Results 1,641-1,660 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Sport Facilities Audit: Sport Facilities Audit (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: The nationwide audit of sports facilities has commenced and is being carried out in stages to help speed up the availability of information. Phase one, which focuses on national and regional sports facilities, has now been completed within my Department. Phase two of the audit, which is a more complex undertaking to establish a record of existing sports facilities at local level and...

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

Martin Cullen: While responsibility for any system to promote internships would come within the remit of the Boards and management of the individual Institutions, I will bring the Deputy's interest in this matter to their attention.

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 300 together. The Government has provided an amount of €149m in the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 for the development of a National Sports Campus at Abbotstown. In November 2005 the Government approved the commencement of Phase One of the development of the National Sports Campus on the basis of a Development Control Plan prepared by...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: A Value for Money and Policy Review Report of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme has been completed by my Department. The Report examined, among other things, how the programme has worked to date, and what changes are required to ensure its effective and efficient delivery in the future. The recommendations in the report will be used to assist in formulating future policy in this...

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

Martin Cullen: The Department supports the provision of new arts facilities around the country through the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS). The ACCESS scheme is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved participation in the arts for large numbers of people, including community groups, nationwide. The scheme has been widely acknowledged...

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

Martin Cullen: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations. It is the main vehicle for development of sports facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The Programme aims to foster an integrated and planned approach to developing sports and physical...

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

Martin Cullen: In November 2007, the National Archives of Ireland launched the on-line version of the 1901 & 1911 National Census. Access to this service is available free of charge and has proven to be very popular already with up to 17 million hits on the web site in its first month of operation. In relation to the availability of the pre-1900 Church Birth, Marriage and Death records, in 2006 an Advisory...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: In 2007, funding of almost €2 million was allocated from the dormant accounts fund through my Department for projects to increase participation in sports and recreation in disadvantaged areas. In total 781 worthwhile projects throughout the country, including a number of GAA clubs, are benefiting from grants ranging from €500 to €10,000. A variety of sporting and recreation activities...

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

Martin Cullen: I am informed that Fáilte Ireland have launched an innovation fund which offers assistance towards the production of feasibility studies for innovative tourism products. Details of the scheme can be found on the Fáilte Ireland website www.failteireland.ie. This fund complements a range of other product development schemes which have been launched over the past year to support tourism...

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

Martin Cullen: Fáilte Ireland is committed to continued support for a number of key festivals in 2008 and following years under the Festivals and Cultural Events Initiative, the primary aim of which is to encourage the spatial spread of visitors throughout the country by strategically investing in attractive and sustainable festivals and cultural events that enhance the local tourism product and in turn...

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

Martin Cullen: Tourism Ireland, the North South body with responsibility for the overseas marketing of the island of Ireland as a holiday destination, completed and published its review of New and Developing Markets in December last year. The Review includes a range of measures and initiatives to grow tourism business from these markets and confirms that visitors from the Asia-Pacific region will be...

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

Martin Cullen: As is the case in public private partnership projects, facilitating the success of the Centre, which has the title The Convention Centre Dublin, is primarily a matter for the promoters, Spencer Dock Convention Centre Dublin Ltd. However, Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland and the Dublin Convention Bureau are working closely with the operators in marketing the Centre to secure booking for 2010,...

Written Answers — Regional Conference Centres: Regional Conference Centres (13 May 2008)

Martin Cullen: Working under the direction of a Steering Group chaired by Fáilte Ireland, consultants were appointed in March to examine the feasibility of the proposed Conference Centre. It is expected that the results of this study will be available in June 2008.

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

Martin Cullen: Fáilte Ireland's International Sports Tourism Initiative is designed to attract major sporting events that can showcase Ireland as a major tourism destination. The events targeted must have the ability to generate significant international media coverage for Ireland and to deliver economic benefits in terms of tourism revenue. Recent major events supported under the initiative include the...

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

Martin Cullen: The Fáilte Ireland Human Resource Development Strategy for Irish Tourism 2005-2010 'Competing through People' looks to people working in the tourism industry as a principal source of competitive advantage, and their skills as a key variable in delivering strong business results. I am informed by Fáilte Ireland that the following progress has been made in implementing the strategy since the...

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

Martin Cullen: I am informed by Fáilte Ireland that a partnership of the Town and County Homes Association (TCHA) and Irish Farm Holidays (IFH) has come together, with the encouragement of Fáilte Ireland, to develop a number of theme-based holiday packages. Over 30 B&B owners in 14 counties have been selected and have agreed their specialist areas. The owners participated in a series of workshops...

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

Martin Cullen: Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by the Department, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The 2008 programme was advertised on 13th and 14th of January and the deadline for receipt of applications was 29th February for paper-based applications and 7th March for on-line applications....

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

Martin Cullen: Maintaining and enhancing competitiveness is a major issue for Irish tourism as it is for the economy as a whole. In addressing that issue, it is important to bear in mind that competitiveness is about more than price and costs. It is generally agreed that Ireland cannot and, indeed, should not attempt to compete on the basis of costs with mass tourism destinations. In considering the...

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

Martin Cullen: Following the announcement of the Government's decentralisation programme in the 2004 budget, the Department, which has a staff of 130, excluding the National Archives which is part of the Department, was designated an "early mover" by the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG). The original date set by the DIG for the decentralisation of the Department to Killarney was the 2nd quarter...

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 303 to 305, inclusive, together. The Department supports the provision of new arts facilities around the country through the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme (ACCESS). The ACCESS scheme is a key element in the Government's regional arts strategy and has greatly improved participation in the arts for large numbers of people, of all...