Results 1,321-1,340 of 3,053 for speaker:Mary Upton

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (12 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 102: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will extend the universal services obligation to broadband; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10590/08]

Written Answers — Mining Industry: Mining Industry (12 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 141: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he is satisfied that sufficient funding is provided in 2008 to meet Government commitments in relation to the remediation works at Silvermines, County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10591/08]

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (12 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 228: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps her Department has taken to actively seek to ensure that every child at both primary and senior cycle is involved in sporting activity in view of the fact that a study published in 2007 (details supplied) has shown that social disadvantage begins to reduce participation in sport at primary school level; and if she will...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (12 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 265: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding his Department provides to the library service, specifically funding to support outreach programmes in isolated and disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10817/08]

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (12 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 266: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he is satisfied with the linkages that exist between his Department and local arts offices to which his Department indirectly provides most of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10818/08]

National Aquatic Centre. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the review of the first full years trading at the National Aquatic Centre is complete; when he expects the benchmarking exercise to be available; the reason given by the NAC for a decision to increase fees for a participation club (details supplied) by over 300%; his views on the unusual offer made to members for the club in lieu...

National Aquatic Centre. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: I thank the Minister for the reply. I tabled the question in respect of the club, which is of the view that there was a proposed increase of 150%. The NAC swim club is critical to a number of athletes, including paralympians. Its social value is making a major impact. The fee structure seems extraordinary in terms of required increases. I referred in my question to the "unusual offer"...

National Aquatic Centre. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: I am reassured to know that the Minister is hopeful that an agreement will be reached with the club. It would be a tragedy for sport and the club, in particular, if the agreement were to fall apart. Without going into the specifics of the charges — I accept that the details must be hammered out — what is being referred to broadly is out of line with what would occur in respect of another...

Arts and Culture Plan. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: The NESF report, The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion, and the report to which the Minister referred, In the Frame or Out of the Picture, have indicated clearly that people from disadvantaged socioeconomic or educational backgrounds are less likely to access arts facilities. I am concerned that much of what the Minister said was aspirational, with little delivery thus far on his...

Arts and Culture Plan. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: My first point is along the lines outlined by Deputy Mitchell on advertising and informing people. A greater effort is required at local level. A case can also be made for a national television campaign to keep people informed and aware of what is going on. For example, airports can be useful from a tourism point of view in terms of galleries and museums and when they are open. An...

Sports and Public Health. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: The Minister referred to the obesity taskforce. My understanding is that many of the sections of its report are gathering dust and little progress has been made. It is very important that the Department with a responsibility for sport has an input and that there is interaction with the Department of Health and Children. What is the role of the Department of Education and Science in terms...

Sports and Public Health. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: I refer to the first part of the Minister's reply and the drop-out rate for 15-19 year olds. The Minister made many soothing noises, which are all very reassuring. He said we must address it, but what exactly will we do, who will do it and when will it happen? This problem has been around for a long time. The drop-put rate remains consistently high, yet nothing has happened. Can we have...

Film Industry Development. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: If the negotiations are at a delicate stage, I understand that it would not be appropriate to go into detail on the issue. It is very important that we have our film studio and the Minister might be able to comment on issues such as the economies of scale. I am looking for a much wider discussion on the Irish film industry. We need to be able to encourage people to come into this country...

Access to Sporting Facilities. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: There is a need for joined-up thinking on the interaction with the Department of Education and Science. All of the sporting groups that have recently come before the committee have spoken to us about the duplication of resources in a small town or a parish, where two or three halls might be available. There is a need to put in a place a system where people can find out why the school hall...

Access to Sporting Facilities. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: I appreciate the points about the future programme of sports capital funding, the interaction between clubs and schools and so on. However, my key point is that facilities are already in existence that have been paid for by the taxpayer but access to them is not available. Very often they are closed at 6 p.m. when many clubs would love to avail of them. Basketball Ireland, for example,...

Access to Sporting Facilities. (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: We must find ways to get over the insurance issues. There must be a way around them.

Written Answers — Departmental Committees: Departmental Committees (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 112: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on the report by the National Economic and Social Forum, entitled In the Frame or Out of the Picture; his further views on the principal finding that people with lower educational attainment, social class and income are many times less likely than fellow citizens to attend a range of arts events; the steps his Department...

Written Answers — Arts and Sports Funding: Arts and Sports Funding (13 Mar 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 111: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will amend the relevant legislation regarding arts and sports organisations to ensure that these are required to allocate funding to programmes to promote social and cultural inclusion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10989/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 122: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he will act on the proposals contained in Proposals for Supporting Lone Parents; and the way he will coordinate services and address poverty traps associated with some of the proposals. [12194/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Apr 2008)

Mary Upton: Question 138: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the extent of compliance with determination orders issued by his Department to parents for the upkeep of their children; the cost in 2005, 2006 and 2007 of his Department's activities in relation to unpaid maintenance; and the steps he is taking to improve compliance among parents and reduce costs to his Department. [12192/08]