Results 9,321-9,340 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Yes, it is presented now under its own heading, the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund. I listened to the debate on agriculture but the synergies being developed in the tourism sector are having a considerable effect. A tourism package was created last year by the greyhound industry which flew in several thousand people from France. It organised a specific dog weekend aimed at the French...

Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund Regulations 2009: Motion (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Regarding our international show jumpers there is an anomaly with regard to what Irish horses are bred for. I attended the Olympic Games at which the gold and bronze medal winners were Irish bred. Two or three of the team horses were Irish bred. I was astonished at the amount of Irish bred horses. It has come to my attention - it is pretty bizarre - that there is an issue regarding what...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (9 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: It is not intended to launch a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme at this time. The matter will be reviewed again later this year.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Following the decision to establish an interdepartmental group to examine options for the future development of Spike Island as a tourism project, the group met for the first time on 21 September 2007 in the offices of the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism in Dublin. Following that meeting, it was agreed that the various bodies represented on the group would provide a synopsis of their...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Supplementary Budget for 2009 was necessary to bring stability to the public finances, restore economic activity and enhance Ireland's competitiveness. In this regard, it is critical to manage the immediate economic difficulties so that Ireland is well positioned to take full advantage of the international economic recovery when it arrives. Expenditure in relation to arts, culture and...

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: I presume the Deputy is referring to the report of an official review of the operation of the 30-year rule in the United Kingdom, which recently recommended that the relevant timeframe be reduced to 15 years. The UK recommendation is that this be done two years at a time over a period of 15 years starting in 2010 and running until 2024. The British Government is considering this...

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Under the National Archives Act 1986, the general rule is that all Departmental records which are more than 30 years old must be transferred to the National Archives and made available for inspection by the public. Particular records may be retained by Departments and/or be withheld from public inspection only if they are covered by certificates stating either that they are in regular use in...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Following meetings between Galway County Council, the Office of the Chief State Solicitor and my Department, advice has been received from the Office of the Attorney General on issues that were pertinent to the contractual arrangements reached between Galway County Council and a private developer in relation to the project. This advice has been conveyed to Galway County Council, which has...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 512 and 513 together. In April 2007, some €32.4 million was allocated to 67 projects under the ACCESS II arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme. In May 2008, the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism allocated funding of a further €10.2 million to 13 additional projects which had been placed on the reserve list for funding by the independent...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, has a statutory role in encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive and recreational sport. The provision of funding to national sports governing bodies is the responsibility of the council and is based on the council's criteria. The national governing bodies, in turn, provide funding to the relevant...

Written Answers — Irish Horseracing Industry: Irish Horseracing Industry (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 to support the horse and greyhound racing industries. Some €68.128 million has been allocated to the fund for 2009. In accordance with the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001, 80% and 20% of the moneys paid into the fund each year are distributed between Horse Racing Ireland and Bord na gCon...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The number of uncertified sick days taken by staff in the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism for the years 2007 and 2008 and to the end of March 2009 is as follows: Year Number of Uncertified Sick Days No of staff on sick leave in category 1 to 10 days and (over 10 days) Number of days uncertified sick leave Monday (Friday) 2007 207 78 (0) 36 (19) 2008 229 83 (1) 42 (19) 2009...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: My Department currently has eight operational credit cards. The credit limit ranges from €5,000 to €10,000 with the following breakdown: One card at €5,000; four cards at €6,350, two cards at €7,000; and one card at €10,000. The following are the costs incurred on these cards over the 5 year period from 2004 to date in 2009, Year Amount 2004 11,441.94 2005 11,112.45 2006...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (23 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, the Disability Act 2005 prescribes that each relevant public body, including the Department, shall ensure, unless there is good reason to the contrary for not doing so, that not less than 3 per cent of the persons employed by it are persons with disabilities. The total number of persons employed by the Department was 4.3 per cent in 2007 (the most recent year for...

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The supplementary budget for 2009 was a necessary measure to bring stability to the public finances, to restore economic activity and to enhance Ireland's competitiveness. It is critical that we manage the immediate economic difficulties in order that Ireland is well positioned to take full advantage of the international recovery when it arrives. This has meant that certain measures have...

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: I would not necessarily agree with all of what the Deputy has said. Under the swimming pool programme, as I said, 57 projects were approved in the first round, and this round is still being completed, while 43 projects have been finished.

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: It is some achievement in terms of volume. We have gone from having no swimming pools in some communities to having 43 around the country, which will make an enormous difference.

Departmental Expenditure. (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: The reduction takes account of the reallocation of the budget. Those projects that we expect will require funding this year under the swimming pool programme will get it. Some are delayed for various reasons to do with the local authorities themselves. Our best estimate is that the money I have provided in the portfolio is more than enough to meet the requirements for this year. On the...

Departmental Agencies. (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: Both the Irish Sports Council and the Olympic Council of Ireland conducted reviews of the performance of Team Ireland at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The commissioning of these reviews is a matter for both organisations in the context of their roles in supporting Irish elite athletes. The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, has statutory responsibility for encouraging...

Departmental Agencies. (28 Apr 2009)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy.