Results 10,581-10,600 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Under Section 25 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999, which established the Council as the statutory body responsible for the promotion and development of sport in Ireland, the Council is required to prepare and present to me a three-year strategy statement for the period 2006-2008. I was happy to approve and, subsequently, launch the Council's three-year strategy "Building Sport for Life"...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Since 1998 this Government has provided over â¬900 million towards the development of new sporting infrastructure and sports programmes. Included in this figure is an amount of â¬469.8m in sports capital funding which has been allocated to 5,721 projects throughout the country which is now having a major impact on the range and quality of sports facilities. Almost â¬11m has been provided...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: 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 programme is advertised on an annual basis. Applications submitted to the programme must meet certain minimum qualifying conditions before they can qualify for funding. These include: evidence of...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 47 and 53 together. It is widely recognised that the selection of London as the host city for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games offers an unprecedented opportunity for Ireland particularly in the areas of sport, business, tourism, and arts and culture. Aside from the obvious economic and monetary benefits that London 2012 may bring for...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I would refer the Deputy to my detailed reply to Priority Question No. 3.
- Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I am not aware of any negative impact on tourism arising from the implementation of the Official Languages Act. Indeed, the implementation of the Act appears to have generated a vast amount of free publicity for An Daingean in particular. As far as travel is concerned, the important thing is that the maps and guides fall into line with the official place names and signs as would be normal...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: In November 2005 the Government gave its assent to the commencement of phase one of the development of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. The estimated overall cost of the Phase 1 development is â¬119m and development is scheduled to take place over a 4 to 5 year period. Planning and preparatory work for this project has commenced and work is already underway on the refurbishment of...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 44 together. The nationwide audit of sports facilities has commenced and is being carried out in stages to help speed up the availability of information. Phase one of the audit will establish a record of national and regional sports facilities and is being carried out within my Department. The work currently being undertaken is a data gathering...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I continue to keep in touch with the Minister for Finance on this issue which is, of course, of key interest to those involved in seeking to develop our business tourism, in particular, our conference and meetings business.
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: In December 2002, I put in place a high-level Tourism Policy Review Group to report on the state of the Irish tourism industry and to indicate future strategies for the development of a sustainable tourism industry. The Group published its Report, 'New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action', in September 2003. This Report set out a comprehensive tourism development strategy,...
- Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 42 together. Government policy for the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy. Having regard for the statutory functions of the Arts Council as set out in Section 9 of the Arts Act 2003, and in accordance with section 21 of that Act, a Special Committee has been established to...
- Written Answers — National Conference Centre: National Conference Centre (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 43 together. As I informed the House on 3 October last, in reply to a Written Question, Spencer Dock International Conference Centre Consortium has been appointed Preferred Tenderer for the provision of a National Conference Centre in Dublin. Subsequently, on 18 October last, I was pleased to visit the proposed site for the National Conference Centre...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: There is a need to increase the level of women's participation in sport and physical activity, as less than one in five women come close to achieving what the World Health Organisation deems to be the minimum levels of physical activity necessary for good health. Research by the Economic and Social Research Institute into participation rates indicated that 25% of women participate in sport...
- Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The development and delivery of the campaign referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Tourism Ireland. I understand that the campaign is being rolled out in Great Britain, the United States and Continental Europe and incorporates a strong focus on promoting a wider regional spread of visitors. The core elements of the marketing campaign include advertising on television and...
- Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: On 24th August last, I announced additional investment of â¬16.4 million in the arts and culture sector, which is to be divided between the Arts Council, the Irish Film Board and theatre and arts organisations throughout the country. This allocation was as a direct result of savings that have been made in my Department. A total of 29 arts and cultural projects will benefit from the funding...
- Written Answers — National Stadium: National Stadium (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: In January 2004, the Government agreed to provide funding of â¬191million, phased over 5 years, to the joint IRFU/FAI project for the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Stadium as a 50,000-seat stadium. The estimated total cost of the project is â¬365m and the IRFU and FAI will provide the balance of â¬174m. On 31 July 2006, Dublin City Council granted planning permission for the project,...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: While responsibility for funding of school sports facilities rests with the Department of Education and Science, it is open to projects located on school grounds to apply for funding for sports facilities accessible also to the wider community under my Department's sports capital programme. Applications to the programme from primary and post-primary schools and colleges must be made jointly...
- Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Under the current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme the following projects have been/are being dealt in the Dublin area to date: Pool Project Status Funding allocated â¬m Finglas (replacement pool) Completed 3.8 Ballymun (replacement pool) Completed 3.8 Ballyfermot (replacement pool) under construction 3.8 Jobstown (new) under construction 3.8 Clondalkin...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The Government believes that Ireland's strategic interest in aviation is best served by the provision of regular, safe, cost-effective and competitive air services linking the country to key business and tourism markets around the world. The strategic aim in selling a majority of the Government's shares in Aer Lingus is to ensure that the company has sufficient resources, over the long-term,...
- Written Answers — Sports Sponsorship: Sports Sponsorship (26 Oct 2006)
John O'Donoghue: On 22 September 2004, my colleague the Minister for Health & Children launched the Second Report of the Strategic Task Force on Alcohol. My Department and the Irish Sports Council were represented on this Task Force. The Report recommended that national sporting bodies, with high youth participation, develop a proactive strategy to find an alternative to alcohol sponsorship. I support this...