Results 10,761-10,780 of 10,962 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Budget 2026 (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: While preparatory work on Budget 2026 has commenced in my Department, and formal consideration will be held with my senior officials over the course of the next number of weeks and months in this context, there are a number of factors to be considered before future priorities can be solidified. Not the least of these is the publication of the Summer Economic Statement, which typically...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2024, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applications. As a result of this significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage. Grants totalling €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects, were allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Arts Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: One of the core policies of my Department is to recognise and to enhance access to the arts, culture and audiovisual sectors in Ireland by promoting and encouraging artistic expression, cultural awareness and participation through an appropriate policy, legislative and resource framework. The Arts Council is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland and it...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: In light of the disruption to communication services experienced in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn my Department has been progressing a number of actions to ensure that the communication sector becomes more resilient to the effects of severe weather. Contact with the emergency services happens through the Emergency Call Answering System (ECAS). While it was reported that people were...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Programme), representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. For all regional capital applications, the scoring system was designed to, inter...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: In 2024, the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) received an unprecedented demand for funding, amounting to €665 million from 96 applications. As a result of this significant demand, a range of valid applications did not receive an LSSIF allocation at the initial allocation stage. Grants totalling €173 million, benefiting 35 individual projects, were allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious future for sport in Ireland where equality of access and opportunity is a key theme. Inclusion and diversity is an absolute priority for me in my role as Minister for Sport. Despite recent progress, there is an enduring participation gap between persons with either a long-term illness or a disability and those without such illness or...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Over a quarter of a billion euro was allocated to 3,048 community sports clubs and facilities in 2024 from the 2023 round of the Community Sport Facilities Fund (CSFF), benefitting over forty sports, as well as multi-sport facilities, throughout the country. This represents the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across Ireland. In line with previous rounds of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Census of Population (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Census 1926 returns, along with all censuses less than 100 years old, remain under the legal control of the Central Statistics Office. After 100 years, the census returns must be released for public inspection, in accordance with the Statistics Act, 1993. The National Archives is preparing the 1926 Census for public release in April 2026. My Department is providing funding for the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Organisations (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Equality, diversity and inclusion are a key focus for me in my role as Minister of State for Sport. The Programme for Government commits to supporting the sporting ecosystem so more people can participate, reap the benefits of sport, and fulfil their potential from grassroots right up to high performance level. This will be achieved through a range of measures including continuing to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Legislative Measures (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Regarding providers of mobile (phone) and broadband services, there already exists a significant amount of legislation concerning minimum standards of customer service. Part 5 of the Communications Regulation and [2023] Digital Hub Development Agency (Amendment) Act 2023 (the 2023 Act) strengthens consumer rules in the handling of complaints and the resolution of disputes, which aim to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Sport and physical activity are hugely important to our collective well-being and health, so it is in our national interest to promote increased participation in sport and activity at all levels, locally and nationally. Availability and ease of access to sports facilities, whether in a club setting, on public lands or in other amenity areas, is a key factor in drawing more people to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Facilities (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: A provisional grant of €918,750 was announced in January 2020 towards the overall design cost for the redevelopment of Dalymount Park under the first round of the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). This "stream 1" funding was for design costs only and, to date my Department has paid Dublin City Council Council €353,226 towards the design element of the project. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy sets out a vision to provide everyone in our country with an opportunity to swim. It includes an Action Plan containing over 50 actions across five thematic strands, focusing on providing improved facilities, increasing access for people with disabilities, improving the culture of inclusion, better coaching supports, increasing safety...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Culture Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As committed to in the Programme for Government I propose to examine the introduction of a youth Culture Card and its potential to enhance interest in the arts among young people. My Department has not yet commenced the formal engagement in the primary assessment of modalities, scope, and reach for a Youth Card scheme given other priorities in recent months. However, I am committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Programme for Government (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As committed to in the Programme for Government I propose to examine the introduction of a youth Culture Card and its potential to enhance interest in the arts among young people. My Department has not yet commenced the formal engagement in the primary assessment of modalities, scope, and reach for a Youth Card scheme given other priorities in recent months. However, I am committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Meetings (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Online safety is a Government priority, especially as it relates to children. Ensuring children do not see illegal, harmful or inappropriate content while being able to avail of all the benefits of the online world is vital for children’s development. It was in that context that I met with social media platforms over the course of last week. They updated me on the measures they are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Data (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: In December 2022, Ireland's Digital Connectivity Strategy was published which supports the ambition outlined in the National Digital Strategy and set out a number of targets including that all Irish households and businesses will be covered by a Gigabit network no later than 2028. The Programme for Government – Securing Ireland’s Future published in January 2025 sets a number...