Results 181-200 of 12,487 for speaker:John O'Donoghue

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 60 together. One of the key objectives of national tourism policy is to achieve as wide as possible a distribution of visitor numbers across the different regions with the consequent distribution of tourism revenue. Achieving that goal has long been recognised as a major challenge and is something that is fully reflected in the programmes and...

Written Answers — National Stadium: National Stadium (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 254 together. The Government decided at its meeting on 27 January 2004 to approve the provision of substantial funding towards the IRFU-FAI proposals to redevelop Lansdowne Road stadium as a 50,000 seat state of the art stadium. This proposal was brought to the Government following consideration of a joint proposal by the IRFU and the FAI to meet the...

Written Answers — Lansdowne Road Development: Lansdowne Road Development (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The delivery of the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road will be the responsibility of a special purpose vehicle currently being established by the IRFU and the FAI. My Department has not had any meetings with local residents to discuss the proposed development nor are any such meetings planned. The IRFU is in contact with the local residents about the re-development programme and I am kept...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Shannon Development's remit in the promotion and development of tourism in the Shannon region is the research, promotion and pro-active stimulation of investment in new, high-standard tourism products; the development and marketing, through its subsidiary company Shannon Heritage, of its own tourism products; the management and development of the activities of the tourist information office...

Written Answers — Safety of Tourists: Safety of Tourists (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: As I indicated previously in this House in my response to Question No. 153 of 6 April 2004, I deplore any incidents of crime against tourists as they are a vulnerable group away from their home country and without a network of family and friends to support them. I applaud the work of the Tourist Victim Support Service and I am encouraged by the support and close co-operation that the service...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 252 together. The challenges facing the tourism industry have been clearly articulated in the Report of the Tourism Policy Review Group, New Horizons for Irish Tourism — An Agenda for Action, which was launched last September. Not alone did the report devise a future strategy for the continued development of the sector, it recommended a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Sports Facilities Audit: Sports Facilities Audit (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: A national audit of local sports facilities should be undertaken as part of the development of a long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities. The first step towards developing such a strategy, a review of the existing sports capital programme under the Department's expenditure review programme, is currently being finalised. The outcome of this review will help identify the...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The CSO figures for the first two months of this year show a promising start to 2004, with overall numbers up 10% on the same period in 2003. In terms of Ireland's key markets, our performances in North America and continental European markets have again been encouraging, with visitor numbers showing growth of 15% and 11% respectively. I would strike a note of caution, however, in attempting...

Written Answers — National Concert Hall: National Concert Hall (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question on 25 February 2004. The OPW has recently commissioned an outline report on the feasibility of reconfiguring the entirety of the Earlsfort site to meet the long term needs of the National Concert Hall. The report is currently under examination. I hope thereafter to bring proposals to Government for approval.

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: There has been a fundamental re-organisation of our national tourism agencies in recent years. Following the Good Friday Agreement, Tourism Ireland Limited was established in December 2000 to market the island of Ireland overseas as a tourism destination. It took over the overseas marketing functions of the then Bord Fáilte and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Last year, I established a...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: As indicated in response to Question No. 774 of 30 September 2003, Fáilte Ireland has a voluntary scheme for the validation of all listed and registered accommodation that provides for the needs of people with disabilities. Responsibility for the development of specific tourism products, including those for people with disabilities, and regions rests with Fáilte Ireland under the National...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: As I outlined in response to parliamentary questions on this matter earlier today, the preparatory work leading to the construction of a new stadium at Lansdowne Road is already under way. Since the Government's decision of 27 January to support a joint IRFU-FAI proposal to redevelop Lansdowne Road Stadium as a 50,000 all seated stadium, my Department has been working with both the IRFU and...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Under the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 Bord na gCon is the statutory agency responsible for the promotion and development of greyhound racing in Ireland. All State funding allocated under section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act 2001 to Bord na gCon is specifically for the use by the board in the performance of its functions. Section 16(c) of the Greyhound Industry...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Tá sé i gceist agam Ceisteanna Uimh. 242, 243 agus 244 a thógáil le chéile. Ní eagraíonn mo Roinnse comórtais chun nuachtáin a roghnú lena fhógraí preas a fhoilsiú. Tá na socruithe ar fad a dhéantar i dtaca le fógraí preas bunaithe ar an aidhm go mbeidh siad le feiceáil ag an oiread den phobal agus is féidir. Rinneadh an cinneadh fógraí preas a chur i bhFoinse ar an...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: Kilkenny Borough Council applied for funding under the local authority swimming pool programme in respect of a proposed replacement swimming pool for Kilkenny and the Department's technical advisors found the preliminary report to be satisfactory. However, I am advised that Kilkenny Borough Council has decided on an alternative site to that originally proposed and a revised preliminary report...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: The Deputy will be aware that, since 1998, under the national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, funding of €321 million has been allocated to 4,250 projects, providing a range of high quality indoor and outdoor facilities across a wide spectrum of sports and activities which can be enjoyed and utilised by people of all age groups, interest and...

Written Answers — Archaeological Sites: Archaeological Sites (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: There has been an unprecedented level of infrastructural and private development work in Ireland in recent years. In 2003 there were more than 2500 licensed excavations, the vast majority of which were development led. These excavations have covered all periods from the prehistoric period through to modern times and included archaeological activity in every county. The nature and volume of...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: I have met the promoters of the Anna Livia Opera Festival and explained that Government support for the arts is, in the main, channelled through the Arts Council, which is autonomous in the disbursement of its funds. It would therefore not be possible for me to make funding directly available to this festival.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: On 7 May 2004 I announced provisional allocations to 717 projects totalling €50.8 million in funding under the national lottery-funded 2004 sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department. Details of these allocations are available on my Department's website, dast.gov.ie. In addition I have approved a grant of €500,000 to the Olympic Council of Ireland towards the...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (25 May 2004)

John O'Donoghue: A list of the organisations that I have met regarding the arts according to my office records is in the appendix herewith. Appendix. Organisations with which meetings were held from 2002 to present: Abbey Theatre Anna Livia International Opera Festival Arts Council. Association of Professional Dancers in Ireland. Chester Beatty Library. Comhaltas Ceolteori Eireann Cork City Council Cork Opera...