Results 5,101-5,120 of 10,573 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Strategies (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is important to highlight the success achieved by our high performance athletes in 2016. Along with two Olympic Medals, Irish Olympians achieved fourteen Top Ten and fourteen Top Twenty finishes. Additionally, our Paralympic team won eleven medals and achieved twenty two Top Eight finishes. I understand that Sport Ireland are in the process of finalising a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The total number of applications under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme will not be known until after the closing date of the 24th February. I expect a large number of applications however, and am aware that almost 1,600 were received in 2015 while over 2,000 applications were received under both the 2012 and 2014 rounds of the programme. Every application will be...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Skills Development (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Department of Education and Skills has lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and oversees the bulk of the required education and training delivered nationally through the mainstream higher and further education and training sectors. This work complements Fáilte Ireland's efforts to encourage,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: On 21 December last, I, along with Minister Ross, announced that €30m is being made available under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme. The application process opened on 23 January and will remain open until the 24 February. For the 2017 Sports Capital Programme my Department has introduced a number of innovations to try to reduce the proportion of invalid applications...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport and Recreational Development (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​No members of the Oireachtas have, to date, made submissions to my Department on the National Sports Policy Consultation Document.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Funding (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​The Department of Education and Skills has overall lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and oversees the bulk of training provided nationally, channeling funding through its agency SOLAS for further education and through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for higher education. A limited number of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Ensuring a sufficient supply of suitably qualified staff for the Irish tourism industry requires a combination of measures, including providing appropriate direct enterprise support, entry-level training and advanced/professional training; increasing the attractiveness of employment opportunities; and improving staff retention in certain occupations. Accordingly, Government Departments,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (8 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical recreation facilities throughout the country. In particular, its stated objectives are to: - Assist voluntary and community...

Leaders' Questions (7 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy could use the service himself some time.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 625, 629, 630, 632, 633, 637, 640 and 643 together. With regard to policy oversight, the Department of Education and Skills has lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and delivers the required education and training through the mainstream higher and further education and training...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Data (7 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​While matters relating to Central Statistics Office (CSO) statistics are primarily for the Department of the Taoiseach, there were 9,584,400 overseas visits to Ireland during 2016, up 10.9% compared to 2015. I understand that the CSO does not provide a regional breakdown of statistics in their monthly 'Overseas Travel' publication. I am aware however, that the National Tourism...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ticket Touting (7 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy is aware, there is ongoing public concern about the resale of tickets for entertainment and sporting events. In response to this concern, I met with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise, and Innovation when I returned from the Olympics along with officials from my department. Minister Mitchell O'Connor has overall responsibility for consumer protection. Subsequent to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport and Recreational Development (7 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the development of strategies for increasing participation in sport. I have referred the Deputy's question to Sport Ireland for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to inform my office if a reply is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Funding (2 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 344 together. The Department of Education and Skills has overall lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and oversees the bulk of training provided nationally, channelling funding through SOLAS for further education and through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for...

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the Deputies who tabled the motion for giving Members from across the House the opportunity to enunciate their constituencies' issues. As a Minister of State in this Department, I understand the issue of rural roads well. I come from one of the most rural constituencies in the country. I acknowledge the points made by the Minister, Deputy Ross, and other contributors. We all...

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Minister can come to Limerick.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: No.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank the committee for the invitation. I was a member of this committee in the last Dáil and I am delighted to be here to address some of the questions. The board of Sport Ireland approved the grant of €520,000 for the Olympic Council of Ireland for administration and programme spending in 2016. Some €390,000 of this was paid to the OCI in 2016. The balance was not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The assessment manual is under way at the moment. Our officials in Killarney have spent much time on this. Last June or July we started looking at a 2016-2017 programme. We wanted to change the criteria to make it, as the Minister, Deputy Ross, said, as easy as possible for people in terms of the qualifications. Mindful of that, we have decided that in advance of the closing date the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sport in Ireland - Challenges, Strategies and Governance: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (1 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Minister, Deputy Ross, will answer the second question. I have requested a meeting with Dr. Wu based on Ireland's experience in the Olympic Games. I have done so in response to commentary in the media and my own interest in it. As somebody who has a passing interest in boxing, I was left in no doubt that there were serious questions to ask from an Irish point of view in the aftermath...