Written Answers Nos. 340-348
340. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the dates in 2023 on which she met the chairperson of the Abbey Theatre, in tabular form; and when she is next scheduled to meet the chairperson. [25865/23]
View answerI have met the Chair of the Abbey Theatre informally on occasion this year including at opening nights at the theatre on 2 February and 2 April. In addition, my Department engages with the Chair and executive of the National Theatre on an ongoing basis.
No formal meeting is currently scheduled with the Chair of the Abbey Theatre but there is a request for a meeting on hand and this will be scheduled in due course.
341. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media how the €5 million allocation in 2022 under the Winter in Dublin programme was spent; and the budget allocation for this programme in 2023, in tabular form. [25866/23]
View answerMy Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national tourism policy and implementation of that policy is a matter for the tourism agencies, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland, as well as certain other bodies.
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have referred this question to them for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
342. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount expended under the large-scale sport infrastructure fund to date; the amount made available and spent under each respective project; her plans for the future of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25911/23]
View answerThe National Sports Policy was published in 2018 and provided for the establishment of a Large Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF). The first call for proposals under the LSSIF closed in 2019 with applications confined to local authorities and National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport. All applications were assessed in accordance with the published Evaluation Procedures and Guidelines and the first allocations were announced in January 2020. Thus far, approximately €86.4 million has been awarded to 33 different proposals. Full details of all allocations are available at:- www.gov.ie/en/service/4113b3-large-scale-sport-infrastructure-fund-lssif/
The total amount paid out by the Department to date is €2,936,902. The amounts drawn down and the respective projects are as follows:-
· Dalymount Park Redevelopment - €180,410
· Linear Walkways & Playing Pitches, Dunboyne - €1,253,920
· Waterford GAA, Walsh Park Redevelopment - €309,110
· Newcastle West Athletics Hub - €1,193,462
It should be noted that the first LSSIF allocations were announced just prior to the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic obviously gave rise to significant financial challenges for all grantees with many of them having to reprioritise their own expenditure plans due to reductions in their income streams. In more recent times, the high level of construction inflation has also presented considerable challenges for grantees. In view of these issues, it was considered timely to review progress on all projects that were allocated grants and meetings with all grantees have taken place. It is encouraging that, based on these discussions with grantees, over half of the 33 projects should be in a position to draw down funding this year.
Minister Martin and I, together with our officials, will be working to ensure the activation of as many projects as possible.
343. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if her Department assists with, or makes a financial contribution to, the sourcing or provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of staff members of any grade or position; if so, the names of the providers; the costs incurred for the period 2020 to date in 2023; the number of staff who have availed of such assistance over this timeframe; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25982/23]
View answerI am advised that my Department does not make any financial contribution to the provision of childcare or crèche facilities for the children of staff members of any grade or position in my Department.
344. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of professional archaeologists currently in the employ of the National Museum of Ireland. [26022/23]
View answer346. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of professional historians currently in the employ of the National Museum of Ireland. [26028/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 346 together.
I am advised that the information sought by the Deputy is an operational matter for the National Museum of Ireland and is not something for which I have direct, day-to-day responsibility for. The National Museum publishes a staff directory as part of its Annual Report which is available on its website at the following address: www.museum.ie/en-IE/About/Corporate-Information/Annual-Reports, as well as being laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.
345. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of professional archaeologists currently on the board of the National Museum of Ireland.; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26023/23]
View answer347. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of professional historians currently on the board of the National Museum of Ireland. [26029/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 347 together.
Appointments to the Board of the National Museum are made in accordance with Section 19 of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 and are made following a competitive process run by the Public Appointments Service, unless otherwise provided for by Section 19. It should be noted that in making appointments to the Board, it is important to consider the broad range of skills required, including experience in corporate governance, finance, legal, sustainability as well as skills relevant to the functions of the museum. Biographies for each of the board members is published on the National Museum of Ireland’s website at the following address: www.museum.ie/en-IE/About/Board-Director.
348. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount paid by her Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms and consultants in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26241/23]
View answerI am advised that the amounts paid by my Department to external legal teams, HR specialists, accountancy firms and consultants in 2022 are specified in the table below.
From time to time, my Department commissions experts to provide technical reports or advice on specific issues. While the providers of these services may describe themselves as consultants, their work is not classified as consultancy services and is not funded from my Department's Administrative Budget.
External Legal Teams
|
Year |
Service Provider |
Purpose of Service |
Total Value Invoiced (excl. VAT) |
|
2022 |
Matheson LLP |
Legal advice related to the tax treatment of payments to foreign-based entities |
€7,000 |
Accountancy Firms
|
Year |
Service Provider |
Purpose of Service |
Total Value Invoiced (excl. VAT) |
|
2022 |
BDO |
Audit services |
€63,263 |
Consultancy
|
Year |
Service Provider |
Purpose of Service |
Total Value Invoiced (excl. VAT) |
|
2022 |
John McCarthy Consultancy Services |
Review of the delivery of the Tourism Marketing Fund by the tourism agencies, Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. |
€1,885 (excl. VAT) |
