Written Answers - Departmental Bodies.
David Stanton
Question:
333
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
the title, role and composition of all task forces, review groups, advisory bodies and any other agencies operating under the aegis of her Department; the date of establishment of each body; and the reports, if any, published by each group in the past 12 months.
[24886/98]
An Interdepartmental Working Group on Advancing the Government's Policy Objectives on Architecture was established in May 1998, to co-ordinate the development of specific policies and actions arising from the adoption by Government in May, 1997, of a broad policy statement on architecture.
The composition of the working group is as follows:
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Name
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Nominating Government Department/Body
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Michael O'Doherty (Charperson)
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Office of Public Works
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Gus Cummins
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Department of Environment and Local Government
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Joe Davis
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Department of Education and Science
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Frank Jackman
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Department of Health and Children
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Devin Kieran
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Arts Council
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David Slattery
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Heritage Council
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Rachel MacRory
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Departments of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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Kevin T. O'Connor
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Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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Moling Ryan
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Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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No report has been published to date.
In September, 1998, the working group established the following three task groups: task group on policy for the promotion of public awareness of architecture; task group on policy for historic buildings in public authority ownership, and a task group on policy for the promotion of architectural quality in publicly-funded projects.
(i) The terms of reference of the task group on Policy for the Promotion of Public Awareness of Architecture are to prepare and submit to the working group by the end of March, 1999, proposals for a policy framework, and specific actions where appropriate, for the promotion of public awareness of architecture.
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Name
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Nominating Government Department/Office or Body
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Marian Finucane (Chairperson)
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Broadcaster
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Jim Barrett
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Dublin Corporation
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Dave Fadden
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Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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Maureen Gilbert
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National Rehabilitation Board
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Kevin Kieran
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Arts Council
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Ann McNicholl
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Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
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Rachel MacRory
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Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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Niall Reddy
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Bord Fáilte
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Angela Rolfe
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Office of Public Works
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Gerry Smith
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ENFO
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Thomas Sweeney
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Department of Education and Science
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Sally Starbuck
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Architectural Association of Ireland
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(ii) The terms of reference of the Task Group on Policy for Historic Buildings in Public Authority Ownership are to prepare and submit to the working group by the end of March, 1999, proposals for a policy framework for the care and conservation of historic buildings in public authority ownership.
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Name
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Nominating Government Department/Body
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Professor Loughlin Kealy (Chairperson)
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Head of School of Architecture, UCD
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Anthony Abbott King
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Irish Planning Institute
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Mary Bryan
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Irish Georgian Society
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John Clancy
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Córas Iompair Éireann
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Liam Egan
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Office of Public Works
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Shay Kirk
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Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
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Deirdre McDermott
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Historic Buildings Council (Northern Ireland)
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Rachel MacRory
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Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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David O'Connor
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County and City Architects Association
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Freddie O'Dwyer
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Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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Diarmuid ÓGráda
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Department of Environment and Local Government
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Susan Roundtree
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Dublin Corporation
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(iii) The terms of reference of the Task Group on Policy for the Promotion of Architectural Quality in Publicly-Funded Projects are to prepare and submit to the working group by the end of March 1999, proposals for a policy framework for the promotion of architectural quality in publicly-funded projects in the context of the Government's policy statement on architecture, in particular the objective to promote high standards of design and construction in building works for which it is responsible.
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Name
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Nominating Government Department/Body
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Klaus Unger (Chairperson)
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Office of Public Works
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Brian Brennan
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County and City Architects Association
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Dave Cussen
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Electricity Supply Board
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Joe Davis
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Department of Education and Science
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Barry Drinan
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Aer Rianta
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Kevin Kieran
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Arts Council
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John McGinley
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County and City Managers Association
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Rachel MacRory
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Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
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Eoin ÓCofaigh
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Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland
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Matthew B. O'Connor
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National Building Agency
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Richard O'Keeffe
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Department of Health and Children
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No reports have been published to date.
Boyne Valley Integration Plan Management Committee was established on 23 July 1996 to ensure an integrated approach to tourism development, heritage and amenity management in the Valley of the River Boyne, from its upper reaches in Meath to the sea at Drogheda.
The management committee, under the chairmanship of Meath County Council, is as follows: Brian Hunt, Meath County Council (Chairperson); Eugene Keane, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Patsy Fitzsimons, Louth County Council; Harry Lynch, Midlands-East Regional Tourism Authority; Eugene Kierans, Drogheda Chamber of Commerce; Pauline Bacon, Meath County Enterprise Board; Ann Daly, Meath Leader Company; John Clarke, Slane Community; Jim McDonnell, Donore-Rosnaree Community; Alan McGurdy, Eastern Regional Fisheries Board; John Farrelly T.D., Meath Tourism; Ann Finnegan, Trim Forum for Employment/Upper Boyne Tourism.
No reports have been published to date.
The Grand and Royal Canals Corridor Studies Task Force was reappointed on 1 January 1998. The role of the task force is to co-ordinate and monitor the activities of the various agencies responsible for the development of the Corridors, and to provide the necessary impetus for the implementation of the strategy and proposals.
The composition of the task force is: P. Magner (Chairperson); R. Delaney, Author; C. Sherry, Department of the Environment and Local Government; C. Caffrey, Town Planner, Dublin Corporation; J. Caffrey, Town Planner, Fingal County Council; P. Jones, Town Planner, Kildare County Council; G. Masterston, Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation; E. Conway, Town Planner, South Dublin County Council; J. Martin, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands.
No reports made in the past 12 months.
In March of this year, together with the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, I established the Working Group on the Establishment of an Academy for the Performing Arts, including a Conservatoire, in Dublin. The working group's terms of reference state that it will in particular:—
(i) make proposals on the scope of the Academy;
(ii) identify the ongoing cost and staffing implications of the establishment of the Academy,
(iii) report on the appropriateness and the suitability of the existing buildings at Earlsfort Terrace for accommodating the Academy;
(iv) identify the potential for non Exchequer funding for part of the capital costs;
(v) examine:—
(a) the financial implications of relocating the current educational facilities housed in Earlsfort Terrace;
(b) the timescale for such relocation;
(c) the likely agreement of all interested parties to the relocation.
The group's membership under the Chairmanship of Mr. Noel Lindsay former Chairman of the Higher Education Authority is as follows:—
Richard Sweeney, Manager, Department of Education & Science;
Eleanor Ní Bhriain, Principal Officer, Department of Education and Science;
Oliver Hynes, Inspector, Department of Education and Science;
Chris Flynn, Principal Officer, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands;
Donagh Morgan, Principal Officer, Department of An Taoiseach;
Eugene O'Sullivan, Principal Officer, Department of Finance;
John Hayden, Chief Executive/Secretary, Higher Education Authority;
June Thompson, Principal Officer and Klaus Unger, Assistant Principal Architect, Officer of the Public Works, and Patricia Quinn, Director, Arts Council.
Both the Minister for Education and Science and I have received an interim report from the group at the end of July last which we are now considering.
The Council of National Cultural Institutions was established on 21st October last. The purpose of the Council is to provide a forum for sharing ideas and experiences and for discussion and consideration of issues of common concern and to provide me with the views of the Council to assist me in the formulation of proposals to Government in relation to general policy in the fields of arts, culture and heritage. The Council will also explore what areas of co-operation exist or may be arranged to effect efficiencies, savings on overheads, improvement to services or creative collaborations.
The membership consists of:—
Judith Woodworth, (Chairperson), Director, National Concert Hall
David Craig, Director, National Archives
Pat Wallace, Director, National Museum of Ireland
Brendan O'Donoghue, Acting Director, National Library of Ireland
Raymond Keaveny, Director, National Gallery of Ireland
Declan McGonagle, Director Irish Museum of Modern Art
Michael Ryan, Director, Chester Beatty Library
Patricia Quinn, Director, Arts Council
Michael Starrett, Chief Executive, Heritage Council
Patrick Mason, Artistic Director, National Theatre Society Ltd.
A Think Thank for the Film Industry was established on 8 June last with the following terms of reference:—
Having regard to the fact that the statutory authority for the Section 481 Scheme (formerly Section 35 of the Finance Act, 1987, as amended) expires at the end of the current fiscal year:—
(i) to carry out an objective evaluation of the effectiveness of the existing schemes and incentives to develop the industry;
(ii) to analyse and identify the fundamental issues facing the industry and to make recommendations in regard to future measures in support of the film industry; and
(iii) to formulate a strategic plan for the future of the film industry into the next decade.
Ossie Kilkenny (Chairperson)
Kevin Bonner
Jane Gogan
James Hickey
Pat Keenan
Louis Marcus
Rita Meehan
Pádraic Ó Ciardha
Morgan O'Sullivan
Dermot Burke
Michael Hannigan
Róisín Hogan
Arthur Lappin
Liam Miller
Kevin Moriarty
Mart O'Neill
Ed Guiney
A Liaison Committee — Cultural and Artistic Activities in the School Curriculum — was established in October 1998. The committee is to assess the development and implementation of the new school curriculum in the context of helping to ensure that the curriculum places more emphasis on cultural and artistic as promised in An Action Programme for the Millennium.
The committee consists of:—
Séamus Lynam — Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
John Curran — Department of Education and Science
Gaye Tanham — Arts Council
A liaison committee — Irish in the Educational System and Education in the Gaeltacht and the Islands was established in November 1998. The liaison committee is to discuss jointly questions relating to Irish in the educational system, education in the Gaeltacht and on Islands and related matters.
The commissioners consists of:—
Seán Ó Cofaigh, — Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands;
Aonghus Ó hAonghusa, — Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and Eoin Ó Suilleabháin — Department of Education and Science.
A working group on the Placenames Branch and the Placenames Commission was established in October 1998. The group is to report on the role, objectives and resources of the Placenames Branch and the Placenames Commission which is currently under the aegis of the Department of Finance.
The objectives of the working group are:—
to define the role and objectives of the Placenames Branch
to define the role of the Placenames Commission and its relationship to the Placenames Branch
in the context of these definitions to clarify and arrange for the provision of the resources —— staff and financial — necessary to enable the Branch and the Commission to carry out their tasks
The working group is under the Chairmanship of Eoghan Ó Conaill of my Department and consists of:—
John O'Callaghan, Ordnance Survey Office
Mary McKeon, Department of Finance
Dónal Mac Giolla Easpaig, Placenames Branch
Tom Fitzgerald, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
No reports have been published to date.
An Inter-Departmental Committee on the Islands, Gaeltacht and the Irish Language was established in March 1998 to co-ordinate Government policy on the Islands, the Gaeltacht and the Irish Language and to put it into effect. To review services available from the Departments and State Agencies for the Islands and the Gaeltacht and to ensure no duplication arises between the agencies.
No reports have been published to date.
The group consists of: Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Chairperson); Deputy Robert Molloy, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government; Fionn Ó Gráda, Department of Tourism, Sport, and Recreation; Brian MacSharry, Department of Marine and Natural Resources; Dave Kerr, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Con Ward, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs; Michael O'Sullivan, Department of Finance; Enda Falvey, Department of Defence; Fintan Cowey, Department of Public Enterprise; Dominick De Búrca, Department of Education and Science; Noel Synnott, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform; Séamus O'Flaherty, Department of Agriculture and Food; Con Breen, Department of Finance; Peter Lennon, Department of Health and Children; Séan Ó Cofaigh, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Aonghus Ó hAonghusa, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands; Beirtí Ó hAinmhire, Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and Alison Kelly, Department of Foreign Affairs.
(12) In line with the Government decision on broadcasting leigislation, a group was established on 27 August 1998 headed by my Department and including representatives of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the Department of Finance, the Department of Public Enterprise and RTE to manage the separation of the RTE transmission network and the establishment of a new joint venture company which will be mandated to build and operate this country's digital terrestrial television infrastructure. The intention is that RTE will have a minority stake in the new company with the balance to be owned by one or more strategic partners who will bring relevant expertise as well as finance to the operation.
