Arts, Sport & Tourism
Mr.Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism when moneys promised in budget 2000 will be paid to Cork Opera House to help complete necessary infrastructural work. [19954/02]
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue): In December 2001, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Charlie McCreevy, announced in his budget speech that a once off grant of €1.9 million would be made available towards the refurbishment of Cork Opera House.
Payment has not yet been made pending resolution of issues around the legal arrangements that apply in such cases.
I now understand that final resolution appears to be imminent and payment will be made without delay when my Department's legal advisers give the appropriate clearance.
Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the policy of the current Administration regarding the implementation of environmental measures in hotels and other establishments providing holiday accommodation to maximise water and energy conservation and to minimise waste and pollution generation. [22470/02]
Mr. O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 75 together.
Although my Department has no direct responsibility in this regard, it is nonetheless my policy to encourage the implementation of environmentally responsible measures by hotels and other establishments providing holiday accommodation.
Under the Operational Programme for Tourism 1994-1999, funding was provided for a pilot tourism and the environment initiative to generate practical projects that would address issues where tourism and the environment interface. One of the projects supported concerned research on best environmental practice by tourism accommodation providers. This research resulted in the production of an excellent manual entitled A Natural Shade of Green - An Environmental Guide for Hotels. A similar guide was prepared for guesthouses. These practical guides, which address the environmental issues raised by the Deputies, including energy efficiency, conserving resources and waste reduction, provide a blueprint for best environmental practice for accommodation providers throughout the tourism industry.
The maintenance of a clean, unspoilt environment is central to the Irish holiday experience and I encourage accommodation and all tourism product providers to enhance their reputation and help secure the future of the industry by adopting best environmental practices as set out in the guides.
Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the moneys which have been expended in his Department by area and projects to date, under the RAPID and CLÁR programmes. [25850/02]
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue): The national lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country towards the provision of sport and recreational facilities.
Under the 2002 sports capital programme, applications from projects located in CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Ard Riachtanais) regions were designated as disadvantaged. In addition, those projects located in CLÁR regions which were subsequently allocated funding under the sports capital programme received an additional 'top-up' allocation contributed from the funding provided under the CLÁR programme. In all, a total of 86 projects in CLÁR regions were provisionally allocated a total of €5,153,000 of which €874,500 was from funding to be allocated directly from the CLÁR programme. To date in 2002, a total of €258,319 has been paid out to sports capital projects in CLÁR regions, as follows:
County
Name of Club
Payments in 2002
Grant Amount
Cavan
Killinkere Basketball Club
€ 1,200
€ 1,200
Clare
Kilfenora Heritage & Sports Association
€ 24,000
€ 24,000
Cork
Kiskeam GAA Club
€30,000
€36,000
Cork
Schull Yawl Rowing Club
€ 6,000
€ 6,000
Kerry
Castlegregory GAA Club
€ 24,000
€ 24,000
Kerry
Cordal GAA Club
€ 54,000
€ 54,000
Kerry
Kenmare Amateur Boxing Club
€ 1,200
€ 1,200
Leitrim
Aughnasheelin Park Committee
€ 57,000
€ 57,000
Roscommon
Ballingare Development Association
€ 27,536
€ 48,000
Tipperary
Rearcross FC
€ 34,583
€ 48,000
Total
€ 258,319
€299,400
There is no specific funding available in my Department for distribution under the 'Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development' (RAPID) programme. Targeted areas are, however, prioritised for investment and development under the sport capital programme.
Currently, projects located in disadvantaged areas are prioritised in the process of assessing applications under the sports capital programme. Disadvantaged areas are those which have been designated by Government for special support through the Regional Operational Programmes of the National Development Plan, i.e. areas supported by Area Partnership Companies as designated by Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd. RAPID areas come within this definition. Under the 2002 sports capital programme, a total of almost €44.4 million was allocated to projects in these designated disadvantaged areas.
Officials of my Department are currently consulting with the RAPID national monitoring committee on how targeted areas can be prioritised within the 2003 sport capital programme. As the proposals for the development of sport facilities contained in the area implementation plans were not submitted to my Department prior to the closing date for the 2002 Sport Capital Programme, it was not possible to prioritise them in relation to this year's programme.
Of the projects listed in the area implementation plans submitted subsequently for consideration, 18 would normally be eligible for applying for funding under the sports capital programme. Of these, 13 had not applied for funding under the 2002 sports capital programme and were advised to prepare applications for funding under the 2003 programme and five had actually applied independently to the programme; of which four had been allocated funding. These were as follows:
RAPID Area
Project
2002 Sports Capital allocation
Cork Knocknaheeny/Churchfield
Churchfield Swimming Pool Refurbishment (dry facilities)
€400,000
Limerick- South
Rathbane Public Golf Course
€100,000
Limerick- South
Southill Weight & Power Lifting Club
€4,000
Limerick- South
Old Christians GAA Club
€30,000
Total
€534,000
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Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of nominations and appointments made by him since 6 June 2002; and the number of vacancies and areas where vacancies for such appointments will arise and when. [11868/03]
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue): I am assuming that the Deputy is seeking information in relation to appointments made to State boards. The number and duration of appointments made by me since 6 June 2002 and the vacancies due to arise in the next 12 months are set out as follows:
Appointments
Duration of ministerial appointments
Vacancies arising in the next 12-month period
Irish Film Board
Nil
January 2005
Nil
Arts Council
Nil
Five years
See note hereunder
Irish Sports Council
1
From 4 November 2002 for a period not exceeding eight months
3
1
From 20 September 2002 for a period not exceeding three years
1
From 20 September 2002 for a period not exceeding three years
1
From 20 September 2002 for a period not exceeding two years
Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited
Nil
Not specified
Not specified (see note)
National Archives Advisory Council
12
Five years
Nil
National Gallery of Ireland board of Governors and Guardians
3
Five years
4
National Library of Ireland Council of Trustees
1
Five years
Nil
National Museum of Ireland Caretaker Board
Nil
N/A
Nil
National Museum of Ireland and Botanic Gardens Board of Visitors
Nil
Three years
Nil
National Concert Hall
Nil
Five years
Nil
Marsh's Library Board of Governors and Guardians
2
Five years
Nil
Irish Museum of Modern Art Board of Directors
Nil
Five years
Nil
Chester Beatty Library Board of Trustees
1
Five years
1
Shannon Development
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment appoints all board members
One nomination and appointment is made by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
1
CERT
Nil
Three years
Nil
National Tourism Development Authority
13 to interim board
Three years
See note
Horse Racing Ireland
3
Ordinary member term of office is four years; Chairperson term of office is five years
3
Bord na gCon
3
Ordinary member term of office is three years; Chairperson term of office at the Minister's discretion.
2
Bord Fáilte Éireann
4 re-appointments
9 December 2002 - 31 March 2003
1 April 2003 - 31 May 2003
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Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether his Department's share of the more than €10 million spent by Government Departments in 2002 on public relations, marketing and advertising represents best value for money; and the plans which exist to reduce spending in this area. [14671/03]
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue): The amount spent by my Department in 2002 on advertising was €284,367.24. This includes €41,690 spent on public notice advertising in the media and in Iris Oifigiúil. This advertising was placed in the media by an advertising agency who were chosen following an open tender competition. As the Deputy will be aware, one of the main criteria in awarding Government contracts in an open tender process is cost and value for money.
The remainder of the expenditure on advertising was, €242,677.24 which was in respect of the National Forum on Europe, which comes under the auspices of my Department. The bulk of this was for advertising in the national and provincial media and related to meetings of the forum around the country. This advertising was purely informational and served to inform the public of the Forum meetings in their area, the aim of which is to promote and foster a greater understanding of the EU. My Department did not incur any costs in 2002 on outside public relations and marketing consultants.
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Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if representations have been made by his Department regarding the continuance of tax relief for film production. [21326/03]
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O'Donoghue): I propose to take Questions Nos. 780, 789 and 792 together.
I am well aware of the concerns that exist in the film sector regarding the proposed expiry from end-2004 of the section 481 tax relief scheme for investment in film production. With the Irish Film Board, my Department has commissioned PricewaterhouseCoopers to conduct an analysis of the implications of the scheme and, on the basis of that analysis, I will discuss the issues arising, and where we go from here, with the Minister for Finance.
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Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if there are plans to implement multi-annual funding for arts along with the provision of adequate resources to enable this to take place. [27375/03]
Mr. O'Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 89, 92, 93, 100, 109, 113 and 114 together.
Deputies will be aware that the council will receive funding of €52.5 million in 2004, a 19% increase in 2004 on 2003 funding levels. This level of funding clearly demonstrates the extent of the Government's commitment to the arts. This allocation took account of all pertinent factors, including the views expressed by the Arts Council in advance of the publication of the Book of Estimates.
The reduction in funding for the Arts Council in 2003 was a direct function of the far more difficult conditions that applied in the economy generally and especially in the public finances. I am well aware of the difficulties that have arisen for those in the arts sector because of the unavoidable decisions that had to be taken by the Arts Council as a consequence of the reduction in funding this year. However, I point out that, although the Arts Council's funding was reduced this year by around 7.5% on the 2002 figure, that 2002 figure was the culmination of steady year on year increases since 1997. Arts Council funding increased by more than 80% between 1997 and 2002.
The arts plan is a council, not a Government, strategy, and although the Government endorsed the principles on which the plan was based, this endorsement did not extend to commitment to the annual financial targets set out in the plan. The amount that the Government can provide for the Arts Council is dependent on the Estimates process, which is based on an annual cycle. This system cannot accommodate multi-annual commitments because the availability of funds are known with any certainty for only one year in advance.
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the grant support made by his Department to sporting organisations in the Cork south central constituency in 2003. - Dan Boyle. Ref No: 2609/04
R E P L Y: Under the National Lottery-funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, grants are allocated to sports clubs and also to voluntary and community organisations and, in certain circumstances, to schools, colleges and local authorities. This programme is administered on a county rather than a constituency basis. Under the 2003 programme, grants totalling €5,545,400 were allocated to 68 organisations in the County of Cork.
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the anticipate increases in phone costs to his Department after recent phone rental price rises. - Dan Boyle Ref No: 5499/04
R E P L Y: Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism ( Mr John O'Donoughue, T.D.): The company which supplies the Department and the National Cultural Institutions land line telecommunications services recently announced an increase in the cost of rented telephone lines of 7.5%. This increase applies only to analogue telephone lines and not the PABX lines which cater for most of the telephones in the Department. I estimate that the additional monthly cost in respect of my Department will be in the region of €330. My Department is monitoring phone usage with a view to reducing the number of analogue phone lines.
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the number of full time civil servants within his Department who first entered the service as political advisors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Dan Boyle Ref No: 5918/04
R E P L Y: Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. John O'Donoghue, T.D.): In my Department there is currently one full time civil servant who first entered the service as a special advisor as defined in Section 19 of the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995. The Officer in question served as a Personal Assistant to the Taoiseach and in January 1980 was appointed to an established position as a Higher Executive Officer under Section 13 (3) of the Civil Service Commissioners Act, 1956.
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the impact the national audit of local sports facilities will have in facilitating the provision of sport and recreation facilities on a nation-wide basis as per the mission statement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Dan Boyle Ref No: 6109/04
R E P L Y: The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue T.D.: I propose to take questions 101, 108 and 115 together.
The commitment, as outlined in the Programme for Government, to complete a national audit of local sports facilities is being undertaken as part of the development of a long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities.
I can report that 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 level of facilities that have been put in place in recent years with the assistance of National Lottery funding and produce recommendations in relation to priorities for future funding.
Following this it is my intention to establish an inter-agency steering group to commence work immediately on developing a long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities. One of the first tasks for this group will be to oversee the commencement of the audit of sports facilities. Given the volume of facilities that may potentially be included in such an audit, covering the entire country, it is important that a robust methodology is used to record, classify and assess the facilities to be included.
In light of the enormity of the task, it could take a number of years to complete a comprehensive audit of all sports facilities. However, it may be possible to conduct the work in stages, to ensure that some useful results are available in the short term for input into the proposed strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities due for completion within the next year.
Once completed, the Audit will enable policy makers to map the location of the various sports facilities throughout the country, leading to a more effective targeting of new or additional facilities which will complement rather than duplicate what is already available. In this way a more efficient use of financial resources can be achieved and a fostering of greater co-operation between complementary facility providers can be encouraged.
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if the objectives set out in his Department's mission statement are being achieved in relation to increased participation in sport, improvement of standards of performance in sport and the development of sports facilities at national, regional and local level, particularly in disadvantaged communities through the provision of an appropriate and effective policy and public funding context; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Dan Boyle Ref No: 6108/04
R E P L Y: Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue): I propose to take questions 122 and 126 together. My Department's Statement of Strategy 2003-2005, which is available in the Dáil Library and on my Department's website, identifies specific strategies for the achievement of the Department's goals for the sport sector, specific outputs or objectives for the delivery of those strategies and specific performance indicators to measure the outputs.
My Department's first Annual Report, which is expected to be published in April next, will detail progress during 2003 in relation to individual strategies and objectives and will record satisfactory progress towards the achievement of the goals set out in the Statement of Strategy.
The overall public policy objective for Irish sport is to promote and encourage a vibrant and active sports sector, especially in areas of disadvantage, with increased participation, good quality, sustainable facilities and opportunities for people to play an active role in sport. Within this policy context the talents, potential and needs of competitive and the elite are also cherished and supported in their pursuit of excellence and success in top sport. As the Deputies will appreciate, there is also a high correlation between active involvement in sport and healthy lifestyle.
My Department's role is to provide the overall policy framework and the necessary funding to assist in the provision of sports facilities and to enable its state agency, the Irish Sports Council (ISC), to carry out its various functions in relation to the promotion and development of sport and to liaise with and monitor the effective delivery of government policy, adherence to government financial requirements and standards of good governance by the ISC.
The Departmental strategy for sport guides the actions of the ISC in its promotion and development of sport as outlined in the Council's Statement of Strategy 2003-2005 'Sport For Life'. The ISC, in turn, publishes annual reports on its activities and has set out targets to be met by, for instance, national governing bodies of sport who, in order to attract additional 'challenge funding', have to produce innovative strategic plans which will deliver clearly stated aims. Similarly, the Carding Scheme, under which special supports are provided to high performance competitors, is based on established performance standards and criteria. Annual targets are also set and met by the ISC in relation to the number of doping tests carried out under its national anti-doping programme.
My Department's sport capital programme has been enormously beneficial to clubs, sports organisations and voluntary and community groups in every village, parish and town throughout the country. Since 1998 on the sports capital side alone my Department has allocated almost €267m to over 3,500 projects around the country. In addition, it should be noted the annual budget for the scheme was fully drawn down in 2003 and that the indicators outlined for the processing of assessments and allocations for the programme are on schedule to be met for the 2004 programme.
A review of the existing sports capital programme for the period 1999-2002, under the Department's expenditure review programme, is currently being finalised. Following this it is my intention to establish an inter-agency steering group to commence work immediately on developing a long-term strategic plan for the provision of sports facilities. One of the first tasks for this group will be to oversee the commencement of the audit of sports facilities.
In the course of the expenditure review, an analysis of the allocation of grants was carried out along with a survey to a proportion of applicants during this period. While not yet finalised, the preliminary findings of this review show that the funding provided to over 2,000 voluntary clubs and organisations in the period 1999-2002 has helped to build a variety of facilities that have helped increase participation in sport.
The survey conducted as part of the review revealed that 64% of respondents, including those in disadvantaged areas, stated that the actual numbers of people using the facility had increased since completion of their project supported under the sports capital programme. Furthermore, 93% of respondents, across a wide range of sports, stated that support under the sports capital programme had made a difference in helping participants to achieve a higher standard.
This review is expected to make recommendations in a number of areas surrounding the future operation of the sports capital programme including the need for up to date information on sporting participation rates and the need to monitor funded projects to assess impact of funding in the areas of participation and improved performance.
The tax relief on donations to certain sports bodies scheme, established under section 847a of the Taxes Consolidation Act came into effect on 1st May 2002. Since then 72 applications have been received by my Department from interested parties wishing to avail of the scheme, of whom 64 have been given approved status with a total project cost of €56,810,595.
Under the local authority swimming pool programme, my Department is committed to supporting 55 local authority swimming pool projects throughout the country. Delivery of this programme is well underway.
My Department also funded the 50-metre swimming pool at the University of Limerick and the National Aquatic Centre at Abbotstown which recently hosted the very successful European Short Course Swimming Championships and these are key facilities in the context of our high performance strategy for elite competitors as well as for clubs, learners and fun swimmers.
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the alternative celebration which is being put in place for 1 May 2004 following the cancellation of the major concert; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Dan Boyle Ref No: 10606/04
R E P L Y: Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue, T.D.): With your permission, a Cheann Chomhairle, I will take Nos 146, 147 and 169 together.
RTE, in partnership with the BBC, has been working on the broadcasting project entitled ' A Beautiful Night' for many months.
This event was designed to be 'one concert with two stages', with public performances outside City Hall in Belfast and on O'Connell Street in Dublin.
In was RTE's intention that the concert would be broadcast live from Belfast and Dublin and made available through the EBU network to broadcasters and their audiences throughout the enlarged European Union.
The two broadcasters who were responsible for the organisation of this concert made a joint application to Dublin City Council for a licence to hold the concert in O'Connell Street.
However, recently it became apparent to the broadcasters that there would be serious difficulties surrounding the traffic restrictions that would have to be imposed to allow the stage to be built in O'Connell Street in time to allow full safety and sound checks, rehearsals, etc., to take place. Dublin City Council were not in a position to facilitate the broadcasters in this context, given that partial road restrictions would have been required for up to 9 days in advance of the event.
I understand that the broadcasters were also advised of other restrictions that would have been imposed. These disruptions could have serious impact on travel and trade over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Accordingly, the two broadcasters decided that, taking account of all the circumstances applying, it is not feasible to proceed with the event in Dublin. I appreciate the reasons why it was not possible to proceed.
The staging of an alternative television event on 1st May is a matter for RTE. However, the series of events being organised by my Department around the country to celebrate the accession of the ten new Member States, will go ahead as planned. These include 'Vectorial Elevations,' one of the most unique and the world's largest on-line artworks, a Fireworks Extravaganza, a European Fair in Merrion Square and, of course, the national 'Day of Welcomes' involving ten Irish Towns and cities each of which will specially welcome a particular accession state.
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether the April 2004 overseas travel figures from the Central Statistics Office suggest that a gap is widening between persons who are leaving Ireland to go abroad when compared with the relatively smaller increase in visitors to Ireland; the remedy he will put in place to address the issue. - Dan Boyle Ref No: 19748/04 & 19746/04
R E P L Y: Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (JOhn O'Donoghue, T.D.): Ceann Comhairle, I wish to take questions 5 and 33 together.
I would refer Deputies Boyle and Cuffe to my earlier answer to Priority Question No. 3 which addressed the same topic.
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DAIL QUESTION
NO. 478
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the annual fees paid to each chairperson and director in each statutory board under the remit of his Department.
- Dan Boyle.
For WRITTEN answer on Tuesday, 12th April, 2005.
Identical Question(s): to all depts
Ref No: 10877/05
R E P L Y
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue, T.D.): The annual fees paid to each chairperson and director in each statutory board under the remit of my Department is as follows.
Statutory Body Fee Paid to Chairperson Fee Paid to Board Member/Director
€ €
Arts Council 7,618.43 5,078.95
Irish Film Board 7,618.43 5,078.95
Irish Sports Council 7,260 Nil
Horse Racing Ireland (1) 15,236.86 10,158
Bord na gCon (1),(2) 10,157.90 6,349
Fáilte Ireland 15,237 10,158
1) The current Chairperson waives the fee
2) No fee paid to Department's representative on the Board
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To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the policy which exists regarding the retention of important art work here; and if his attention has been drawn to the imminent private sale of works (details supplied).
- Dan Boyle.
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 21st April, 2005.
Ref No: 12713/05
R E P L Y
The National Collecting Cultural Institutions, consisting of the National Archives, the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, the National Museum of Ireland, and the Irish Museum of Modern Art are charged with collecting and displaying cultural objects, including artworks, in Ireland. These institutions are provided with funding by my Department, including funding for acquisitions. The institutions may also avail of the Heritage Fund and under the Heritage Fund Act 2001 and the provisions of Section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, may also be used to make acquisitions.
The Institutions are autonomous in relation to the artifacts they wish to acquire having regard to the financial resources available to them.
My Department, have no involvement in the acquisitions process, other than through sanctioning the use of the Heritage Fund in accordance with the provisions of the Act and providing a secretariat to the Section 1003 Selection Committee.
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DAIL QUESTION
NO. 84, 112
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he has received a copy of the report, The Reeks Action Plan, which sets out serious concern at the lack of facilities and access to Carrauntoohil; if, in view of the importance of Ireland's highest mountain to tourism here, he intends to take action arising from the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Breeda Moynihan-Cronin. (Nominated by: Jack Wall).
For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 10th May, 2005.
Ref No: 15008/05 Lottery: 23
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism his views on whether he gave a factually incorrect reply to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 1 December 2004 in view of the fact that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution has stated that, in its view, there would be no Constitutional problem with legislation providing for better access to the countryside.
- Dan Boyle. (Nominated by: Paul Gogarty).
For ORAL answer on Tuesday, 10th May, 2005.
wherein he stated that there would be a constitutional problem in introducing legislation providing for better access to the countryside
Ref No: 14956/05 Lottery: 58
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr O'Donoghue): I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 112 together.
I have received a copy of the Reeks Action Plan, and am aware of the significant work invested in it by Beaufort Community Council to address a number of issues surrounding the route to Carrauntoohil. While, neither I nor my Department, directly administer any schemes to support such projects, I did refer the matter to Fáilte Ireland for their attention. I understand that the project is among a number of such projects being assessed for funding under the recent second call for proposals under the Tourism Product Development Scheme. This scheme is funded under the EU-supported Regional Operational Programme and it is managed by the Product Management Board.
On the more general issue of access to the Irish countryside for recreational purposes, this matter falls within the ambit of my colleague, Eamon O Cuív, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. As the Minister explained to the House, on 5 October 2004 last, in response to Question No 23255/04, the issue is being considered by Comhairle na Tuaithe, the Countryside Recreation Council.
The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution endorsed the establishment of such a Council. The Comhairle was appointed, in February 2004, to bring together representatives of farmers and landowners, recreational users of the countryside and tourism bodies, with a view to finding a positive and speedy resolution to the access difficulties that have arisen in recent years. These difficulties have negative implications, not only for the development of rural tourism, but also for marketing Ireland abroad – which is based on the image of Ireland as a welcoming destination.
I understand that a Supreme Court judgement of 21 January 2005 has opened the way to clarifying some of the complex issues involved. The case centred on an appeal of a High Court decision that found a landowner was liable for damages sustained by a recreational user. The Supreme Court found that there was no liability on the part of the landowner and set aside the High Court judgement. I understand that the Minister is awaiting the outcome of the Comhairle's deliberations on the implications of this decision and related issues with a view to putting in place a policy framework to facilitate an acceptable and reliable level of access to the countryside for recreational walkers.
I do not believe that my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 1 December 2004 was incorrect. In response to a supplementary question, I said that the British Government had introduced 'demanding legislation in regard to legal rights of access for walking activities across Britain. Having looked at the situation, I am strongly of the view that because of the rights to private property in the Constitution, such legislation (my emphasis on this occasion) would not survive constitutional challenge here and that represents a real difficulty'.
This is still my own view - I do not think the approach adopted in England and Wales is the way forward.
I do hope the issue can be resolved as suggested by the All-Party Committee who, whilst concluding that no Constitutional amendment may be necessary, did point out that a number of submissions received revealed 'certain shortcomings in the existing legislation'.
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NO. 116
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the current nominations for vacancies on boards of statutory agencies under the remit of his Department.
- Dan Boyle.
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 12th May, 2005.
Identical Question(s): to all Depts except Taoiseach
Ref No: 15834/05
R E P L Y
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue, T.D.): The Statutory Agencies under the aegis of my Department are as follows:
The Arts Council
The Irish Film Board
The Irish Sports Council
The National Museum of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland
Fáilte Ireland
The Irish Sports Council
Horse Racing Ireland
Bord na gCon
There are currently no vacancies on the boards of these Agencies.
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NO. 115
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the extent to which his Department sources fair trade products for use in same.
- Dan Boyle.
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 12th May, 2005.
Identical Question(s): to all Depts except Taoiseach
Ref No: 15820/05
R E P L Y
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue, T.D.): I am aware of the fair trade campaign for securing fair deals for small producers of tea, coffee, fruit etc in Third World countries through raising consumer awareness.
However, as my Department has no canteen facilities of its own, the scope to source such products does not arise.
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DAIL QUESTION
NO.100
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if his Department's attention has been drawn to the right of way restriction that is preventing surfers from accessing their traditional base beach, at an area (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if the tourist implications of this mixed approach to planning has been properly thought through.
- Dan Boyle.
For WRITTEN answer on Thursday, 26th May, 2005.
R E P L Y
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (John O'Donoghue): I have no responsibility in relation to rights of way. I understand that the issue referred to by the Deputy is being addressed by the County Council.
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DAIL QUESTION
NO. 8
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism further to previous parliamentary questions, if any additional tranche of funding will be made available for swimming pools.
- Dan Boyle. (Nominated by: Paul Gogarty).
For ORAL answer on Thursday, 16th June, 2005.
given that a number of areas including Lucan, for example, are in dire need of such facilities in light of huge population rises
Ref No: 20250/05
R E P L Y
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. John O'Donoghue, T.D.): As I indicated in replies to similar Parliamentary Questions on the subject on 1st December, 2004 and 17th February, 2005, the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme administered by my Department has been closed to new applicants since 31 July 2000. Monies being provided under my Department's multi-annual capital envelope for that programme are being committed to completing projects being progressed under that programme. The financial provision for the programme in 2005 is €32 million, which is an 82% increase on the 2004 expenditure of €17.6m.
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DAIL QUESTION
NOs. 28, 41
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the reason for the delay in appointing a steering group to oversee the commencement of a national audit of sports facilities.
- Dan Boyle. (Nominated by: Paul Gogarty).
For ORAL answer on Thursday, 16th June, 2005.
Identical Question(s): 34,37
given that we are now entering the fourth year of this current Government
Ref No: 20254/05 Lottery: 33 Proof: 31
To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a national audit of sports facilities has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
- Damien English. (Nominated by: Jimmy Deenihan).
For ORAL answer on Thursday, 16th June, 2005.
Ref No: 20227/05 Lottery: 50 Proof: 45
R E P L Y
The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, John O'Donoghue T.D.: I propose taking questions 28 and 41 together. The agreed Programme for Government contains a commitment to complete a national audit of local sports facilities and to put in place a long-term strategic plan to ensure the development of such necessary facilities throughout the country.
I wish to advise the House that an inter-agency steering group has been established to oversee the development of such a strategy and is commencing its work. The group is comprised of representatives from my Department along with officials from the Departments of Education and Science, Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, Environment, Heritage & Local Government and Finance in addition to representatives of the Irish Sports Council, Campus Stadium Ireland Development Limited and the County & City Managers Association. One of the first challenges facing the group is to oversee the commencement of a national audit of sports facilities.
Before commencing work on the strategic plan an assessment of what has been achieved under the Department's sports capital programme was undertaken. This was done in the context of an Expenditure Review of the programme which seeks to assess the benefits that the investment has yielded to date and to identify any difficulties or inefficiencies associated with the operation of the programme. This review has taken longer than expected to complete due to the scale of the programme and the time required to analyse the volume of information and data that was collected during the review.
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13th October 2005
Sports Capital Programme.
106. Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism the level of grant support which has been made available by him to date in County Cork under the 2005 sports capital programme. [28442/05]
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue): The national lottery funded sports capital programme, which is administered by my Department, allocates funding to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. A total of 151 applications were received from County Cork under the 2005 sports capital programme. All applications under the programme were evaluated by my Department in accordance with the assessment criteria published in the guidelines, terms and conditions document that accompanied the application form for the programme. Following completion of the evaluation of the applications received by my Department in July last, I announced provisional grant allocations totalling €7.972 million to 76 projects in County Cork.
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13th October 2005
Tourism Industry.
107. Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if, in view of the recent CSO figures on visitor numbers here in the first half of 2005 he will commission a study to determine which tourist regions benefitted the most and least from these visits compared to previous years. [28443/05]
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue): I do not need to commission a study in relation to regional tourism statistics. Regional tourism statistics are routinely available through information already captured by the Central Statistics Office in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland. The Fáilte Ireland survey of overseas travellers, SOT, involves interviewing 10,000 overseas visitors annually, on departure. A question in that survey identifies each location in Ireland where overseas visitors overnighted and the number of nights that they spent in that location. The SOT captures up to 700 locations throughout the country and the results are analysed by county and by region.
The distribution of overseas regional visits and overseas regional nights identified through the Fáilte Ireland SOT is, using a number of formulae, married to the results of the CSO’s country of residence survey and the passenger card inquiry and the regional distribution of visitors and expenditure is obtained. The regional distribution of our Northern Ireland visitors and their spend is based on information supplied by NITB from the United Kingdom tourism survey, UKTS. As with visitors above, the visits are based on any overnight in the region and the spend is distributed based on the regional share of Northern Ireland visitor bed nights.
The regional distribution of domestic visits and spend is based on the CSO household travel survey. The CSO survey provides a distribution of domestic visits and expenditure by region. These figures are adjusted by Fáilte Ireland, according to a formula, to replicate the tourist regions.
This year, my Department has been in close discussion with the tourism agencies and the CSO in relation to the further development and refinement of tourism statistics. This is also an area that has been identified for North-South co-operation and I expect it to be discussed with relevant Departments and agencies in the North in the near future. The plans of both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland for 2005 have a strong focus on facilitating good growth in tourism numbers across all of our tourism regions.
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20th October 2005
Swimming Pool Projects.
Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if a formal application has been made to his Department by Cork City Council for funding to improve a swimming pool (details supplied); when such an application was made; and the status of this application.
Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism (Mr. O’Donoghue): Under the local authority swimming pool programme, which is administered by my Department, grant aid is provided towards the capital costs of new pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. The closing date for receipt of applications under the current programme was 31 July 2000. As I indicated in my replies to Question No. 181 of 1 February 2005 and Question No. 197 of 22 February 2005, asked by Deputies Coveney and Lynch respectively, no application was made by Cork City Council in respect of the Gus Healy swimming pool in Douglas before that date. The council has also been so advised on various occasions. However, in 2002, Cork City Council submitted a feasibility study for a proposed development of the pool and the council was advised that the proposal could not be considered for funding under the pool programme as it was received outside the closing date for applications. This remains the position.
The priority for the programme is to support the proposals on hand and new proposals for swimming pools are not being considered at this time. My Department, however, is carrying out an expenditure review on the swimming pool programme, which is examining, among other things, how the programme has worked to date, the benefits which have accrued to the areas where pools have been built under the existing programme and what amendments, if any, are required to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of the programme. It is expected that this review will be completed by the end of the year when the question of reopening the swimming pool programme can be considered.
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17th November 2005
Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
8. Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he will report on his meeting with Mr. David Hanson MP, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, particularly in the context of opportunities arising from London hosting the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics.
28. Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if funding will be provided to create sports training facilities ahead of the London 2012 Olympics in order to attract competing athletes from other nations; his views on whether this is a matter of urgency in view of the short timeframe; his plan to maximise both tourism and sporting opportunities ahead of the games; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Mr. O’Donoghue: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 28 together.
I recently met with David Hanson MP, Northern Ireland’s Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure for discussions on a number of sports issues, including the opportunities arising from London hosting the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.
The selection of London last July as the host city for the 2012 games offers Ireland an unprecedented opportunity for business, tourism and sport. Minister Hanson and I agreed there were tremendous opportunities for both Northern Ireland and the Republic to benefit from the games. The existing close working relationships which exist, both at departmental and sports council levels, will provide a solid basis upon which to maximise the opportunities ahead.
Undoubtedly many of the participating countries will be seeking to locate their competing athletes for pre-tournament training in places in close proximity to the United Kingdom and I have been advised by the President of the Olympic Council of Ireland that a number of countries have already inquired about the possibility of using Ireland as a base in the lead up to the London games. The attraction of Ireland to overseas teams participating in the games for acclimatisation and preparation purposes is an area on which the Irish Sports Council and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland could co-operate.
Since 1997, the Government has invested in excess of €700 million in Irish sport. Of this amount, approximately €500 million has been spent on the development of sporting facilities at a national, regional and local level. A significant proportion of this investment has gone towards developing a network of top class facilities around the country designed to meet the training, coaching and competition needs of our elite competitors in a wide spectrum of sports.
Among the major projects which have been supported are the Croke Park stadium, the National Aquatic Centre, the National Rowing Centre at Inniscarra, the national tennis centre, the National Boxing Stadium, the National Hockey Stadium at UCD and the National Coaching and Training Centre at the University of Limerick, which complements the wide range of top quality facilities provided at the university many of which have been used by international sportspersons. In addition, the early delivery of a sports campus at Abbotstown, which is being considered by the Government for funding in the context of the multiannual capital investment framework for 2006-10, would be a key element to Ireland’s capacity to attract competing athletes to locate here.
With an estimated 1 million additional visitors to Athens for the 2004 Olympics, Ireland will be hoping to attract substantial additional visitors around the 2012 games with significant benefits for the tourism industry. Both Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland will be considering how best to tap into the potential tourism spin-off from the Olympic Games in London in 2012. Ease of access to London from an increasing number of airports on the island will be an important factor in exploiting the tourism dimension of the games.
The successful hosting the Special Olympics World Summer Games in 2003 greatly enhanced Ireland’s reputation and credibility on the world stage as a safe and welcoming destination. This very positive experience is one on which we can very usefully build in planning how we might optimise the tourism opportunities of the Olympic Games in 2012. To give added impetus to the drive to capitalise on the sporting and tourism opportunities of the London Olympic Games, I intend to establish an interagency group to support the work of the agencies already working in this area.
Mr. Boyle: I thank the Minister for his reply. On the opportunities he expressed when the International Olympic Committee announced London as the venue for the 2012 games, following these discussions he had with the Northern Minister are concrete proposals on the verge of being made on joint approaches, not only on how sporting organisations and countries taking part in the Olympic Games might use facilities on this island but also on a more common approach to tourism through the existing all-island bodies?
He mentioned in his reply that the Irish Sports Council has already received a number of inquiries about the possibility of locating training camps in this country in advance of the 2012 Olympic Games. Could he provide more concrete detail on the number of such countries that have made inquiries? Is his Department and the Irish Sports Council targeting a number of countries that might be prepared to be based here?
On the question of the Paralympic Games, the Minister cited the example of the Special Olympic Games but they are different types of games. Ireland already has a proud record of participating and being successful in the Paralympic Games. Does the Minister see a particular role in such Irish experience in terms of achieving a cross-over for the benefit of the Paralympic Games that will also be held in London in 2012?
Mr. O’Donoghue: There have been no concrete agreements yet on precisely how we might co-operate on the 2012 Olympic Games. The meeting which I had with Minister Hanson was purely preliminary. We discussed generalities and no concrete proposal came from the meeting other than the fact that we agreed that co-operation was of pivotal importance. In that respect, it also was noted that there is a considerable number of facilities in this jurisdiction which might be utilised in the context of the 2012 games.
Since there are no definitive proposals or inquiries, it would clearly be remiss of me to seek to give any indication as to who was looking for accommodation or facilities. If we are to attract teams from abroad, the construction of the first phase at Abbotstown would be of immense importance. If our facilities are sufficient, athletes will be attracted here. We have a number of top class facilities which can be utilised but the first phase of the campus would be a considerable addition to those.
Our proximity to London is well documented. Indeed, some have suggested that it would be easier to get from Dublin to London than from Manchester to London during the course of the games and I believe that is true. Co-operation will continue and officials from my Department will enter into discussions with their counterparts in the North with a view to coming forward with concrete proposals on co-operation. This will be to the mutual benefit of each jurisdiction.
Mr. Boyle: Is there a possibility of a cross-over with the Paralympic Games?
Mr. O’Donoghue: That possibility exists. We will certainly pursue it to the best of our ability. I acknowledge that Deputy Boyle’s suggestion is a good one.
