Results 11,421-11,440 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Written Answers — Sports Facilities: Sports Facilities (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: A national audit of local sports facilities is being undertaken as part of the development of a long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities. The inter-agency steering group established to oversee this work has decided to focus on establishing a comprehensive database in respect of national and regional sports facilities as a first step in meeting this commitment. My...
- Written Answers — Tourist Accommodation: Tourist Accommodation (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: As I have previously advised the House, I do not have responsibility for the registration and listing of tourist accommodation facilities. This is a day-to-day function of Fáilte Ireland under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003. However, I am aware that the bed and breakfast and guest house sectors have experienced a loss in market share in recent years for a number of...
- Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The tax exemption for artists will continue to be of great benefit to artists in Ireland. An adjustable cap of â¬250,000 on annual tax-exempt earnings has been applied but this will have no impact whatsoever on the vast majority of artists, who earn well below that amount. The feedback available to me indicates that artists in general very much welcome the retention of the scheme,...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Based on extensive research carried out on behalf of our tourism agencies, it is clear that Ireland's heritage and culture are a major selling point for overseas and domestic holidaymakers. In 2004, 2.3 million overseas visitors interacted with some aspect of the heritage and culture product. It is also the most popular tourism product among domestic tourists. Both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte...
- Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I regard the film sector as an essential part of our national cultural life. It has also been demonstrated conclusively that the film sector can bring significant economic benefits to this country. However, like any other traded sector, it is subject to the dynamics of international competition, including exchange rates, lower cost structures and new and enhanced incentives elsewhere. The...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery funded 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 for funding under the 2006 programme were invited through advertisements in the press on 27 and 28 November 2005. The...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery funded 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. The closing date for applications under the 2006 sports capital programme was Friday, 20 January 2006, with in excess of 1,300...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery funded 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. Schools may only apply for funding jointly with local sports clubs or community groups and must show a clear need for the proposed...
- Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: Government policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all their forms, increase access to and participation in the arts, and make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council, an independent body funded by the Department and independent in...
- Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by the 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 for funding under the 2006 programme were invited through advertisements in the press on 27 and 28 November 2005. The...
- Sports Capital Programme. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: It should be pointed out that since 1998, under the sports capital programme, 4,923 grants have been awarded to various sporting organisations. This has occurred in every city, town, village and parish. The value of the grants in total is â¬395 million. Children would have access to these facilities. We have covered considerable ground in providing sporting facilities for the nation. As the...
- Sports Capital Programme. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: We have made more progress in the provision of sports facilitiesââ
- Sports Capital Programme. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: ââthroughout the country than was ever made before. It is obvious that the 4,900 facilities which are in place are available to children, as well as adults, in the relevant localities. It is clear that applications from schools which have the support of local communities will be considered. I remind Deputy Deenihan that the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism is responsible for the...
- Tourism Industry. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: As I previously advised the House in response to similar questions on 17 November 2005, individual actions and measures relating to tourism promotion and development in specific areas of the country are day-to-day functions of the State tourism agencies. I was pleased to launch the economic report referred to by the Deputy, The Case of Ireland West, which was commissioned by Ireland West...
- Tourism Industry. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I do not doubt that the concentration on the regions by Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland will lead to an increase in agri-tourism. It is important to point out that the west had a better tourism year in 2005 than in 2004. I agree with Deputy Wall that access is of crucial importance. In that context, it is particularly welcome that transatlantic traffic increased by 17% last year. The...
- Olympic Games. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 34 together. The staging of the Olympic Games in London in 2012 will offer this country some great opportunities in the fields of tourism and sport, as well as in the wider business area. As a nation, Ireland must be prepared to take full advantage of its proximity to this event. As I have already indicated, I intend to establish an interagency group to...
- Olympic Games. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: I appreciate Deputy Wall's intervention and recognise the important opportunities provided for Ireland as a result of the London Olympics 2012. We have to plan ahead. The agency will be established as soon as possible this year and will have the role of making the necessary contacts with a view to maximising the opportunities for Ireland. We should state our strengths. There has been...
- Olympic Games. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: We will certainly give consideration to any application which the University of Limerick makes, although such an application would possibly be more appropriate to the Department of Education and Science.
- Olympic Games. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: If Deputy Deenihan feels our Department is the only hope I suppose we will look at it and do what we possibly can.
- Olympic Games. (26 Jan 2006)
John O'Donoghue: In reply to Deputy Deenihan's question on the institute of sport, we have had some important developments in recent months in the world of sport, namely the GAA's recognition in tangible terms of the integrity of its congress's decision with regard to Croke Park and the fact that we will start the sports campus at Abbotstown this year, allied to the application for planning permission having...