Results 24,021-24,040 of 28,255 for speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (12 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: My Department is committed to the development and enhancement of walking trails in Ireland and supporting the objectives outlined in the Comhairle Na Tuaithe National Countryside Recreation Strategy. It is my intention to seek to continue to provide funding for the Walks Scheme in 2010, particularly given the economic benefits accruing from the increasing number of walkers visiting Ireland....

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (11 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of Public Works (OPW) are currently in the process of selecting and purchasing a permanent site for my Department's headquarters at Charlestown, Co. Mayo. I understand that negotiations are still ongoing in relation to a particular site in Charlestown, which the OPW has identified as being suitable. The Deputy will also be aware that the Department of...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (11 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Fingal LEADER Partnership is one of 36 groups contracted by my Department to deliver the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013. The Group was awarded an overall amount of €7,766,780 for the duration of the Programme. The Group covers all rural areas of Co Dublin including Portmarnock. The project in question may be eligible in principle; however, in line with the bottom-up nature...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (11 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Dormant Accounts Fund Acts provides for an annual transfer by credit institutions and insurance undertakings of monies in accounts determined to be dormant into the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF). Since its establishment in April 2003, to the end of September 2009, the transfers to the DAF have totalled some €513.90m, broken down each year as follows: Year Transferred from Financial...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The number of officials at Principal Officer level or higher that were working in my Department on 1 May 2009 was 18.8. For the sake of completeness, I should point out that there are also two Principal Officers working on secondment to Oifig an Choimisinéir Teanga and the National Advisory Committee on Drugs.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (10 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: In 2008, I announced an overall Programme allocation under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 for each Local Action Group chosen to deliver the Programme. Expenditure under the Programme is due to be completed during 2015. Delivery of Axis 3 and Axis 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 commenced in February 2009. Each group was given an allocation for 2009 for both...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (10 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The development of Ros an Mhíl harbour is of strategic importance to the Gaeltacht, and my Department is in continuing discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in relation to same. In relation to land owned by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Ros an Mhíl, I am informed by Údarás that no land transfer has taken place to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food....

Seanad: Road Safety (5 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Táim ag freagairt anseo ar son an Aire Dlí agus Cirt, Comhionannais agus Athchóirithe Dlí nach bhfuil in ann a bheith i láthair. The Government attaches great importance to road safety and is committed to increasing the safety of all those who use our roads. Current Government policy is set out in the road safety strategy for 2007-12 which was prepared on behalf of the Minister for...

Seanad: RAPID Programme (5 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Cuireann sé áthas orm bheith in ann freagra a thabhairt don Seanadóir. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis as ucht na ceiste a ardú. As the Senator is aware, I am passionately committed to the RAPID programme and I believe it is the first serious attempt to engage the most deprived communities in their own future. What often characterises disadvantaged communities is that quite...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It might surprise him to hear that when I started off as a young co-operative manager many years ago in Cornamona, it was impossible to get money from the banks. Therefore, some things do not change. I applied to the ACC for a loan on behalf of the co-operative and decided the second time round that I would not leave anything to chance....

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: These were friendships in the 1930s. I am happy to record in this Chamber that I always felt I owed a huge debt to Michael Collins Junior because I honestly believe he sympathised on what we were trying to do and ensured we got the money. I am thankful his confidence was justified. I wish to set out the circumstances leading to the establishment of the NAMA master SPV and its proposed role...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As is obvious from my reply, there is a risk element. For citizens with small savings, it is better to avoid risk. If people want to invest, they can invest in the post office, which is Government run, if they want to help the Government. People are more than welcome to do so. I do not see the great advantage in encouraging people who are not professionals to take risks with their money...

Seanad: National Asset Management Agency (5 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am delighted because the Senator's proposal is a significant vote of confidence in NAMA by his party. I welcome this after a long and comprehensive debate. People are converging on NAMA being the way out. I believe in the theory of proportionate risk. One must consider two elements when taking a risk, the first of which is knowledge. Professional investors are always in a better...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (3 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Department of Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs operates a Walks Scheme for the development, enhancement and maintenance of waymarked ways and other priority walks. This Scheme has been developed within my Department in consultation with Comhairle na Tuaithe. It was introduced in 2008 and currently operates on 18 trails. There are currently 1,091 participant landowners on the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (3 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: The Company referred to by the Deputy is delivering axis 3 and Axis 4 (LEADER) of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013. The RDP commenced in February 2009 and I can confirm that all Local Action Groups contracted to deliver the Programme, are now fully operational and available to consider grant applications. The Company in question has been given an indicative allocation of...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (3 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 436 on 9 June 2009. The position in regard to assistance to recommence the project referred to by the Deputy is a matter for Údarás na Gaeltachta and, as the Deputy will be aware, I have no statutory function in the day to day administration of the organisation. I understand from an tÚdarás, however, that while further discussions on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I am advised that a community facilitator is employed by MFG one day a week in the Na Déise area. This position is currently funded through the Rural Development Programme Ireland 2007-2013. The continuation or otherwise of this post is purely a matter for MFG within their existing resources. The language facilitator post referred to by the Deputy was established as part of a pilot scheme in...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: I have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that of the projects approved from 1 October 2008 to date, some 86 were for newly supported clients, with an expected new employment yield over the next few years of 204 full-time jobs and 13 part-time or seasonal jobs. Total assistance approved in respect of these projects amounts to €2.86 million, of which €150,569 has been paid to date....

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (3 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: Special funding of €2.5 million was allocated from the Dormant Accounts Fund for the appointment of 20 Sports Inclusion Development Officers (SIDO's) in Local Sports Partnerships in 2008. While my Department has an overall management and administrative role in relation to the Dormant Accounts Fund, the management of individual priority measures is a matter for the relevant lead Department....

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (3 Nov 2009)

Éamon Ó Cuív: As the Deputy will be aware, Waterways Ireland is one of six Cross Border Implementation Bodies established under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999. It is jointly funded by my Department (85% of current funding) and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland (15% of current funding), with the proportions reflecting the present distribution of the navigable waterways....