Results 901-920 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: My Department has not sought or achieved exemption from any EU directives or regulations since its establishment in June 2002.
- Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: My Department has not sought any exemptions from any EU directives or regulations since its establishment in June 2002.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: My Department's arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, ACCESS, provides capital funding for arts and culture projects throughout the country. All the funds under this scheme are fully allocated at present. My Department is currently examining a successor to ACCESS and I hope to make a decision in that regard in due course. The national lottery funded sports capital programme,...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The wide range of functions associated with my ministerial office and the fact that my constituency is some distance from Dáil Ãireann and my departmental headquarters in Dublin, requires me to operate within very tight time pressures. In the course of my duties I have numerous official engagements that require my punctual attendance in varied locations around the country, many of which are...
- Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (15 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The national spatial strategy is a 20 year strategy designed to enable every place in the country to reach its potential, no matter what its size or location. It recognises that not all regions of the country have the same role and seeks to organise and co-ordinate the different roles in a complementary way. The strategy is supported by regional planning guidelines, integrated planning...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The policy with regard to the 3% target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Finance. As at 30 June 2005, 4% of the staff employed in my Department were classified as having a disability. The definition of a person with a disability for the purposes of the 3% target is the positive action definition set out...
- Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (15 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Since its establishment, the North-South unit in my Department has been actively pursuing opportunities to facilitate, strengthen and enhance North-South co-operation across the three sectors under my remit as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The unit also monitors progress on specific initiatives or priority actions in relation to North-South co-operation in the sectors in question. In...
- Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (16 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Since taking office in 2002, I have consistently and effectively made the case, in the context of annual Estimates discussions, for increased funding for the arts. The results are clearly in evidence. Funding for the Arts Council has increased by a total of 28% from â¬47.67 million in 2002, to â¬61 million in 2005. This built on earlier increases of about 80% between 1997 and 2002. I must,...
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (16 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The Government has provided capital funding towards the provision and development of a wide range of sports facilities and stadia at national, regional and local level. The capital cost of the National Aquatic Centre was â¬71 million; the GAA received â¬109.84 million towards the costs of the redevelopment of Croke Park; while the redevelopment project at Lansdowne Road Stadium, being...
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (16 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The detailed design for the provision of a new stadium at Lansdowne Road has been costed at â¬365 million, including VAT, of which â¬191 million is being provided by the State. The Government is committed to providing a maximum of â¬191 million towards the project and this position has been reiterated and is accepted and understood by both the Irish Rugby Football Union and the Football...
- Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Government decided in 2004 to proceed, as financial resources permit, with the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited undertook an in-depth preparatory process, which included engaging with the major governing bodies of sport and stakeholders, and drew up proposals for...
- Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Today's Estimates relate only to current expenditure. It is anticipated that capital projects will be announced later. Some work needs to be done on the Abbotstown campus proposal. We would have to enter into arrangements for funding over four years for phase 1 of the programme. It will be decided in the current discussions with the Minister for Finance on the capital provision for the...
- Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: All else being equal, phase 1 will proceed and will involve a four-year period, but it may be a five-year cycle. The plan for phase 1 would provide pitches and ancillary facilities catering for the three major field games, rugby, soccer and Gaelic games. It would also include an indoor sports centre to cater for a range of indoor sports with spectator accommodation, as well as shared core...
- Sports Capital Programme. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: To answer the Deputy's last question, there is no provision in the first phase of the proposed Abbotstown project for aninstitute of sport. The Irish Sports Council is compiling a proposal for an institute of sport for presentation to Government. That proposal is at an advanced stage and I expect to receive it soon. With regard to the construction of regional facilities across the country,...
- State Airports. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I take this opportunity to congratulate again my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, on the agreement he concluded with the US authorities last week in the context of the current EU-US negotiations on open skies. This is great news for, and has been generally welcomed by, the Irish tourism industry, which will be a huge winner when the anticipated new and additional gateways...
- State Airports. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: We have all heard these dire warnings for some time. They are not representative of the general air of optimism for the future that is more evident in the Shannon region, especially in terms of maximising the potential of Shannon Airport. The airport has already this year reported a 36% growth in traffic and stated it is on target to deliver an additional 1 million passengers this year. The...
- Sports Stadium. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: As I advised the House previously, in January 2004 the Government agreed to provide funding to the joint IRFU and FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium. The facility will be a 50,000 all-seated stadium to be built on the grounds of the existing stadium at Lansdowne Road and will meet all the current international standards for rugby and soccer. The Lansdowne Road stadium...
- Sports Stadium. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The IRFU has met with the residents of the areas around Lansdowne Road a number of times, who are well aware of the development proposals. A consultative forum with an independent chairman, Mr. Dermot Egan, has been established through Dublin City Council to act as a channel through which the residents' anxieties and fears can be made known, dealt with and resolved where possible. In order to...
- Sports Stadium. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: A planning application will hopefully be lodged by the end of the year and we will deal with the matter from there.
- Performing Arts. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: When the relocation of UCD from Earlsfort Terrace to Belfield began in the 1950s, the expectation was that the site and premises at Earlsfort Terrace would transfer to the State as progress with the development of Belfield enabled Earlsfort Terrace to be vacated. Against this background, Government decisions in 1974 and 1981 to convert a portion of the building for use as a National Concert...