Results 221-240 of 11,205 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Emergency Planning (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: In November 2023, Ireland put in place a mobile SMS-based emergency public warning system, via S.I 583 of 2023, as required under Article 110 of the EU Electronic Communications Code Directive. This system enables mobile phone operators to send texts to the public on behalf of the Government during an emergency. Last year, my Department engaged the services of Analysys Mason to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. I am advised by NBI that there are over 564,000 premises in the Intervention Area (IA) and design work has been completed for 100% of these. NBI has also passed over 381,000 premises in the intervention area and are connecting circa 4,400 premises to their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Arts Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland and Budget 2025 has provided record funding of €140 million for the Arts Council. The Arts Council is committed to increasing public engagement in the arts in Ireland and it provides financial support to a number of initiatives aimed at increasing public access, participation...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Contracts (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I am advised that my Department has not used reserved contracts in the period since the establishment of the former Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in September 2020. It should be noted that my Department was re-configured as the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport at the beginning of June 2025. I wish to advise to the Deputy that both my...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The areas referred to in the question are in the BLUE area on the broadband map which is available on gov.ie/en/publication/5634d-national-broadband-plan-map/. The BLUE area represents areas where commercial providers are either currently delivering or have plans to deliver high-speed broadband services. The Department defines high-speed broadband as a connection with minimum speeds of...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The relevant details of the State bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department are outlined in the table below. These bodies differ significantly in terms of size, mandate, and operational focus, encompassing non-commercial, commercial, and regulatory entities. Each plays a vital role in shaping, supporting, and delivering the strategic priorities of my Department. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The details sought by the Deputy in respect of capital funding programmes or grants for which my Department has responsibility are outlined below. Regarding bodies and agencies under my Department’s remit, these are operational matters for the agencies themselves. Cultural Capital Scheme Under Stream E of the Cultural Capital Scheme, grants of up to €20,000 are...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network as a key component of the economic and social infrastructure throughout Ireland. The Programme for Government states that the Government will continue to provide the nationwide network of post offices with funding to ensure their sustainability and enhance the value they bring to local communities. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department operates two capital funding programmes for sport, namely the Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) and the Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). 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 CSFF, representing the largest-ever investment in sports facilities in communities across...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Media Sector (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As Minister, I understand the value of local and independent media, the role they play in the provision of essential public service content and the importance of protecting and supporting our local and regional independent media in order to sustain the continued provision of independent, high-quality journalism, which plays an indispensable role in providing objective, trustworthy and...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Broadband Infrastructure (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) is the Government's initiative to deliver high speed broadband services to all premises in Ireland. I am advised by NBI that there are over 564,000 premises in the Intervention Area (IA) and design work has been completed for 100% of these. NBI has also passed over 381,000 premises in the intervention area and are connecting circa 4,400 premises to their...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Culture Policy (29 Jul 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 will undertake the formal engagement in the primary assessment of modalities, scope, and reach for a Youth Card scheme. I am committed to ensuring that this work commences in the coming weeks. It...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Cultural Institutions (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Programme for Government set out a review of the National Development Plan as a key priority to enhance the delivery of transformative, critical and growth-enhancing infrastructure over the next five years. The updated NDP which was published on 22 July, features annual sectoral capital allocations from 2026 to 2030, and overall capital expenditure ceilings to 2035. This leads to a total...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: National Archives (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The National Archives is preparing the 1926 Census for public release in April 2026. €5 Million in funding has been allocated by my Department for the significant volume of work required to prepare the 1926 Census for online publication, involving cataloguing, conservation, digitisation and transcription of the data in the individual 1926 Census forms. Much of this work is being...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Film Industry (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Section 481 stakeholder forum was held in February 2024 and was attended by representatives from all parts of the Irish audiovisual industry. The majority of the participants considered the forum to be a useful engagement between government agencies and industry stakeholders. The Department will give consideration in due course to holding similar events. The structure of the event...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Sports Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The sustainability of the League of Ireland is fundamentally a matter for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), which, like all National Governing Bodies of sport (NGBs), is an independent, autonomous body and as such, is responsible for the organisation and development of its own sport, including the organisation of its games and leagues and the development of its facilities. ...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Staff (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: There are currently 503 full time equivalent staff employed by my Department. The table below sets out the grade or grade eqivalent of each. Row Labels Count of Name ACCOUNTANT 3 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER 39 ARCHIVIST 23 ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL 101 ASSISTANT...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Information and Communications Technology (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department recognises the strategic importance of maintaining robust cybersecurity defences, service resilience and operational continuity. My Department actively reviews and refines our cybersecurity approach based on up to date intelligence and actively measures it against the Public Sector Cyber Security Baseline Standards. The Baseline Standards were developed by the National...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Arts Council (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As outlined in the Programme for Government, the Government believes that culture and the arts are essential to a well-rounded society, providing opportunities for education, expression and community engagement. Ireland is world renowned for our rich, diverse and vibrant arts sector. 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: Arts Policy (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the development of the arts in Ireland and Budget 2025 has provided record funding of €140 million for the Arts Council. The Arts Council is committed to increasing public engagement in the arts in Ireland and it provides financial support to a number of initiatives aimed at increasing public access, participation...