Results 5,161-5,180 of 10,573 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Business of Dáil (15 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: It is the season of goodwill.

Business of Dáil (15 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle will have to say that in English. Deputy Adams does not understand it.

Business of Dáil (15 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Lean ar aghaidh.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (15 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I apologise on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, who is in the Dáil and asked me to take this matter for him. I thank the Senator for giving me the opportunity to address the House. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads are the statutory responsibilities of each local authority. In accordance with the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Network (15 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I take on board what the Senator has said. He is quite right that in 2015 the allocation to County Monaghan was €7.6 million and in 2016 it was €12.3 million. There was a substantial increase. He is correct that it is a long way from where it was in the good old days but, unfortunately, so is everything else. We have a plan to get it back to where it was but I take on board...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (15 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Senator Lombard for raising the issue. He is correct that I have family in Bandon, as my brother and sister both live there. My brother is a publican. Senator Lombard referred to the flooding in the town and my brother has been flooded three times. I know acutely the difficulties the town has experienced with flooding. I am glad the Office of Public Works and Cork County Council...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (15 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The proposed relief road extension involves bridging over the existing R603 to remove an existing steep gradient, which the Senator and I know, and the construction of approximately 2.5 km of a new single carriageway tying back to the existing N71 just west of the town near the Old Chapel area. The total cost is approximately €7.5 million. Cork County Council and other local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Administration (14 Dec 2016)

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 most recent rounds of the programme were in 2012, 2014 and 2015. Following the conclusion of the 2017 Estimates discussions, a total of €52m has been provided for sports capital projects....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Data (14 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Sports Capital Programme  (SCP) is the Government’s primary vehicle for supporting the development of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment.  While the terms and conditions of the SCP are subject to change from time to time, for applications received under the 2015 SCP, a multi stage assessment process was used to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Events (13 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Neither I nor Sport Ireland have any responsibility in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. The Deputy may wish to enquire with the Irish Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (ICPSA), which is the National Governing Body for clay shooting.  All National Governing Bodies, including the ICPSA, are independent, autonomous bodies and are responsible...

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Deputy Bailey is correct in saying Dublin has a lot to offer. The brand that has been developed has proven itself. More than 10 million people will visit the island of Ireland this year, which is a phenomenal number. More than 8.5 million will visit the Republic and a huge proportion of those will visit Dublin. Dublin’s brand is very strong. That is why the Government is also...

Other Questions: Sports Events (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Deputy Durkan for his question. The hosting of major sports events, both participative and spectator, can be a great showcase for Ireland and drive international visitor numbers. In addition, the media coverage of sports events helps to put Ireland on travel itineraries as a holiday destination. Accordingly, I am supportive of the ongoing efforts of the tourism agencies,...

Other Questions: Sports Events (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Event Ireland has its ear to the ground as regards potential future events that are of interest to Ireland Inc. I am satisfied with its interactions and with my dealings in the Department with the national governing bodies of sport, be they the paralympic movement hoping to host events or any of the other major and smaller bodies. They are all prepared to put their heads above the parapet....

Other Questions: Sports Events (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: One of the best examples of what Deputy Durkan is referring to is the video that was launched as part of Ireland's Rugby World Cup bid for 2023. It shows the four provinces, North and South of the Border, in a fantastic light. Apart from the bid offering and its importance, any discerning visitor would watch the video and want to visit this place. A large part of Tourism Ireland's...

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Department's tourism role lies primarily in developing national policy. It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism initiatives, including the development and marketing of brands, which is a matter for the tourism agencies. In line with its regional tourism development functions, Fáilte Ireland has operational responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy.  It is not directly involved in the management or development of individual tourism projects.  This is an operational matter for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. That said, I can advise the Deputy that the Programme for Partnership Government commits to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Hotel Accommodation (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I welcome the improved viability of the hotel sector, given its important contribution to the economy and jobs.  However, the shortage of available hotel bedrooms in Dublin city has caused hotel room rates to increase in recent years.  While I acknowledge the need to have a fair return on investment, hotels must ensure that any increase in returns is done at...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbours and Piers Development (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I understand that there is a Specific Local Objective within Dun Laoghaire Rathdown's 2016-2022 County Development Plan "to support and encourage the development of a National Watersports Centre to facilitate training and participation in a varied range of water sports and activities to provide a focus for national and international watersport events". In this regard, I'm aware that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourist Accommodation (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Fáilte Ireland monitors the performance of tourist accommodation through regular occupancy surveys.  This analysis indicates that while the country as a whole has sufficient stock of tourist accommodation, there are capacity constraints in areas of high tourist traffic at times of peak demand and additional capacity is required in certain parts of the country, particularly in Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourist Accommodation (7 Dec 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Under the Tourist Traffic Acts 1939-2011, Fáilte Ireland has specific powers and functions regarding the registration and grading of tourist accommodation.  In accordance with the legislation, certain categories of accommodation, such as hotels and guesthouses, are obliged to register, whereas other accommodation segments, such as B&Bs or small self-catering...