Results 1,281-1,300 of 1,066,926 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Carol Nolan)

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...

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

Charlie McConalogue: We are very clear on the importance of Government funding and the three-year contract to make sure post offices are sustained. I have no doubt we would have seen closures over the past three years if it had not been for the Government stepping up to the mark. We are also very clear on the importance of us continuing to step up and support the network. We have received a submission from...

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

Arts Funding

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

Naoise Ó Cearúil: 134. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for an update on his plans for a successor scheme for the basic income for the arts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34834/25]

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

Catherine Connolly: 138. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to his announcement that the basic income for the arts pilot scheme is to be extended by six months, his plans for the permanent roll-out of the BIA scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34911/25]

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

Peadar Tóibín: 141. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his Department has undertaken any analysis of the effectiveness of the basic income for the arts scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34056/25]

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

Naoise Ó Cearúil: The basic income for the arts pilot scheme has already shown a transformative impact. Artists report producing more work, enjoying better well-being and feeling more financially secure. It has been extended for six months to allow for a full evaluation. I ask the Minister outline to his plans for a successor scheme and to confirm that budget 2026 will include ring-fenced funding for its...

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

Patrick O'Donovan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 138 and 141 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the programme for Government commits to assessing the basic income for the arts pilot research scheme to maximise its impact. The scheme has now been operating for almost three years and is underpinned by a robust research programme collecting data about all aspects of the lives of the artists and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I do not think I need to recite them all but I will give a few examples. Paul O'Donovan, who we all know from the rowing world, is practising as a surgeon. Sophie Becker was working in a full-time job in a pharma company until recently. Phil Healy was working as a software engineer. They are all doing this while competing at the top level in their sport. The dedication those people...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sports Funding (26 Jun 2025)

Charlie McConalogue: I acknowledge the Deputy’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of sporting organisations in his constituency. We expect to open the sports facilities fund, which is for clubs up to a maximum of €200,000, next spring with announcements next autumn. It normally runs every two years. We have only ever run two iterations of the large-scale sports infrastructure fund, the first in 2019 and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (26 Jun 2025)

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

Sport and Recreational Development

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: 131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the progress made towards meeting the programme for Government commitment to support local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34641/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: There is a very progressive commitment in the programme for Government to support local authorities in the acquisition of new lands for parks and playing pitches to help build liveable communities. We all know the importance of active recreational spaces. Have efforts commenced to develop a strategy around that commitment?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I know it is something he is committed to. We have spoken about it before. Encouraging clubs to collaborate particularly with local authorities under a municipal approach could deliver significant benefits to sporting organisations and opportunities for people in local communities to engage in sport across the country and, from the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: The Minister of State noted many of the challenges that sports groups and local authorities meet in the development of facilities. The programme for Government also includes a complementary commitment to conduct a nationwide audit of sports facilities to address shortages in areas where there is a population of over 1,500. The audit will probably find a deficit in the provision of playing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

Charlie McConalogue: We have asked Sport Ireland to conduct an exercise to assess gaps in particular sporting facilities around the country in order that we get an overall sense of what the facilities are in different areas and are able to factor that into our future sports capital considerations and announcements. My experience, and I am sure the Deputy’s too, is that almost all clubs across all sports...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Sport and Recreational Development (26 Jun 2025)

John Connolly: The GAA has done a lot of analysis of its activities in different parts of the country. It is concerned about the future organisation of the GAA in some urban communities because the lack of playing space will limit its ability to undertake activities and increase its membership among new communities. That is worth noting in this debate. As a concrete example, in 2017 Galway City Council...