Results 1,761-1,780 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Written Answers — Campus and Stadium Ireland: Campus and Stadium Ireland (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: In November 2005 the Government gave its assent to the commencement of phase one of the development of the national sports campus at Abbotstown. The estimated cost of the project is â¬119m with a 4 to 5 year delivery schedule (2006-2010). The refurbishment of the State Laboratory as the new headquarters for FAI Ireland is taking place and planning and preparation for the main development is...
- Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is administered by my Department, provides grant aid to local authorities in respect of the capital costs of a new swimming pool, a replacement pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool. The closing date for receipt of applications under the current round of this Programme, which now involves some 57 projects, was 31 July 2000. A further...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I have no plans at this time to carry out any further review of the tax exemption scheme for artists. The scheme will continue to be of great benefit to artists in Ireland. An adjustable cap of â¬250,000 on annual tax-exempt earnings has been applied, but this will have no impact whatsoever on the vast majority of artists, who earn well below that amount. The feedback available to me...
- Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: My Department has commissioned a total of 12 reports for publication since it was formed in June 2002 which are listed below. Title of Report Year Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group: New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action 2003 First Progress Report of the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group 2004 Second Progress Report of the Tourism Action Plan...
- Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I met with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) on 8th March, 2006 to discuss their proposed grant scheme for GAA players. I also met with the President of the GAA and officials on 16th May last. At both of these meetings, I indicated that this issue is, in the first instance, a matter for the governance structures within the GAA itself, to determine how best the important contribution of its...
- Written Answers — Performing Arts: Performing Arts (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 13th October 2005 in which I stated that responsibility for the establishment of a third-level Irish Academy for the Performing Arts was transferred from the Department of Education and Science to my Department in 2003. However, no transfer of capital funding for the project occurred. Capital funding is not currently available to me to progress the...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: CSO statistics for overseas tourism for 2005 show a very positive result both in terms of overseas numbers â up 6% (400,000 additional visitors) to almost 7 million â and revenue earnings â up almost 8% to â¬3.455 billion (excluding carrier receipts and cross border tourism). On both counts, we are ahead of targets for the year. As global competition intensifies and consumer...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: On 26 June last, the Chairperson of Fáilte Ireland Ms Gillian Bowler, restated the organisation's view that the maintenance of the Aer Lingus slots at Heathrow is of great importance for Irish tourism growth as Heathrow is the world's busiest airport for international passengers and one of the key conduits for long-haul visitors to Ireland. I concur with the view that the maintenance of the...
- Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Currently, over 4% of staff in my Department are persons with disabilities which exceeds the 3% requirement under the Disability Act 2005. However, all staff transferring into the Department with a view to decentralising to Killarney are recruited through the Central Applications Facility (CAF) conducted by the Public Appointments Service. The protocol for assigning officers from the CAF was...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 332 together. The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. Applications for funding under the 2006 programme were invited through...
- Written Answers — Tourist Accommodation: Tourist Accommodation (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The approval of hotel and guesthouse accommodation is the responsibility of Fáilte Ireland. In accordance with the Tourist Traffic Acts, which govern this area, approved accommodation providers are obliged to display their registered charges in bedrooms. These charges are also published in relevant accommodation guides. However, the upper and lower limits on accommodation charges are set by...
- Written Answers — National Museum: National Museum (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The proposed extension to the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks will house the Military History Exhibition. The building is on schedule to be handed over to the National Museum later this month and work will then be carried out on the mounting of the exhibition. It is planned that the exhibition will open to the public in September, 2006. The Military History Exhibition will be...
- Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I have already appointed a successor body to the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group. It is called the Tourism Strategy Implementation Group and was appointed by me on 28 May 2006. The new High Level Group will continue the important work of the Tourism Action Plan Implementation Group which completed its two-year term in March. The full membership of the Implementation Group is as...
- Written Answers — National Theatre: National Theatre (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The current combined area of the Abbey and Peacock Theatres is 4950 Sq Metres. The Accommodation Brief for the new Abbey Theatre requires approximately 12,220 Sq Metres. It has long been clear that the existing site would not accommodate the requirements of the Abbey and Peacock after redevelopment. Accordingly, at my request, the Office of Public Works (OPW) investigated the suitability and...
- Written Answers — Policy Directives: Policy Directives (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The Arts Act 2003 provides that I, as Minister, may in relation to the performance by the Arts Council of its functions, other than those relating to funding of the arts, give a direction in writing to the Council requiring it to comply with such policies of the Minister or Government as are specified in the direction. I have never in practice used this power. In addition, I, as Minister, may...
- Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my earlier reply to priority question number 4.
- Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Engagement between the Contracting Authority, the Office of Public Works, and the Provisional Preferred Tenderer, Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Ltd, in accordance with the competition process, is continuing. As I previously informed the House, most recently on 31 May last, these negotiations are detailed and complex and, by their nature, time consuming. Nevertheless, I am...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. All applications received under the sports capital programme are assessed on an individual basis by officials in the sports unit of...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. 1,338 applications for funding under the 2006 were received by my Department, including one from the organisation in question. All...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (6 Jul 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. On the 6th June last, I announced the grant allocations for the local projects under the 2006 programme and I am pleased to inform...