Results 241-260 of 11,253 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Arts Council (8 Sep 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Arts Council submitted a Preliminary Business Case to my Department in Q4 2024 in relation to the project referred to in the question.  The Department is reviewing this business case in line with the Programme for Government and the Infrastructure Guidelines and in the context of Project Ireland 2040 and other capital demands. My Department is aware of the pressures that artists...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Schemes (8 Sep 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists, which is why I announced an extension of six months to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data.  This is will give sufficient time to engage in stakeholder consultation and to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Artists' Remuneration (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists, which is why I recently announced that Cabinet has agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data. The primary objective of the scheme is to...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: In June the European Commission published their latest Digital Decade report which indicates that 89.9% of populated areas in Ireland are now served by 5G. This assessment was carried out at the end of 2024 and is anticipated that further improvements in 5G roll out have taken place across all operators in the last 6 months. In early July eir announced that they have now reached 99%...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: 6G, or the sixth-generation of mobile communications technology, will be the next evolution of radio and mobile networking systems, building upon the foundation laid by 5G. The introduction into service of 6G services is not anticipated until 2030 at the earliest. In the interim, mobile network operators are continuing to roll out 5G-based networks which are offering consumers faster speeds...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) does not have a dedicated phoneline for Oireachtas members, however they do provide an exclusive email address which can be found below. ComReg Oireachtas email address: oireachtas@comreg.ie

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

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1321, 1322, 1332, 1333, 1334, 1335, 1336, 1337 and 1338 together. My Department has an Internal Legal Advisor seconded from the Office of the Attorney General with additional support from that office as required. Details of any Compensation and legal costs are published in the Annual appropriation account for the Department which is audited by the...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: Since its inception, the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) has impacted the Irish economy by advancing early-stage digital enterprises and aiding portfolio companies in raising over €500 million, and more than 700 jobs have been created in the Republic of Ireland by companies accepted into NDRC support under the current contractor's tenure alone. The NDRC is operated under a...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Data (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 (68%) in the intervention area and are connecting circa 4,400 premises to...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards. It also has responsibility for the recognition and funding of national governing bodies of sport in Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply in relation to its role in...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: It should be noted that my Department was re-configured as the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport at the beginning of June 2025. Across its broad remit of responsibilities, my Department directly administers a range of grant payments. The details sought by the Deputy for the functions under the remit of my Department in the period since September 2020 (when the former Department...

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: Sports Funding (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) was established under the National Sports Policy, published in 2018, to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, typically those requiring investments greater than the maximum available under the Community Sport Facilities Fund (formerly the Sports Capital and Equipment Fund). The first allocations under LSSIF were...

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: Artists' Remuneration (29 Jul 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Programme for Government commits to assessing the Basic Income for the Arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. I appreciate the importance of the Basic Income support for artists, which is why I recently announced that Government had agreed to my proposal to an extension of six months to allow for further evaluation of the pilot data. This will also give sufficient time to...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: The organisation referred to by the Deputy was provisionally allocated €170,259 from the 2023 Community Sports Facilities Fund (CSFF) towards works for an artificial surface. My Department have been in contact with the organisation and has confirmed that the grant is being dealt with by way of a grant agreement form. The correspondence with the Chief State Solicitor's Office is not...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Services (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. The mapping consultation between fixed line operators and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications was concluded in 2019. As part of this mapping consultation the three large, fixed line operators (Open Eir, Virgin Media and Siro) were...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: Female participation in sport is an important element of both the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and its associated Sports Action Plan 2024-2027 and represents a core priority for me and my Department. This Government is committed to a "Sport for All" approach aimed at ensuring that all persons can partake equally in sport and physical activity, regardless of gender. This commitment is...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's ICT Unit makes available as standard SMS/MMS messaging application on all departmental phones. The underlying provider is 3 (Three). The downloading of additional messaging applications beyond this is a matter for each individual.

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

Patrick O'Donovan: I have been advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that over 43,880 premises are now passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and 48,000 available to order/pre-order in County Cork, with 14,996 premises now connected. A further circa 38,120 premises in County Cork will be passed by NBI’s high speed fibre broadband by the end of the contract. The NBI rollout to Mid...