Results 121-140 of 1,984 for at speaker:Thomas Byrne

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (12 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I recognise both the importance of sport and physical activity for the health and well-being of our society and the need to support the sporting sector to ensure that opportunities are in place to allow all members of society to participate in sport. Since 2020, this Government has provided over €177 million in Covid-19 funding to support the sport sector in addressing the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Funding (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: In terms of sport, our number one aim is to have more participation. While we do not get involved in the internal GAA discussions on hurling in individual counties, the way the competitions work or who can take part, our overriding aim in funding sports bodies is to have more participation. I note that a decision is upcoming which the counties concerned will be satisfied with. I welcome...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Funding (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: There is no doubt that we are prioritising the funding of sports facilities through the LSSIF, through the sports capital and equipment programme and through our general funding to Sport Ireland as well. We aim to ensure that a wide range of sports are provided for across the entire country. That has been evident from the work we have done to date. We want to promote our elites to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: European Council (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: At last week's EU Sports Council, Ministers approved conclusions on women and equality in the field of sport. The conclusions emphasise the importance of access to a safe, inclusive and equal playing field, free from any form of inequality, discrimination or violence. These conclusions emphasise the particular need to increase the share of women participation in coaching and leadership...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sport and Recreational Development (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Addressing women’s participation at all levels in sport is an important element of the National Sports Policy 2018-2027 and Minister Martin and I are committed to ensuring that we continue to provide increased opportunities for female participation at all levels. In the recent Budget announcement, we announced an increase of €8 million or 5% in the sport budget for 2024....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Facilities (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: In November 2022, the Government approved a new Masterplan for the development of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus. The Masterplan provides a framework for the further development of the campus over the next 15 to 20 years and identifies the next key high-level projects for development. The first high-level project for delivery under the new masterplan is likely to be the National...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Organisations (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreed between the Government and the Association to which the Deputy refers was signed in January 2020 and it enabled Sport Ireland to restore funding of €2.9 million per annum to the organisation and to provide additional annual funding of €2.9 million for football development up to and including 2023. In recognition of the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The National Sports Policy, which was published in 2018, provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and national governing bodies of sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published evaluation procedures and guidelines and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Events (5 Dec 2023)

Thomas Byrne: In addition to the regular major sports events organised by the various National Governing Bodies of Sport, Govenment input has played a role in the hosting of major sporting events of varying sizes across many sports since the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 1998. These events have included events with a strong focus on tourism such as the US College Classic American football...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: ...Seanadóir as an ábhar tábhachtach seo a chur ag tús an tseisiúin inniu. The Minister for Transport, who is unable to be present, has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts and in line with the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I will certainly say that to the Minister for Transport. He does tell me though that the belief is that the need for lay-bys has reduced due to the increase in the provision of service areas. Road safety inspections, carried out in accordance with the road infrastructure safety management directive, have highlighted lay-bys as an area of concern on safety grounds. I understand the TII...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Wastewater Treatment (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir. As the Senator will be aware, the Department provides funding for water services in rural Ireland where no Uisce Éireann services are available. The Department's multi-annual rural water programme uses Exchequer funding to deliver improvements to water services in rural Ireland. As part of the funding provided, the Department currently...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Senator for raising this matter as it lets me have the opportunity to provide an update to the Seanad on the current position relating to the provision of a new school building for Clonturk Community College. Clonturk Community College is a multidenominational school under the patronage of City of Dublin Education and Training Board, ETB. It was established in September 2016 as a...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Water Supply (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for raising the question. Indeed, we have our own water supply issues in my constituency where there are areas left for significant periods without water but, thanks to the investment the Government is putting into my constituency and, indeed, to the Deputy's constituency at Clare Island, I believe these problems are being ironed out and solved. A number of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I want to assure the Deputy that the Minister recognises that connectivity is hugely important. The Deputy has agreed with me that there has been a lot of Government investment in public transport. That is the case, and I know that the Deputy and I were strong backers and supporters of that. It is true that some areas are losing a direct connection but if the service is running as...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Bus Services (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: ...;bhachtach é seo. I think you need more buses. There is no doubt about it. The Deputy has raised a lot of issues there and I will be happy to pass them to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, and make it clear what Deputy’s constituents are saying. The Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and funding but neither the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disease Management (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to discuss this matter and I acknowledge his work in the area. Many rare conditions are complex and the impact for patients living with them can be severe. At times, it can be difficult to access appropriate medications and technology. The development of a successor to the previous national rare diseases plan is a key priority for the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Enrolments (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: ...leis an Teachta as an t-ábhar seo a ardú. It gives me the opportunity to set out for the House the position on post-primary school places in Greystones in September of next year. I assure the Deputy that the provision of school places to meet the needs of children and young people at primary and post-primary levels, including children and young people with special educational...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Sports Funding (28 Nov 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The latest round of the SCEP (2023) closed for applications on Friday 8 September 2023. A preliminary examination of the submitted applications demonstrates that the Programme has again generated a large number of applications, including one for a project at St. Mary's N.S Arva, and it is evident that the total number of applications will exceed the previous record of 3,106 applications...