Nov 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 and I...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (15 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: The sports and recreational facilities sub-measure falls under the local infrastructure priority of the regional operational programmes of the National Development Plan 2000-2006. It was planned that funding would be provided under the sub-measure by this Department to local authorities and voluntary and community organisations to assist towards the provision or upgrading of multi-purpose...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (15 Nov 2005)

John O'Donoghue: My Department is not currently opposing any proposals at European Council.