Results 5,521-5,540 of 10,964 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

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: Yes. Sport Ireland is already in charge, as it were, because it is a statutory agency established by the Oireachtas. It is a combination of the old Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. It has power in terms of how funds are distributed and it can also distribute funds according to policy decisions of the Government. The policy decision in this case is...

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: Deputy Munster asked about the sports capital grant workshops in County Louth. Not every county will have a workshop. We have limited resources and a very small unit in Killarney. I encourage the Opposition spokespersons to go to the Department's office in Killarney and to see the work of the sports capital programme because we have a very small staff. They do not have the resources....

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 just got a flashback. Along with the Chairman, I was a member of the previous committee, of which Senator O'Mahony was Chairman. We attempted to do that and were blocked by our own members.

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: Some of the members might want to forget it now but that was actually blocked by the committee.

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 do not disagree with anything the Deputy has said. In fact, I could not have put it better myself. In return for State investment in anything, there must be probity and public accountability. This committee has a very important role in that - both in holding the Department to account in terms of how we spend and allocate our money, and how sporting organisations allocate and use it on...

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 simple answer is "Yes". The local authority swimming pool programme "does what it says on the tin", but it requires local authority involvement from the start. I know about the issues in the Deputy's constituency of Kildare North; we have these problems all over the country. The amount of money available from the Department in a capital grant goes nowhere near the final cost of...

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 would gladly attend another meeting. It is not a problem.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Facilities Provision (1 Feb 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: As the Deputy may be aware, officials from my Department have engaged with Finn Harps and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) on this matter. I am advised that my Department's technical advisor has just completed his consideration of the updated quantity surveyor's report which details the estimated cost of completing the project as the club envisages. My...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (31 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: While the precise assessment criteria and scoring system for the 2017 Sports Capital Programme are currently being finalised, I do not envisage that the scoring and weighting system will change significantly from previous rounds of the Programme. In this regard, applications will first be checked to ensure eligibility and eligible applications will then be initially...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Employment Data (31 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 718, 719 and 732 together. The Department of Education and Skills has overall lead responsibility for skills development policy across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism.  Their work to strengthen the capacity of people working in the tourism sector complements Fáilte Ireland's efforts to encourage, promote and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 721, 724, 730, 731 and 737 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 its agency SOLAS for further education and through the Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (31 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​As the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann is developing plans to address its financial position. The Company is currently loss-making and these losses are not sustainable. In developing its plans, the Company is seeking to ensure a sustainable future for it in the years ahead; however, those plans remain under development and the company are seeking to engage with its...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (31 Jan 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 2017 round of the programme is currently open for applications. Applications must be made online at www.sportscapitalprogramme.ie. The application period closes at 5pm on 24 February, 2017. Clubs and sports groups not already...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Data (25 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: Details of all allocations under the Sports Capital Programme, including those referred to by the Deputy, are published on the Department's website www.dttas.ie.  Details of all payment made since 2008 are also published on the Department's website. Payments prior to 2008 are contained in the Appropriation Accounts published by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Facilities Provision (24 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I understand that Cork County Boxing Board is interested in developing a boxing headquarters and centre of excellence in Knocknaheeny. It should be noted however, that there is currently no allocation towards this project.  Any proposal from the Cork County Boxing Board needs to consider issues such as ownership of the proposed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Project Funding (24 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: My Department's role in relation to tourism is concerned primarily with national policy, and it is not involved in the funding of individual events, or the administration of tourism-related funding programmes. These matters fall within the day-to-day responsibilities of Fáilte Ireland, which provides support for festivals, business tourism and cultural...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (19 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: 1,592 applications were received under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme with a total of 566 deemed invalid. My Department estimates that almost 90% of invalid applications were deemed so for one of the 5 reasons set out below. 1. Title/Access requirements not satisfied. 2. Insufficient evidence of planning permission, planning application, or exemption from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (17 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1531 and 1564 together. The Sports Capital Programme (SCP) is the Government's primary vehicle to support the development of sports facilities and the purchase of sports equipment.  On 21 December last, Minister Ross and I announced that €30m is being made available under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme to develop sports...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (17 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​County Donegal forms part of the Wild Atlantic Way experience brand.  Decisions on how the Wild Atlantic Way is marketed overseas is a matter for Tourism Ireland Limited, and in the case of the domestic tourism market, it is a matter for Fáilte Ireland. These decisions are not subject to my approval. Accordingly, I have also referred the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fáilte Ireland (17 Jan 2017)

Patrick O'Donovan: ​The management of the Tourist Information Office network is an operational matter for the Board and Management of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for further information and direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.