Results 1,621-1,640 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: My policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, increase access to and participation in the arts and make the arts an integral and valued part of all facets of national life. It is my belief that the arts are critical to the health of society, to enhancing the life of local communities and to giving expression to place and identity. I recognise that the...

Written Answers — Arts Policy: Arts Policy (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Report on The Arts, Cultural Inclusion and Social Cohesion, to which the Deputy refers, from the National Economic and Social Forum (NESF) is a substantial and comprehensive document. It recommends a series of initiatives aimed at supporting increased participation in the arts and on creating a more inclusive and cohesive society. Such complex and cross-cutting proposals require to be...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The decision by the Government to provide financial assistance for the development of the new stadium at Lansdowne Road was in response to a joint proposal from the IRFU and the FAI. As the ownership of the stadium was not, and is not, jointly shared between the IRFU and the FAI, that particular aspect did not form part of the Government's consideration of the proposal. Under the Sports...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Agreed Programme for Government commits to the roll out of the Local Sports Partnership programme on a nationwide basis to provide for the development of sport at local level. The Irish Sports Council has a statutory role in the promotion and development of sport, including initiatives such as the Local Sports Partnership network, through which sports initiatives at local level are...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I am well aware of the positive role which participation in sport and the arts can have on young people, including in drugs prevention. Such participation has a positive impact on character formation and development and acts as an antidote to social misbehaviour. The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by the Department, has a statutory role in increasing participation in...

Written Answers — National Library: National Library (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Recognising the inadequacy of the premises occupied by the Library, the State has, since the mid 1990s, supported a major redevelopment programme of those premises. This programme which is being overseen by the Office of Public Works comprises 9 separate phases and includes the upgrading of the security and sprinkler systems in various buildings, the refurbishment of the former National...

Written Answers — National Aquatic Centre: National Aquatic Centre (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 287 together. The National Aquatic Centre reverted to the control of Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Ltd, now the National Sports Campus Development Authority, on 1 December 2006 following High Court proceedings against the previous operators for failure to comply with the terms of their lease. As part of the contingency planning for the...

Written Answers — Arts Reports: Arts Reports (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 101 together. I am aware that the draft report prepared by the Special Committee on Arts and Education, jointly commissioned by my Department and the Department of Education and Science, has been under consideration by our two Departments with the Arts Council in recent months. I should point out however, that the publication of the report is in fact...

Written Answers — Departmental Reviews: Departmental Reviews (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my predecessor's reply to Parliamentary Question reference number 31505/07 on the 29th November, 2007, and Parliamentary Question reference number 10973/08 on the 13th March, 2008, which outlined the background to the Heritage Fund. A very positive review of the governance and operation of the Heritage Fund, which is now virtually depleted, has been completed. As the...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The amount of funding available for spending on sport in 2008 is €336 million which demonstrates a clear and substantial commitment to investment in sport by this Government. In 2008 my Department has allocated €57.631 million to the Irish Sports Council, an increase since the last Olympic year of €26.9 million, or 87%. One of the ISC's primary functions is to encourage the promotion,...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The funding of the Irish Sports Council and the Arts Council, as with all Departments and State agencies, is a matter for consideration under the annual Budget and Estimates process. Under this process, the Government must balance competing demands from every part of our economy and society. My Department, like all other Departments, is provided with its annual expenditure budget through...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy will be aware that the Report in question contained a number of recommendations. While some of these recommendations were relevant to the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism (and Agencies under the Department's remit), there were a number of recommendations which come under the remit of other Government Departments, including the Department of Education and Science. The Irish...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I understand that a levy of €1 per bed per night is among a number of measures considered by Dublin City Council to raise revenue in the context of a submission to the Commission on Taxation and that this has been included in the Council's proposals to the Commission on Taxation, which falls under the aegis of the Minister for Finance. The tourism industry, including hotels, already...

Written Answers — National Museum: National Museum (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 104 together. Since the National Museum of Ireland became an autonomous statutory body under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997 on 3rd May 2005, the Board of the National Museum is statutorily responsible for operational matters concerning its collection and I, as Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, do not have a statutory function in...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Funding for the Arts Council has increased by over 72% from €47.67 million in 2002 to €82.102 million in 2008. These are significant amounts of taxpayers' money in any context and have transformed the arts sector, increasing access to and participation in the arts for all our citizens. The Government's commitment to the arts is evidenced by these substantial increases in funding. This...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The Sports Capital Programme is the primary vehicle for the development of sports facilities across the country. The aim of the Programme is to maximise participation in sport through the...

Written Answers — Arts Promotion: Arts Promotion (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: It is my belief that the arts are critical to the well-being of society, enhancing the life of local communities, and giving artistic expression to place and identity. Much work has been done to develop the arts at a local level, not necessarily based on the Local Sports Partnerships, which are a specific model of practice. The Arts Council, An Chomhairle Ealaíon, which is funded by the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Two of the three Assistant Secretaries serving in the Department have agreed to serve in Killarney in due course under the Government's programme of decentralisation.

Written Answers — Cultural Institutions: Cultural Institutions (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Consideration is not currently being given to a proposal to create a museum quarter on a green field site as referred to by the Deputy. The national cultural institutions currently occupy buildings and locations, which are of great aesthetic, historical and cultural significance. The State has invested considerably in the development of these locations and is continuing to do so. The...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: In the Arts and Culture Plan 2008 the Department has indicated that it aims to undertake a programme to encourage philanthropic support of the arts, and the Arts Council, funded by the Department, has completed a position paper on the subject. This paper is currently under active internal discussion and once this has been completed it is intended to develop a more precise strategy in...