Results 401-420 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — National Stadium: National Stadium (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 90 and 93 together. The Government has provided an amount of €149m in the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 for the development of a National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. Prior to that, in January, 2004, the Government agreed to proceed, as financial resources permit, with the development of a Campus of Sports facilities at Abbotstown. The...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 92, 99 and 100 together. My Department provides funding for the provision of Sporting, Arts and Culture facilities at local level. The criteria used for the allocation of such funds includes the likely level of demand for the facilities in question. Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Following extensive negotiations in recent weeks between my Department, the Irish Sports Council, the GAA and the GPA, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that an agreement has been reached on this issue. While player welfare is a separate issue for which the GAA has responsibility, I intend to make provision for the introduction of a scheme through the Irish Sports Council, which will...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: According to "Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children" (September 1999) the two agencies with statutory responsibility for child protection are the Health Service Executive (HSE) and An Garda Síochána. Notwithstanding this, I appreciate and share the Deputy's concerns with regard to this issue. I am assured by the Irish Sports Council, the statutory...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The latest figures published by the Central Statistics Office show that there was an increase of over 4% in the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the first nine months of the year compared to the same period in 2006. While it will be challenging to maintain the record-breaking performance of 2006, these latest CSO figures confirm that Ireland's tourism sector continues to perform at a...

Written Answers — North-South Ministerial Council: North-South Ministerial Council (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I can inform the Deputy that I have had no such discussions with the North-South Ministerial Council.

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. In this regard, the 2007 sports capital programme was advertised in the national press in October 2006. The closing date for receipt of completed applications was 24th November 2006. Over 1,530...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: In considering the competitiveness of any industry, a key measure is the extent to which it can maintain and increase market share. For the first three-quarters of 2007, reports from the CSO show that visitor numbers are up by over 4% on the corresponding period in 2006. The revenue associated with overseas visitors for the first half of the year is up by nearly 8%. This performance is...

Arts Plan. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Government policy on the arts is set out in the programme for Government and will be elaborated further in my Department's statement of strategy for 2008-10, which is currently being developed. The objective is to encourage and support the strategic development of the arts in local communities, both geographic and communities of interest, for the disadvantaged and for minority groups. In...

Arts Plan. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As applies to sport, there is general agreement that when one invests in hardware such as facilities and bricks and mortar one must be careful to support the software side also, which includes the talent necessary to manage theatres and artistic facilities. I take the point that we must strike a balance between the capital provision of facilities and investment in the talent, skill and...

Arts Plan. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I do not think such a condition exists as the Arts Council deals with current funding and ACCESS funding is capital funding that comes directly from the Department. As far as I know there is no requirement for local authorities to match Arts Council funding.

Arts Plan. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: We may have to examine that with regard to ACCESS but it is not envisaged in respect of current funding.

Sports Funding. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The funding of the Irish Sports Council, as with all Departments and State agencies, is a matter for consideration under the annual budget and Estimates process. In doing so, the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society. The question of whether multiannual funding should be provided for agencies such as the Irish Sports Council is primarily a...

Sports Funding. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Deputy for her comments on this morning's announcement regarding the agreement with the GPA. Capital funding is allocated on a multi-annual basis because of the large number of capital projects under way throughout the State. The Deputy is correct that current funding is not provided on a multi-annual basis. I appreciate that every agency would like to know, year on year, what...

Sports Funding. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I take the Deputy's point that certainty is preferable. However, it is sometimes difficult in the areas of arts and sports to tell the difference between capital and current expenditure. In the case of a once-off event such as the Ryder Cup, for example, the Department of Finance might go 40 rounds with my Department in its insistence that it is capital expenditure. However, it is...

Tourism Industry. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Last year was a record year for Irish tourism with an all-time high of 7.7 million overseas visitors to the country and associated foreign revenue earnings of €4.7 billion. We are on track to surpass that performance this year, with the most recent figures published by the CSO showing an increase of more than 4% in the number of overseas visitors to Ireland in the first nine months of the...

Tourism Industry. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and my Department constantly encourage airlines flying out of locations where we see tourism potential to provide services to Ireland. Ultimately, however, such decisions are commercial and are made by the airlines themselves. We will continue to work hard to convince airlines to operate out of Ireland. I take on board the Deputy's useful suggestion...

Tourism Industry. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Aer Lingus seems to be focussing on the United States market for the foreseeable future. This suits us in some respects given our investment in that market from a tourism point of view.

Tourism Industry. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I take the Deputy's point that we should try to match investment with potential opportunities. However, private companies will ultimately make their own decisions.

Film Industry Development. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions is a matter for the Irish Film Board, IFB. This agency is funded through my Department and is independent of the Department in its operations. The task of attracting international production into Ireland is dependent on a number of elements, not all...