Results 461-480 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Sports Funding. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I share the view that this is a major industry, which in many ways is unique to Ireland because of our association with the horse and greyhound industries. Whatever is done, care should be taken to ensure that its success will be enhanced and one should not do anything that would take from it. It has been an enormously successful story for Ireland and is one on which we should build....

Sports Funding. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As I noted, more than 11,000 people are employed either directly or indirectly in the greyhound sector, which is highly significant. The Deputy is correct to suggest that apart from its intrinsic value, greyhound racing has become a major tourism and social attraction nationwide. It is a good way for everyone to enjoy themselves, perhaps as an alternative to the traditional couple of hours...

National Archives. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The redevelopment of the National Archives headquarters forms part of the national development plan and €20 million in seed capital has been earmarked for the project. The Office of Public Works, OPW, has carried out significant preliminary work on the accommodation brief and the likely cost of providing the National Archives with new storage and other accommodation at its redeveloped...

National Archives. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The redevelopment of the headquarters of the National Archives forms part of the national development plan. The sum of €20 million in seed capital has been allocated for this project. Given that Deputy Mitchell has specifically raised this issue today, I will ask the Secretary General and his staff to give me a special report on it.

Arts Funding. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: On 14 September last, which was designated as culture night, key artistic and cultural venues in Dublin City, including the national cultural institutions, extended their opening hours until late in the evening. This provided the public with increased access to the various collections, workshops and other events hosted by the institutions. My Department provided €15,000 and €35,000 in...

Arts Funding. (29 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Deputy is correct. The Department should draw the matter to the attention of local authorities. I will arrange to do this as a matter of urgency.

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (28 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme is progressing the development of 57 new or refurbished public swimming pools around the country. Of these, 43 have been grant aided of which 29 have been completed with 14 under construction. These 43 pools represent an investment of some €338m by Local Authorities attracting grant aid of some €129m. My Department is...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (28 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As Minister, I have overall responsibility for the formulation of national policy in the areas of Arts, Sport and Tourism and, through my Department, for monitoring its implementation. The agencies under the aegis of my Department which have responsibility for the execution of policy are listed in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007 and Annual Reports which are available on my...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (28 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: My Department is completing a Value for Money and Policy Review Report of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme at present. The Report is examining, among other things, how the programme has worked to date and what changes, if any, are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery. Thereafter, following consideration of the recommendations in the Report, it is my intention to...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (28 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. The organisation in question was provisionally allocated €140,000 under the 2006 Sports Capital Programme. Once the legal requirements are met and the organisation is in a position to submit...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (28 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The details requested by the Deputy in relation to the schemes administered by my Department are set out in the table below. In addition my Department's Customer Charter sets out the standard of service that users of the Department's services are entitled to expect. The Charter is available on the Department's website http://www.arts-sport-tourism.gov.ie. Type of Application Average...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, which is administered by my Department, grant aid is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of a new or replacement public swimming pool or the refurbishment of an existing pool provided by local authorities themselves or by other bodies where the application for capital funding is supported by the local authority. Under the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As my Department was only established in June 2002 and its final complement of staff was not in place until the end of that year, it is not possible to make a meaningful comparison with the numbers of people serving at 31 October 2002. To facilitate a more realistic comparison, I am comparing numbers at 31 October 2007 with those at 31 December 2002 in respect of the Department including...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The following table sets out the expenditure incurred by my Department since 2004 on air travel as requested by the Deputy: Total Business Class € € 2004 275,234 134,623 2005 87,733 29,366 2006 74,546 9,575 2007 67,622 18,037 In relation to the breakdown between business and first class costs, my Department does not retain details on the class of travel undertaken. However, my...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The amount spent by my Department on couriered documents, registered post and standard post to date in 2007 is as follows: Service Spent to date in 2007 â'¬ Couriered Documents 20,115 Registered Post 110 Standard Post 27,310

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The scheme of performance-related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades only. On the basis that the awards are confidential to the officer concerned details of individual awards are not disclosed nor is the total amount awarded under the scheme made known in respect of Departments where there are less than 5 officers covered by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table in respect of positions in the Department including the National Archives and including the National Museum of Ireland and National Library of Ireland prior to their establishment as corporate bodies in May 2005: Year Staff who transferred to other Departments Staff who left the Civil Service 2002 (from September) 2...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: There have been no allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing reported in my Department by Departmental staff since 1 January 2007.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (27 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. The organisation in question was allocated grants totalling €100,000 in 2006 and 2007. The 2006 grant allocation of €50,000, which was allocated towards surface replacement, has all been...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (27 Nov 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Questions in relation to excise duty are matters for my colleague the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Mr Brian Cowen TD, in the first instance. I understand that the Department of Finance, in conjunction with other relevant Departments including my Department, is exploring alternative non-tax support mechanisms that could be put in place, where appropriate, to maintain the assistance...