Results 11,541-11,560 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to the Dáil Debates of 13 October 2005, column 1364, where I outlined the position in relation to the implementation of the first two year tourism action plan as recommended in the tourism policy review group's report, New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An Agenda for Action. I expect to receive the implementation group's third and final report early in 2006.
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I am very conscious of the fact that our greater economic prosperity over the last number of years has meant that Irish people are in a position to go on holidays more often and further afield. This has also been good for domestic tourism which has seen a significant increase over a similar period. CSO figures show that international trips by Irish residents have increased from 3.77 million...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, provides funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities. Since 1998, over â¬385 million has been allocated under the sports capital programme to some 4,900 projects in villages,...
- Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Statistics relating to the section 481 scheme, appended herewith, indicate that, with the exception of 2003, there has been a decline in film production in Ireland in recent years. The Government has taken a positive and proactive approach to support for the Irish film industry. The section 481 scheme for investment in film production has been extended to at least 2008 with the amount that...
- Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council, a body funded by my Department but independent on a day-to-day basis. During my own term as the Minister responsible for the arts, funding for the Arts Council has increased by 28% from â¬47.67 million in 2002 to...
- Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 89 together. I refer the Deputy to the Official Report of 13 October 2005 where I outlined the position in respect of the fundamental review of Irish tourism performance and prospects by the tourism policy review group and the implementation of the first two year tourism action plan as recommended in the report titled New Horizons for Irish Tourism: An...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. The House will recall that the Government decided in 2004 to proceed, as financial resources permit, with the development of a campus of sports facilities at Abbotstown. Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited, CSID, undertook an in-depth preparatory process, which included engaging with the major governing bodies of sport and...
- Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: The Government's budget for sport this year is over â¬149 million, as compared with an amount of just â¬17.4 million in 1997. The Government has spent over â¬700 million on sport since 1997. This hugely increased investment in sport has resulted in a considerably enhanced range and quality of programmes and top class facilities from national level to local community clubs and centres...
- Written Answers — Capital Expenditure: Capital Expenditure (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: My Department had no capital projects within the cost range referred to by the Deputy during the period in question.
- Performing Arts. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I agree with everything Deputy Deenihan has said. While an excellent case can be made for the redevelopment of the hall, the Government must have regard to priorities when it comes to sanctioning substantive spending. In that context we are making the best possible case on behalf of the concert hall. There are two costs involved: the cost of the site and the cost of the redevelopment of the...
- Performing Arts. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: This will depend upon the planners and architects and how they intend to proceed with the project. It would be possible to proceed in stages. Every effort will be made to ensure the concert hall can be used. In answer to Deputy Deenihan, the cost of the site is estimated by UCD to be in excess of â¬42 million.
- Sport and Recreational Development. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Officials from my Department have recently met officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland to discuss a number of issues common to both Departments including pursuing opportunities for all-island co-operation in the development of the horse and greyhound racing sectors. A number of difficulties have been identified by officials with regard to an all-island...
- Sport and Recreational Development. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: Deputy Deenihan is correct. Investment in the greyhound industry in the North of Ireland has been quite paltry. I understand no funding has been provided to tracks except for a once-off payment in 2001-2002 of â¬280,000. Bord na gCon believes there is merit in considering a 32-county approach to greyhound racing and it is well positioned to extend its regulatory responsibility to the North....
- Sport and Recreational Development. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: This is one of the many areas which could usefully be addressed by a new executive and assembly in the North of Ireland. It is merely one of numerous examples of how the fact there is no assembly and executive in the North is inhibiting development on a cross-Border basis across several socio-economic sectors, one of which is the greyhound industry. My dearest wish is that we would be in a...
- Sport and Recreational Development. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: No, he did not give any indication.
- Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 28 together. I recently met with David Hanson MP, Northern Ireland's Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure for discussions on a number of sports issues, including the opportunities arising from London hosting the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. The selection of London last July as the host city for the 2012 games offers Ireland an...
- Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: There have been no concrete agreements yet on precisely how we might co-operate on the 2012 Olympic Games. The meeting which I had with Minister Hanson was purely preliminary. We discussed generalities and no concrete proposal came from the meeting other than the fact that we agreed that co-operation was of pivotal importance. In that respect, it also was noted that there is a considerable...
- Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: That possibility exists. We will certainly pursue it to the best of our ability. I acknowledge that Deputy Boyle's suggestion is a good one.
- Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: It is my intention to establish, in the very near future, a wide-ranging group that will seek to ensure that Ireland capitalises as much as possible on London's hosting of the Olympic Games in 2012. The group should obviously comprise people in the tourism industry and the sports sector. It is appropriate that it comprise officials from my Department also. We will, in the very near future,...
- Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. (17 Nov 2005)
John O'Donoghue: There is no doubt that many teams participating in the Olympic Games prefer not to stay in the host country if at all possible because of all the hype involved. They prefer somewhere quieter. There is almost no doubt but that we will attract some teams to this country. An audit of our sports facilities is commencing and it should be completed in two or three years. The interagency group that...