Results 261-280 of 1,072,718 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Paul Gavan OR speaker:Pippa Hackett OR speaker:Damien English OR speaker:David Stanton) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Culture Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: Deputy Aird has given a good report with regard to the cultural offering of County Laois. I know he is a very proud Laois man representing them in the Dáil. As I said earlier, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to examine the feasibility of a minor capital works grant scheme for the arts scene, which is currently not available. We are looking at it. I would like to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Culture Policy (26 Jun 2025)

William Aird: That is welcome news. I also welcome the Minister's recent announcement that the pilot programme regarding the basic income for arts has been extended. What artists need now is his commitment to make it permanent. The programme should be inclusive, support more artists and address barriers faced by those with disabilities. As the Minister knows, arts and culture are central to our Irish...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Culture Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: As I said, I am committed to trying to do something in this space. The national cultural institutions are very Dublin-centric. Between the library, the concert hall and the gallery, pretty much all of them are based in Dublin, with the exception of the Crawford Gallery. I am very conscious of the fact that a person should have access to facilities that promote and encourage our cultural...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Swimming Pools (26 Jun 2025)

Swimming Pools

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Swimming Pools (26 Jun 2025)

Matt Carthy: 136. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps Monaghan County Council should take to secure funding for a swimming pool in Carrickmacross. [34630/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Swimming Pools (26 Jun 2025)

Matt Carthy: My question is more of an appeal to the Minister and the Minister of State to work with Monaghan County Council, the local community and all elected representatives to help ensure that we can deliver a swimming pool complex in the town of Carrickmacross.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Swimming Pools (26 Jun 2025)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Carthy. As he knows, capital support for new swimming pools and the refurbishment of existing pools continues to be provided by the Department through the large-scale sport infrastructure fund, LSSIF, which to date has allocated €28.9 million to nine swimming pools throughout the country. Investment in a swimming pool for Monaghan, as the Deputy knows, is a matter for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Swimming Pools (26 Jun 2025)

Matt Carthy: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I urge him to ensure that the new round of funding is opened as quickly as possible. There has long been a demand for a swimming pool among the people of Carrickmacross. When the previous local authority swimming pool programme was in place, there was a substantial fundraising drive in the town but it did not result in a swimming pool. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: I thank the Minister for the reply and for the work he continues to do on the basic income for the arts pilot. The scheme has made a real difference to the lives of close to 2,000 artists. We know that the evidence the Minister has mentioned points to positive outcomes across practice development, sectoral resilience and community engagement. Given the Department is preparing the full...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Peadar Tóibín: Aontú has supported the scheme from the outset. The reason we have done so is that, unfortunately, poverty and the arts are often synonymous. People who work in the arts probably have the most precarious work that exists in the country. Their lived experience is often the direct opposite of people's understanding of the glamour of the arts. The difficulty I have with this is that we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank both Deputies for their support. To reply to Deputy Tóibín, this is not a difficult decision that has been kicked down the road. The scheme was due to end in August and the easy thing to do would have been to wind it up but I did not do that. I have extended it past the budgetary date at the end of the year and into the new year. This will give me an opportunity to use...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Naoise Ó Cearúil: Other countries such as Finland and Germany have introduced similar schemes as part of long-term cultural and economic planning. Has the Department engaged with these international examples or does it plan to do so? Something I am very conscious of, and I know the Minister is also, is ensuring there is no cliff edge for participants when the pilot ends. Many of these artists will have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Arts Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Patrick O'Donovan: I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil. At a recent meeting of culture ministers in Brussels, a number of colleagues from other member states spoke to me about this and they could not believe, to be quite honest about it, that we had introduced a scheme of this nature. They were envious, to put it mildly, that we have a scheme of this nature and that we have the resources and capacity, based on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Culture Policy (26 Jun 2025)

Culture Policy

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Culture Policy (26 Jun 2025)

William Aird: 135. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to invest in cultural infrastructure in rural counties such as County Laois (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34380/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Culture Policy (26 Jun 2025)

William Aird: What plans does the Minister have to invest in cultural infrastructure in rural counties such as County Laois? These are counties with vibrant local artists and heritage buildings that would benefit greatly from targeted support. Will the Minister make a statement on this matter? County Laois, like many others, has a wealth of artistic talent and historic buildings, which too often are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (26 Jun 2025)

Charlie McConalogue: I know from having spoken to the Deputy that he is very committed to the post office network and wants to see it developed. I thank him for raising the matter. As he is aware, the Government is committed to a sustainable An Post and post office network which, as we all know, is a key component of the economic and social infrastructure of communities across the country. The programme for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (26 Jun 2025)

Noel McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Post offices are vital social links in urban and rural communities. They support local economies by providing essential Government services. However, they need further support, as the Minister of State said. Recent increases in inflation and the minimum wage have unfortunately occurred at the same time as a decline in transaction-based...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (26 Jun 2025)

Charlie McConalogue: We will continue to determine how we can ensure we utilise and maximise the post office network in terms of providing face-to-to face services to local communities. As he knows, in many small villages post offices are the last remaining face-to-face service. They provide important services in towns of all sizes, in particular small towns. We want to make sure that we examine how we can...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Post Office Network (26 Jun 2025)

Noel McCarthy: I thank the Minister of State for his positive response. I cannot speak highly enough of our post office network and the service it provides, in particular when compared with its European counterparts. However, I find it concerning that the Irish Postmasters Union warned this week at the Oireachtas communications committee that there could be significant post office closures if funding is...