Results 681-700 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As the Deputy is aware, my Department was designated under the Government's Decentralisation Programme as one of the "early mover" Departments. It is intended that the entire Department (excluding the National Archives which will remain in Dublin) will relocate to Killarney. Following a tendering process, the Office of Public Works selected PJ Hegarty and Sons to develop the permanent...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The restoration of the new Northern Ireland Executive will provide an added impetus for enhanced North South co-operation in the areas of tourism, arts, culture, and sport. In that context the potential for co-operation across the horse and greyhound sectors will be explored building on contacts which have already been made in these areas and at future Ministerial meetings.

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The task of attracting international production into Ireland is dependent on a number of elements, not all of which fall within the sphere of influence of my Department or that of the Irish Film Board (IFB). Decisions to site a film project in a particular territory involve complex funding, cultural, logistical and project-specific elements all of which are crucial for a successful result....

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The following four key appointments have been put in place to date for the Institute of Sport: Executive Chairman Chief Science Officer Athlete Services Officer Chief Medical Officer I understand that the recruitment process for a Chief Technical Officer will begin shortly and additional administration appointments will be made later this year.

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Arts Council has presented me with a copy of the report and I am currently examining its contents. The publication of the report is a matter for the Arts Council. In advance of my considering its proposals fully and discussing them with my colleague, the Minister for Education, it would be premature of me to comment further at this juncture.

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The issue of pay for any sector of the economy is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. However, I can, of course, comment on the research, The Public and the Arts, carried out by the Arts Council. The recent study does not show diminishing engagement with the arts. On the contrary the research confirms that levels of attendance at arts events in Ireland are above...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I am informed by Fáilte Ireland that the number of visitors who engaged in hiking/hill walking during their stay in Ireland for each of the years from 2000 to 2005 is as outlined in the table. Walking is the most popular outdoor activity that overseas visitors to Ireland engage in during their stays. Based on Fáilte Ireland visitor surveys, almost 300,000 visitors to Ireland, in 2005, went...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS II) will run from 2007 to 2009. The following table contains a list of the successful projects on a county-by-county basis that received a total of €32 million in funding under the ACCESS II scheme. €81 million is available for the ACCESS programme under the NDP 2007-2013. In light of progress on this round of the...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 4 earlier today.

Written Answers — Stadium Development: Stadium Development (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: In response to approaches from South Dublin County Council, the FAI and Shamrock Rovers FC, a commitment was given that funding would be provided towards the completion of Tallaght Stadium as a soccer stadium. I understand that a local GAA club has sought a judicial review of the decision of South Dublin County Council to develop the facility as a soccer facility. It is unfortunate that the...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: A special grant of €200,000 has been allocated in 2007 towards the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Dublin Theatre Festival. This is a very prestigious festival and it is worthy of this special recognition this year. In addition, the Arts Council has provided €805,000 in the current year to the Festival for its theatre programme, administrative cost etc. The 50th...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Overseas development policy and programmes in general are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The White Paper on Irish Aid, published by the Government last September, outlines the challenges and opportunities for the Government's aid programme, entitled Irish Aid, over the coming years. The White Paper, inter alia, aims to strengthen coherence in our approach to...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The group in question were provisionally allocated €9,000 for sports equipment under the 2006 Sports Capital Programme. No drawdown of this grant has taken place to date and, in this context, the...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: One test of competitiveness is whether we can maintain and increase market share. Certainly, on the basis of our record-breaking performance in 2006, we are doing that. That record run has continued into 2007. For the first quarter of 2007, reports from the Central Statistics Office show that visitor numbers are up by over 6% on the corresponding period in 2006 while the associated revenue is...

Written Answers — Arts Council: Arts Council (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140 and 141 together. All of the information sought by the Deputy is not currently available, other than for the Great Southern Hotels collection, which was returned to the State last year. Last April my Department requested the Arts Council to carry out an audit of purchases made under the Joint Purchase Scheme. The Council estimate that the audit will take...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The number of posts decentralised by my Department, under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, is 49 to date. The location of these posts is in the temporary accommodation secured for my Department in Fossa, Killarney. The number of posts in my Department in Dublin has been reduced by a corresponding number and there has been no material effect on my Department's overall number of...

Museum Accident: Statements (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I wish to make a short statement on the incident at the Natural History Museum this morning. Late this morning, part of a limestone stairs in the private part of the Natural History Museum fractured and collapsed. Some 21 primary teachers attending a science appreciation course were in that part of the building at the time. A number of those attending were in the vicinity of the stairs....

Museum Accident: Statements (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for your flexibility in allowing my statement to be taken.

National Theatre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Last autumn the Government decided to proceed with the redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at George's Dock on a build, finance and maintain basis. Arising from the Government decision, an interagency steering committee was set up to oversee the project. The committee is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives of the National Development Finance Agency, the Office of Public...

National Theatre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I thank the Deputy for his kind wishes. The portfolio is a bit of a change from social welfare. I look forward to working with the Opposition spokespersons for the benefit of the arts, sport and tourism in Ireland. The completion date I have for the entire project is 2010. In the course of the next three years, therefore, all these steps must be taken. The best estimate I have from the...