Results 9,501-9,520 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

National Theatre. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I would not agree with the Deputy. The project will get off the blocks. It is a PPP project and there is commitment to it. The Deputy may be aware that there have been enormous technical problems with regard to the site and issues have arisen with regard to the type, shape, style and engineering of the building on the site that has been offered. There has been constant reconfiguration and...

National Theatre. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: It will be a build, finance and maintain project.

National Theatre. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: To give an honest assessment, it will probably be a four-year project.

National Theatre. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: Yes. I hope that will be possible. From the project's point of view that is a good thing because it gives it an excellent chance of actually proceeding.

National Theatre. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: If it were to start tomorrow there might be pressure but because the project will not be completed for a few years it is to be hoped we will be well out of our economic difficulties by then.

National Theatre. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I assure the Deputy that is not the case. It has been more to do with technical problems.

Sports Capital Programme. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The sports capital programme, which is part-funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery and administered by my Department, is the primary vehicle for Government support for the provision of sports facilities and equipment. Since 1998, the Government has invested over €725 million in more than 7,400 separate sporting projects. This investment has transformed the Irish sporting...

Sports Capital Programme. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: An allocation of €56 million has been made to the sports capital programme this year, which is similar to the provision for last year. What is different this year is that a new applications round has not been opened up. However, some 800 projects have been approved for funding this year, representing a very substantial allocation for individual projects throughout the State. Like all...

Sports Capital Programme. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I can offer the Deputy all the hope he requires. These grants have not been done away with. We have not opened another applications round this year, but money is available to deal with the programmes that are already approved. I am confident that all the money allocated for this year will be drawn down in full, because the overhang is greater than the current allocation. Therefore, there...

Arts Funding. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: In the operation of capital grant schemes, it is the policy of my Department to seek a legal charge of 22 years' duration on any property in respect of which a capital grant or combined capital grants totalling €300,000 and over have been paid in respect of such premises. My Department holds a statutory declaration under the 1938 Act from the trustees of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann not...

Arts Funding. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: To clarify, all legal documentation must be submitted with a grant application, and that has been done. However, several of these projects are taking some time to process and that is being done by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. From the Department's point of view, all the legal requirements are in place. I understand the trustees of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann have signed a...

Arts Funding. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Department's responsibility is to ensure the grants are properly allocated and that the legal requirements necessary to protect taxpayers' money are in place. The information with which I have been supplied indicates that this has been done.

Arts Funding. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy regarding the significance of the contribution made by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann's. In light of current economic circumstances, all of the budget lines are being examined. This is not being done in a negative way but rather to ensure we are obtaining the best value for money in the context of how the resources available to the State are used by Comhaltas...

Arts Funding. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I will try to obtain the information for the Deputy.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 45 and 50 together. Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the horse and greyhound racing fund, which was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001. In 2004, the Government put in place regulations to increase the limit of the horse and greyhound racing fund from €254 million to €550 million to...

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: All of that money will still come in. The Deputy is referring to the 1%. There was an increase to 2% and then the clawback of the tax occurred. The truth is that I will not know the outcome until the end of the year. The shortfall will be made up by the Exchequer because my Department does not have funding available to meet it. We will be obliged to wait to see what will be the outcome....

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: My view is that it must be addressed. There has been an enormous growth in the level of offshore, telephone and Internet betting. I have just highlighted that the fundamental difficulty is many of the companies are not based in Ireland and as a taxing authority we do not have the ability to tax in another jurisdiction. That being said, other ways and means are being reviewed as to how we...

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The legislation has a specific ringfenced fund and that will be the intention - certainly mine - for the future. I do not know how the Deputy extrapolated from what I was saying, in a general sense, that the whole income of the industry will be halved this year. I did not suggest that at all. I do not know-----

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: The industry is feeling the effects of the economic downturn like everybody else.

Departmental Expenditure. (16 Jun 2009)

Martin Cullen: There should still be an income if matters go right, of at least €35 million to €40 million, which would leave a shortfall of somewhere in the region of €25 million or €26 million, but we do not know, as yet, what the outcome of that is going to be, and so I am waiting-----