Results 521-540 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Sports Recognition: Sports Recognition (31 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: In my reply to Question No. 554 on 26th September, I informed the Deputy that the Irish Sports Council (ISC) eligibility committee had decided that the organisation's application did not comply with a number of essential eligibility criteria for recognition as a National Governing Body (NGB) of sport. I am informed by the ISC that it received correspondence last week confirming that the...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (31 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country for the provision of sports facilities, including indoor sports facilities. The 2007 sports capital programme was advertised in the national press in October 2006. The closing date for receipt of...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (31 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The provision of signage is an operational matter for the National Roads Authority or NRA, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, in relation to national roads, and for local authorities in relation to non-national (i.e. regional and local) roads. Having said that, signposting is, of course, important in helping many visitors to make the most of their trips to Ireland. The report of...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (31 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The construction of new or the refurbishment of existing public swimming pools is grant aided under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme which is administered by my Department. The current round of the programme closed to applications on 31 July 2000 and no application was made in respect of a public swimming pool in Douglas before that closing date. The priority since than has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The amount spent by my Department on official hospitality in the past 12 months under it's Administrative Budget is €36,322.

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (31 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The only building within my Department which has a canteen or hot food service for staff is at Kildare Street. The responsibility for this service lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: In April last funding of €32 million was awarded to the promoters of 67 projects nationwide under the Arts and Culture Capital Enhancement Support Scheme II (ACCESS II 2007-2009). The ACCESS scheme is designed to assist the provision of high standard arts and culture infrastructure, thereby enhancing access to the arts throughout the country, including the border region. ACCESS has been...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: My Department currently funds two different third level scholarships. Both scholarship programmes are of five year duration, and were put in place to honour the memory of two seminal figures in the Irish literary and arts philanthropy world. The details are as follows: The Beckett Scholarship for Drama, in the Drama School at Dublin University, Trinity College. The scholarship was put in...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together. I am aware of the implications arising from the imposition of VAT on fees of non-resident performers. I fully understand and appreciate the concerns of the arts sector and indeed the huge impact this has on the not-for-profit arts sector. I intend to raise this issue with the Minister for Finance in the context of the 2008 Finance Bill and...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, is the primary means of providing funding to sporting clubs, voluntary and community organisations towards the provision of sporting facilities at local, regional and national level throughout the country. The programme is advertised on an annual basis. All applications received under the programme are assessed by my...

Written Answers — Film Industry Development: Film Industry Development (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The task of attracting international production into Ireland is dependent on a number of elements, not all of which fall within the sphere of influence of my Department or that of the Irish Film Board (IFB). Decisions to site a film project in a particular territory involve complex funding (the unfavourable exchange rate continues to affect the level of US production in Ireland), cultural,...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. One of the stated aims and objectives of the sports capital programme is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities. Since 2002, it was decided that only those...

Written Answers — National Concert Hall: National Concert Hall (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 48 together. The position, as stated in my reply of 5th July 2007 to Parliamentary Question No.18, is that the redeveloped Concert Hall will incorporate a main auditorium with a seating capacity for 2,000 patrons, the existing auditorium, which will be retained as a rehearsal hall and a mid-scale public performance space, and a smaller flexible hall....

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: Under the terms of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme, the Contract Documents for the proposed new public swimming pool in Roscrea were approved in July, 2006, permitting North Tipperary County Council to go to tender for construction of the project. Details of the tender recommended by the County Council were received in my Department in April 2007 and have been cleared by the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Rates: Local Authority Rates (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The position in relation to this matter is that my Department has no responsibility in relation to commercial rates. I have not discussed this matter with the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government, though representations received in respect of a particular club were forwarded to the Minister for Environment, Heritage and Local Government for his attention. While that...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for encouraging the promotion, development and co-ordination of competitive sport and for increasing participation in recreational sport. The Council's basic philosophy is, therefore, one of inclusion and its Statement of Strategy recognises the potential of sport to be a driver for social...

Written Answers — Abbey Theatre Development: Abbey Theatre Development (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 55 together. It is of paramount importance that all necessary steps are taken to ensure that a project of this significance and complexity be properly organized and managed. In 2006 the Government decided to proceed with the redevelopment of the Abbey Theatre at George's Dock on a Build, Finance and Maintain (BFM) basis. Arising from the Government...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 36 and 47 together. The Minister for Transport is currently finalising an Economic and Tourism Development Plan for the wider Shannon Airport catchment area. The Plan has been prepared in consultation with the Department of Finance, the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and my own...

Written Answers — Arts Promotion: Arts Promotion (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 106 and 107 together. Government Policy on the Arts is set out in the Programme for Government and will be elaborated further in my Department's Statement of Strategy. 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 our national...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (25 Oct 2007)

Séamus Brennan: The funding for Culture Ireland is being considered, along with that of all other agencies under my Department, as part of the annual Estimates process. The importance of the work of Culture Ireland has been recognised during its start up phase by a 50% increase each year since it was established in 2005 with an initial budget of €2m. The Government approved the establishment of Culture...