Results 1,001-1,020 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Natural History Museum. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I set out the situation in some detail. Of course I have spoken to the OPW, but the specific question the Deputy is asking me is not in my budget. I am directing her to where the answers to those specific questions lie. I am not trying to be evasive. I do not have that specific information. If Deputy Mitchell has put it down in the question I would have given her the answer.

Natural History Museum. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: Of course I do. I am the one who is getting it open, not keeping it closed.

Natural History Museum. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: In April of this year an exhibition will be put on in the Riding School in Collins Barracks and that will be warmly welcomed by those who want to visit this type of exhibition. They will use the popular exhibits from the Natural History Museum. In light of the economic circumstances, if it is not possible to proceed, I do not want the place to lie dormant. I want the Natural History Museum...

Departmental Bodies. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, annual output statements were introduced in 2007 as a mechanism for Dáil scrutiny of the annual Estimates of expenditure of Government Departments, as part of the Government's ongoing budgetary reform measures. The output statements link budgets to performance targets and, from 2008, they report on progress made in achieving the targets set the previous year....

Departmental Bodies. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: To some degree I agree with Deputy Upton. I have a view on many of these agencies. While the Deputy might think it is difficult to get information, I often find it hard, as the responsible Minister, and that is not healthy. As politicians we peddled a line for years, and others peddled it on our behalf, that everything has to be so-called "independent". Nobody is independent. Everybody...

Departmental Bodies. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: This will not be popular in many quarters but after 20 odd years in this House I believe that the people on all sides of the House are more than capable of being responsible for taxpayers' money. I do not accept that outside agencies are more responsible than we would be.

Arts Funding. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme, ACCESS, is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved access to and participation in the arts for many nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged as a significant intervention in the provision of quality cultural spaces. Facilities funded to date include integrated arts centres, theatres,...

Arts Funding. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: It is €32.5 million in the current round.

Arts Funding. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: Yes, it was approximately €80 million.

Arts Funding. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I am not in a position——

Arts Funding. (28 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I intend, as soon as humanly and economically possible, to open the next round of ACCESS. It will not happen this year but I have not given up on opening up the third round of a successful programme. I take the Deputy's point with regard to the excellence of the facilities and the need to find mechanisms to keep them alive and operating and to deal with normal maintenance. If issues arise...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme there are four principal stages in a swimming pool project. These, in order of progress, are: Feasibility Study/Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. The Department and its technical advisers, the Office of Public Works, evaluate each stage and local authorities cannot proceed to the next stage of a project unless...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 780 to 798, inclusive, together. The accompanying schedule lists each of the relevant tourism commitments and the progress made in advancing them by the Department and the bodies under its aegis. The provision of €300 million to assist the industry, tourism agencies and local authorities in delivering the ambitious world-class product outlined in Fáilte...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 799, 802, 803, 805 to 807, inclusive, 813 to 815, inclusive, and 817 to 820, inclusive, together. The five-year programme for Government includes a series of commitments, in respect of sport, for achievement in the period to 2012. I am pleased to say that action is being taken in a progressive manner in these areas to ensure these targets are met in the...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 800, 801, 808 to 810, inclusive, 811, 812 and 821 together. Complete, in conjunction with the local sports partnerships, a national audit of local sports facilities. [47777/08] Put in place a long-term strategic plan to ensure the development of necessary local facilities here, followed by a yearly monitoring of improvements delivered. [47778/08] Ensure...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: It is not intended to launch a new round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme at this time. The matter will be reviewed again later this year. The priority for the Department will be completion of ongoing projects with the 2009 provision of €18m. The existing programme involves 57 projects. Of those 40 projects have been completed and opened to the public. 6 other pools, which...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: The commitment in the Programme for Government aiming to initiate a financial support package directed at introducing primary school children to swimming and focussed primarily on the costs of transport to and from pools will be considered during the lifetime of the Programme for Government and in the context of available financial resources.

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 822 to 847, inclusive, together. I wish to refer the Deputy to my written reply to Question No. 1114 of 24th September 2008 last on this topic and to confirm that progress is being sustained on all projects commensurate with available resources. Updates on the programme are published regularly and my Department's areas of responsibility are updated in that...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: My Department incurred a total of €95,298 in relation to foreign travel in the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2008. In respect of the agencies under the aegis of the Department, the direct management of travel expenses is a matter for the agencies themselves.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (27 Jan 2009)

Martin Cullen: The staffing of my private office consists of four full time established civil servants including my Private Secretary at Higher Executive Officer level and three Executive Officers. The staffing of my constituency office consists of two established civil servants at Staff Officer and Clerical Officer level. The number of staff appointed by me to my constituency office is as follows: 1...