Results 141-160 of 2,038 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Thomas Byrne

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I know.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: It is welcome that more people are not just participating in women's sport, but also supporting it, which is important. I saw that myself in Páirc Tailteann recently when there was a men's match and a women's match one after the other, with similar crowds. That would not have been the case previously. I have a personal commitment to this through my family. I know someone who...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Facilities (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Deputy for his ongoing support and representations on the football centre of excellence for Munster in Glanmire. The work he has done as a councillor and in the Dáil has been important to the project. The large scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, was launched in 2018 to provide Exchequer support for larger sports facility projects, with at least €100 million...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Facilities (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I would be more than happy to attend any meeting on this matter. The Government has allocated more than €2 million to this project, and that money is still there. I understand the issues the Deputy has raised and his commitment to the project. This weekend, I will be attending the President's Cup match in ladies soccer. I am sure I will bump into officials from the FAI at that. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Facilities (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I do not have to hand the figures on the percentage of the fund that has been drawn down, but I can think of one project in my constituency where part of it is almost complete. Regarding phase 1, the original cost estimate was €3,858,473 and the Government awarded €2,025,699, so by any standard, the Government grant was a significant allocation towards the original cost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 109 together. Addressing the participation of women and girls in sport and physical activity is an important element of national sports policy and is a core priority for me and the Minister. Along with Sport Ireland, we will continue to promote and encourage greater participation in sport by women and girls. The Government has provided a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy raised the issue of Anaïs O'Donovan previously and I know that Sport Ireland is aware of her situation. I certainly will get back in contact with the agency on that case. It takes responsibility for managing that funding. Just to be clear, I do not think there is any discrimination there in terms of gender but it is related to the particular sport in which I understand she...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: We did not receive notification.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I apologise. I was not anticipating the swap. I thought I was No. 4. I thank the Deputy for bearing with me. I know the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has already given an initial reply. As the Deputy knows, the sports capital and equipment programme is the main vehicle for the development of sports and recreation facilities. More than €1.15 billion has been spent on that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (21 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: We will be in a position to do that in due course. I came into the Department just before Christmas. The review was under way. We provided some input into it and the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has done the same. It will mean that the sports capital programme will be better. There was no specific allocation when we opened the programme the last time. The decision was made during...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourist Accommodation (15 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Martin. The Deputy has raised the issue of support measures for businesses and individuals dependent on seasonal tourism that may be adversely affected by the reduction in capacity this season due to hotels and other tourism accommodation being used to house international asylum...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourist Accommodation (15 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The work that has been done by the State and the people in welcoming refugees, particularly from Ukraine, over the past year has given a tremendous reputational boost to this country and that will have impacts across the economy and society to the benefit of everyone. We have done the right thing and we will benefit from that, apart from...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Schemes (2 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising the issue. I thank her and her colleagues for their relentless advocacy of tourism and business in Sligo and for the constructive approach they have taken on this. I am fully aware of the beautiful tourist sites in Sligo. Deputy Harkin mentioned Rosses Point in particular but she is right to say there are many others, including Knocknarea, Lough Gara and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Tourism Schemes (2 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The Deputy raised the issue of support schemes and compensation measures to help businesses and individuals that are dependent on seasonal tourism, which could be adversely affected by the reduction in capacity available this season due to hotels and other tourism accommodation being used to house international asylum seekers and Ukrainian people fleeing war. I thank her for relaying the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I absolutely agree with the Deputy that it would be wonderful to see Katie Taylor in Croke Park. To that end, my very first meeting with anyone from outside the Department was with Katie Taylor's manager, Brian Peters, in the early part of January. It was explained to us that there was a funding gap between what the promoters were prepared to pay for the fight and what the fight would...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: The situation is that there was much discussion about this issue, with parents being on to all of us last year. I was engaging with the board of management at that time, and with Department officials as well. On 2 September 2022, an agreement was completed regarding this project happening. The school was then told to go about doing it. It did that and appointed a design team to do the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (1 Feb 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Leas-Cheann Chomhairle. I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague in the Department of Education, the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, who is not available. I thank Deputy O'Rourke for raising this matter as it provides me with the opportunity to outline to the Dáil the current position in respect of the accommodation needs of Ratoath Junior National School, in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jan 2023)

Thomas Byrne: Cuirim fáilte roimh na páistí atá anseo ó Scoil Mobhí i nGlas Naíon. Tá fáilte rompu isteach sa Dáil inniu. I was talking about my wife playing sport. Coincidentally, she used to play Gaelic in Na Fianna, next door to our visitors. That is a complete coincidence. The Deputy raised important questions. I, the Minister and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Funding (26 Jan 2023)

Thomas Byrne: I do not reject a sports facility strategy; I rejected Deputy Andrews's proposal to move away from a sports capital programme.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sports Funding (26 Jan 2023)

Thomas Byrne: What he said about the Minister of State's constituency is not true. Every constituency did better in the last sports capital allocation.