Results 161-180 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: Savings for my department in 2010 will be achieved through reductions in allocations across the range of programmes in the area of tourism, sport and cultural supports as outlined in the 2010 Estimates for Public Services. I would refer the Deputy to my detailed reply today to Priority Question No. 2 on the impact of budget cuts.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 210 to 213, inclusive, together. None of the agencies under the remit of the Department process entitlement payments. Four of the agencies have a role in carrying out inspections, as set out below with the numbers of staff involved in this role. Agency Inspection Type Staff Nos. Involved in Inspection Bord na gCon Inspection of licensed trainers kennels...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: There is no doubt that the tourism industry as a whole, including the hospitality and catering sectors, has had a very difficult year in 2009. This Government is committed to maximising the contribution of tourism to economic recovery in 2010. My Department's Tourism Services Budget for 2010 is over €155m, representing an increase of 2% on 2009. The increased allocation of public...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216, 219 and 220 together. Responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council. The allocation to the Council in 2010 is €69.15 million. Under the ACCESS programme, my Department is responsible for the provision of capital monies for arts centres, theatres, museums and so forth. In...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: No decision has been made on the timing of future rounds of the Sports Capital Programme. Any future programme will be guided by the outcome of the National Sports Facilities Strategy which is nearing completion.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism was designated for relocation to Killarney, Co. Kerry, under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, which was announced in the 2004 Budget. The Department, excluding the National Archives, was designated an "early mover" by the Decentralisation Implementation Group. To date, 79 members of staff (including two service officers who were...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 224 and 226 together. In each of the three years in question the full amount of the sub-head allocation, provided in my Department's Estimates, to cover payments to grantees allocated funding under the Sports Capital Programme was paid out. A total of €48m has been provided for the Sports Capital Programme in 2010. This provision will ensure that...

Written Answers — Museum Accommodation: Museum Accommodation (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: The National Museum of Ireland is the national repository for all archaeological objects that may be discovered. The Museum is also charged with the conservation and display of the National Collection of moveable heritage and the expansion and enhancement of that Collection. As a collecting agency the Museum will always have material in storage. All archaeological objects found, with no...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: One of the stated aims and objectives of the SCP is to prioritise the needs of disadvantaged areas in the provision of facilities. Since 2003, at the initiative of this Department and in consultation with DCRGA, it was decided that areas that have been designated by Government for special support through the schemes administered by DCRGA, i.e. RAPID, Local Drugs Task Force and CLÁR areas,...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: I presume that the Deputy is referring to the Sports Capital Programme. No round of the Programme was advertised in 2009 and therefore no applications have been received this year by my Department from sporting or community groups in County Kildare.

Priority Questions (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: Before I start I wish to express my sympathy to the families of the late Liam Clancy and Ciarán Mac Mathúna. They were two great icons of Irish arts in their broadest sense. I convey sympathy on my own behalf and on behalf of the Government. They were two fantastic people and we mourn their passing. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anam dílis.

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: The report of the tourism renewal group was launched on Thursday, 8 October 2009. This report sets out tourism's contribution to Ireland's economic, social and cultural development and the prospects for Irish tourism in a changed world, as well as a framework for action for tourism's survival, recovery and growth over the period to 2013. The report proposes five survival short-term actions...

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: There is a question on this issue later which we will reach this afternoon. I am happy to deal with the matter now but there is a specific question on it. I agree with much of what the Deputy says but I will deal with the issue on Question No. 9.

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: The tourism renewal group and others involved with tourism have raised the issue of this tax and in a perfect world I would not recommend it, nor did I in the first instance. The Government, however, has to balance that against my need for income to sustain the tourism budget and try to grow it this year. Such taxes are not helpful but that must be placed against the fact that tourism was...

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: In a perfect world, one would not want any taxation but I am puzzled when I see the charges for baggage, which are way in excess of-----

Tourism Industry. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: I accept that. I am not disagreeing with the Deputy but these extra charges which are passed on, as well as those for booking on the Internet and the differences about arriving at the airport are way beyond the €10 travel tax. Airlines seem to be able to do that at will without difficulty and pass those charges onto their customers at the same time, yet the travel tax is made out to be a...

Departmental Funding. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: Funding for my Department for 2010 is €501 million, a decrease of 7% on the 2009 figure. The tourism services budget for 2010 is over €155 million, representing an increase of 2% on 2009. The enhanced allocation for tourism for 2010 is clear recognition by Government of the important role that the tourism and hospitality sector will play in Ireland's economic recovery. A total of €22...

Departmental Funding. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: The Kennedy project the Deputy refers to is an OPW proposal. It was announced by the Minister for Finance in the budget and the OPW is part of the Department of Finance. The resources are secured and will not be coming out of the budgets here. As the Deputy can see, we have an substantial number of projects in place that we want to complete. We shall seek to secure new projects, not all...

Departmental Funding. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy is aware, the response from the Irish Sports Council and many of the NGBs around the country has been extremely positive, in the context of the budget, with the money that has been allocated-----

Departmental Funding. (17 Dec 2009)

Martin Cullen: -----which, of course, has been substantially increased in recent years. Most of the sports council's facilities will remain in place, and this is most important. We have completed an significant amount of capital investments throughout the country in recent years, as the Deputy has indicated. She mentioned the swimming pool programme and five are still under completion out of the 45 we...