Results 721-740 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 36 and 43 together. On 5 April last, the contract for the provision of a national conference centre in Dublin was awarded to Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Limited. Under the public private partnership arrangement, Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Limited is required to design, build and finance the national conference centre and to operate and...

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The centre is scheduled to open on 1 September 2010. Once it is open for business, the State will pay the company an annual charge. The maximum total cost over 25 years will be just under €380 million. That is net current value. An annual payment will be made that adds up to no more than €380 million at net current value. I do not know whether there is an additional handover fee....

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: There are very exciting plans for the Luas extension to the docklands area, but I will have to get the dates for the Deputy. They fit in fairly well with the delivery date of 2010. I will have to get more specific delivery dates, but we are committed to developing the Luas in the docklands area, which will be an enormous help to the convention centre.

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: It was studied very carefully and the optimum figure was 2,000 delegates. If we fill it with 2,000 delegates on a regular basis, it will be more beneficial to us than on the rare occasion in which we will get 5,000 or 10,000, unless there is a Fine Gael Ard-Fheis being held.

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I will have another occasion to outline that in more detail. Fáilte Ireland and the Dublin Convention Bureau are already engaged in marketing the centre. They are actively looking for bookings for 2010 and afterwards.

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Both are out there in different geographic locations, along with the Dublin Convention Bureau and the Department. All hands are on deck to secure bookings from 1 September 2010.

National Conference Centre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I take the Deputy's point. The facility will be here at that date and it is incumbent on us to fill the halls. I am greatly encouraged that the bodies are actively marketing at this point to ensure we have bookings. The convention business is long term and companies must book many years in advance. Systems are in place all over the country to book most of our conference facilities for...

National Theatre. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 12 together. I refer the Deputy to my answer earlier today to Priority Question No. 1.

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Government has provided €149 million under the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 for the development of a national sports campus at Abbotstown. The Government has already approved the development of facilities under phase one of a development control plan prepared by CSID, the predecessor of the National Sports Campus Development Authority, NSCDA. These facilities will be...

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: As I said, the FAI is moving there in the autumn. That building is being renovated. The headquarters of the institute of sport are located there also. In due course discussions will be completed with other organisations to determine their intentions. I plan to visit the area in the next few weeks if possible to see the situation for myself and be satisfied as to future developments on the...

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Not this session anyway.

National Stadium. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The short answer to the last question is "No". I do not see any reason for the National Coaching and Training Centre to be interfered with in any way by possible developments at Abbotstown. Even on a regional basis one can see that there is good spread there. I do not see any need to worry from the point of view of Limerick, which has done a superb job and which has the Government's full...

Departmental Objectives. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 26, 37, 41 and 45 together. My priorities for the development of the tourism, sport and arts and culture sectors are set out in the programme for Government. I will formulate policies and objectives, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, to achieve the delivery of these priorities, which will be articulated further in the Department's new...

Departmental Objectives. (5 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Regarding the horse racing and greyhound industries, I fully appreciate the enormous economic, sporting and cultural importance of those two sectors. We will continue to support their growth. Regarding north Dublin, we will do the best we can.

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (4 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I have not had a meeting with the Gaelic Players Association (GPA). I have today received a request from Cumann Lúthchleas Gael to meet with them to discuss, inter alia, player grants. It has been indicated that the Chief Executive of the GAA would be in attendance at such a meeting. I will be responding to this request in due course. The GAA and the GPA submitted a joint proposal to my...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (3 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 322 together. All applications for approval of sports capital projects for tax relief purposes under section 847A Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, have to be submitted to my Department for certification. An application for approval was received from the club in question by my Department and on examination of the proposed project it was found that it was...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 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 — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (3 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: On 27 April 2007, Roscommon County Council submitted to my Department a revised Feasibility Study relating to a proposed public swimming pool in Ballaghaderreen. The Feasibility Study is under consideration at present, in consultation with my Department's technical advisors, the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Jul 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 321 and 326 together. On 28 May 2007 four members were reappointed to the National Tourism Development Authority. The following is the list of current vacancies and vacancies that are due to arise in the period referred to by the Deputies on the Boards of the key bodies under the aegis of my Department. Name of Board / Body Number of Vacancies/ Appointments...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (3 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. Allocations under the 2007 Sports Capital Programme totalling €85 million were announced in April last, including a provisional allocation to the club in question of €80,000 towards an all-weather...