Written Answers. - Departmental Bodies.
Michael Joe Cosgrave
Question:
156
Mr. Cosgrave
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands
the number of task forces or special committees set up in her Department since 1997; the date they were established; the terms of reference of each; if they have reported; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[24493/01]
The following is a list of task forces or special committees set up in my Department since 1997: the Consultative Committee on the Heritage of the Burren – established in March 1999, interim report received, final report awaited. Terms of Reference: the committee shall advise the Minister where her Department's functions affect the development of the Burren and in particular will work in co-operation with the management of the Burren National Park and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands in the development of the national park in a way that recognises the role of local people in the Burren area and encourages a harmonious relationship with the local communities; act as a forum to identify opportunities for the communities within the north Clare area, which will accord with the needs of nature conservation and take account of the particularly sensitive nature of the Burren National Park and the built heritage – archaeological and architectural – of the north Clare area in general; encourage the harmonious development of towns and villages in the area in keeping with their existing scale and character so that they may take advantage of development opportunities, including tourism; advise the Minister on presentation in the proposed centres supported by the Department; and encourage local knowledge, skills and techniques in the presentation of the heritage of the Burren. The committee may develop plans and proposals for the general development of the Burren. Where such proposals involve responsibilities of Ministers other than the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the Minister shall facilitate the presentation of these proposals to other Ministers-Departments.
Forum for the Great Blasket Island – established May 2001, has not yet reported. Terms of reference: to clarify options and to achieve the widest possible consensus on the development of the Blasket Island, as a precursor to the formulation of an outline conservation management plan.
Coimisiuin na Gaeltachta: coimisiún chun moltaí a dhéanamh don Rialtas maidir leis an nGaeilge a láidriú mar ghnáthurlabhra phobal naGaeltachta: bunaithe Aibreán 2000. Ní fritheadh tuarascáil go fóill. Téarmaí tagartha: ó na sonraí atá ar fáil ar a n-áirítear an daonáireamh agus staitiscí ó scéim labhairt na Gaeilge atá á riaradh ag an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán, a mhéid atá an Ghaeilge mar theanga labhartha sna limistéir Ghaeilge éagsúla a suíomh agus anailís a dhéanamh ar an eolas sin; scrúdú a dhéanamh ar éifeacht na bpolasaithe agus na scéimeanna atá á leanúint ach go háirithe ag na háisínteachtaí éagsúla Stáit atá ag plé go díreach le buanú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ar a n-áirítear; an Roinn Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gaeltachta agus Oileán Údarás na Gaeltachta; Radió na Gaeltachta; TG4; institiúidí oideachais áirithe, ar a n-áirítear Áras Uí Chadhain i nGaeltacht na Gaillimhe; eagrais phobail agus phríobháideacha a fhaigheann cúnamh Stáit chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn; comhairle a ghlacadh leis an bhForas Teanga; na tosca agus na polasaithe dearfacha atá chun leas chothú na teanga sa Ghaeltacht a suíomh; scrúdú agus anailís a dhéanamh ar na tosca agus ar na polasaithe gur cosúil atá chun leas nó chun dochar chaomhnú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht ar a n-áirítear; seirbhísí poiblí i gcoitinne; oideachas; siamsa / spórt;seirbhísí reiligiúnacha / eaglasta; eagrais phobail / dheonacha; fostaíocht; seirbhísí sláinte; na meáin / teicneolaíocht eolais; tuarasóireacht; eisimirce / inimirce chomh maith le himirce laistigh d'Éirinn; dearcadh an phobail, cúlra stairiúil; seirbhísí gnó / comhlachtaí príobháideacha; scrúdú a dhéanamh maidir le conas a thabharfar feidhm do fhorálacha an Bhille um Pleanáil agus Forbairt, 1999, i dtaca le caomhnú teanga agus chultúr na Gaeltachta; moltaí a dhéanamh agus plean ghníomhaíochta a ullmhú, a chlúdóidh na nithe seo a leanas; polasaí teanga a chuimseoidh an tseirbhís phoiblí, gníomhaíocht phríobháideach agus an earnáil dheonach agus a bheidh dírithe ar sheirbhísí trí mheán na Gaeilge ar fud na Gaeltachta a chinntiú; tairiscintí a réiteach i dtaca le feachtas eolais, leis na seirbhísí tacaíochta cuí, chun tábhacht na Gaeilge a chur ina luí ar phobail na Gaeltachta agus chun a threisiú dóibh go mbraithfidh a dtodhcaí mar cheantair Ghaeltachta ar shealbhú, úsáid, bhuanú agus chur chun cinn na Gaeilge ansin; mionphleananna agus costas curtha orthu oiread agus is féidir, a réiteach do chur chun cinn agus leathadh úsáid na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht le béim faoi leith ar an teanga a thabhairt ó ghlúin go glúin chuig aos óg na Gaeltachta; tairiscintí a réiteach i dtaca le feabhsú éifeacht na bpolasaithe atá ag na hEagrais sin atá ag plé go díreach le buanú na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht – mar atá i 3.2 thuas – agus, más gá, i dtaca le bealaí eile níos tairgiúla, maidir le buanú na teanga; agus tairiscintí a réiteach i dtaca leis na critéir teangeolaíochta a d'úsáidfí chun limistéir Ghaeltachta a theorannú ar a n-áirítear córas chun cur le nó baint de na limistéir sin. Sna tairiscintí sin ní mór go dtógfaí san áireamh an gá le bonn nádúrtha tíreolaíochta agus pobail don Ghaeltacht agus an ról a d'fhéadfadh a bheith ag stádas Gaeltachta i dtaca le chur chun cinn agus buanú na teanga. Moltaí a dhéanamh i dtaca leis an gcúnamh a bheifear ag súil leis ón bpobal i gcoitinne lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht, Gaeilgeóirí san áireamh, chun an Ghaeilge a bhuanú agus a chur chun cinn sa Ghaeltacht.
Coiste Comhairleach na nÓg – bunaithe Deireadh Fómhair 1998. Tuarascáil faighte.
Téarmaí tagartha: riachtanais theanga na Gaeltachta le béim ar leith ar bhuanú na teanga i measc na n-óg, na meáin chumarsáide Ghaeilge riachtanais daoine óga, riachtanais oideachais na Gaeltachta, conas daoine óga a spreagadh chun páirt ghníomhach a ghlacadh in obair agus in imeachtaí pobail, na seirbhísí agus na deiseanna fostaíochta atá riachtanach le daoine a spreagadh le fanacht sa Ghaeltacht, an bealach is éifeachtaí chun cabhair Stáit a thabhairt d'eagrais Ghaeltachta go háirithe ó thaobh struchtúir agus airgeadais – óg-eagraíochtaí san áíreamh.
Tasc-Fhórsa Bhéal a Mhuirthead – bunaithe Iúil 2000. Tuarascáil faighte. Téarmaí tagartha: an bealach is oiriúnaí le déileáil le cailiúint na bpostanna i Warner's (Éire) Teo. a mheas; cabhrú leis an bpróiséis tionscal nó tionscail nua a aithint; liosta a dhéanamh, do réir príomhachtaí, deis na gnímh atá riachtanach chun tabhairt faoi na laigeachtaí infrastruchtúr a d'fhéadfadh cur isteach ar chruthú fostaíochta i mBéal an Mhuirthid; riachtanaisí oideachais/oiliúna na n-oibrithe i Warners (Éire) Teo. agus an fórsa oibre i mBéal an Mhuirthid go ginearálta a mheas.
Inishbiggle Cablecar Committee – established October 1998. Report received. Terms of refer ence: to monitor a consultancy study being carried out by P. J. Tobin & Company Limited, Galway, on the case made by the Inishbiggle Co-Operative – Comhar Bigil Teo – for the establishment of a cablecar link between Inishbiggle and Achill Island at Bullsmouth.
Island Air Services Committee – established July 2000. Report not yet received. Terms of reference: to monitor a consultancy study being carried out by the Air Transport Group, Cranfield University on the proposed development and day to day management of airstrips and associated air services on a number of offshore islands.
National Heritage Plan Steering Committee – established March 1998. Draft Report circulated to other Departments. Terms of reference: to bring forward proposals on a national heritage plan and to oversee the initial drafting of the plan.
Working group to advance the Government's policy objectives on architecture – established April 1998. Report received. Report submitted to Government and publication being arranged. Terms of reference: to prepare, by the end of 1999, a report which contains a review of the current position and specific policy proposals and actions in relation to the six objectives of the Government's policy statement on architecture and to present to the Minister and Government as appropriate, a number of specific policy proposals to advance the overall objectives.
Task group on policy for the conservation of historic buildings in public authority ownership – established October 1998. Report received. Terms of reference: to prepare and submit to the working group to advance the Government's policy objectives on architecture proposals for a policy framework for the care and conservation of historic buildings in public authority ownership.
Task group on policy for the promotion of architectural quality in publicly funded projects – established October 1998. Report received. Terms of reference: to prepare and submit to the working group to advance the Government's policy objectives on architecture 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".
Task group on policy for the promotion of public awareness of architecture – established October 1998. Report received. Terms of reference: to prepare and submit to the working group to advance the government's policy objectives on architecture proposals for a policy framework, and specific actions where appropriate, for the promotion of public awareness of architecture.
Working group on the establishment of an academy for the performing arts including a Conservatoire in Dublin – established jointly with Minister for Education and Science, March 1998. Report received. Terms of reference: to make proposals on the scope of the academy; identify the ongoing cost and staffing implications of the establishment of the academy; to report on the appropriateness and the suitability of the existing buildings at Earlsfort Terrace for accommodating the academy; to identify the potential for non-Exchequer funding for part of the capital costs; to examine the financial implications of relocating the current educational facilities housed in Earlsfort Terrace; the timescale for such relocation; the likely agreement of all interested parties to the relocation.
High level working group on National Concert Hall – established July 2000, jointly with Deputy Woods, Minister for Education and Science. Report received. Terms of reference: to determine the future needs and accommodation requirements of the National Concert Hall; to evaluate the feasibility of continuing shared use of Earlsfort Terrace by the National Concert Hall and University College Dublin and to determine any other potential uses of the Earlsfort Terrace property.
Arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme – ACCESS – established March 2001. Recommendations submitted to Minister. Terms of reference: to assess projects which have applied for grant aid under ACCESS with a view to making recommendations to the Minister on the projects which should be funded. Final approval of projects to be grant aided under the scheme will be a matter for the Minister who will take into account the recommendations of the advisory committee in making her decision. It will be a matter for the Minister to attach any terms and conditions deemed appropriate to such approval. A total of £36 million is available for allocation to projects under ACCESS in the period 2001-04. A sum of £27.66 million is being made available under the national development plan and this is to be allocated on the basis of £8.86 million to Border-midland-western region and £18.80 million to southern and eastern region. The non-NDP funding of £8.34 million may be allocated geographically as deemed appropriate. The assessment of projects should be based on an assessment form, which reflects the criteria outlined in the guidelines for the scheme. The committee shall refer to the detailed evaluation report completed by economic consultants in respect of each application. The deliberations and recommendations of each of the committee members shall be confidential. Any requests in relation to the assessment process will be handled in accordance with the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, 1998. The quorum for meetings of the committee shall be five. Where possible the committee will act on the basis of consensus. Where this cannot be achieved, decisions will be taken on the basis of a simple majority. In the case of a tied vote, the chair of the committee shall have the casting vote.
Screen Commission of Ireland – announced June 1997 – became operational in Sept 1998. Terms of reference: to provide a one stop shop for film-makers wishing to produce films in Ireland; to provide a comprehensive database on facilities, talent, locations, services and key contacts for film-makers based in Ireland and abroad; to promote Ireland as a centre for film-making at the key international promotional events, for example, Cannes Film Festival, MIPCOM, MIPTV, Berlin, Venice, etc.
Arising from the implementation of the Strategic Review Group Report of 1999, which recommended an enhanced central co-ordinating role for the Film Board, it was considered more strategic and rational that the Screen Commission function be co-ordinated under the Film Board itself. Accordingly the board of the Screen Commission was stepped down at the end of 2000 with the chief executive of the commission reporting directly to the Film Board until the expiration of his contract in August 2001.
Film industry strategic review group – established June 1998. Report received. Terms of reference: having regard to the fact that the statutory authority for the section 481 scheme expires at the end of the fiscal year to 5 April 1999; to carry out an objective evaluation of the effectiveness of the existing schemes and incentives to develop the industry; 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 to formulate a strategic plan for the future of the industry into the next decade.
Commission for the Review of the Irish Film Board – established June 2000. Report received. Terms of reference: taking account of the recommendations in the report of the film industry strategic review group in relation to the expanded role and functions envisaged for the Irish Film Board – Bord Scannán na hÉireann – to review the existing organisation, operations and resources of the Board and make recommendations within the parameters of existing legislation to the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on the human resource requirements, including necessary staffing levels, skill requirements, remuneration and reward systems needed to give full effect to these recommendations; the most appropriate management and organisational structures to enable the board to deliver efficiently and effectively its expanded brief including, in particular, recommendations on the most appropriate and effective division of functions and working responsibilities between the board and its executives; the role of existing committees and sub-committees of the board in the context of ensuring the most efficient and effective implementation of the expanded role envisaged for it; and the appropriate relationship between the board and other bodies and agencies in the State sector concerned with the audio-visual industry.
Project management group on digital terrestrial television – established July 1998. Has not reported yet – work ongoing. Terms of reference: to oversee the implementation of the Government's objectives for the introduction of digital terrestrial television in Ireland.
Joint Committee of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Terms of reference: to address concerns of the farming bodies regarding regulations pertaining to activities – farming, planning and so on – within candidate special areas of conservation, SACs.
Wicklow Mountains National Park Council – established July 2000. No report issued. Terms of reference: to allow for a comprehensive system to represent the views of all parties interested in the conservation of natural heritage in the national park. The council will work with Dúchas, the heritage service of the Department Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on finalising the management plan for the national park and reviewing the implementation of that plan.
Killarney National Park liaison committee – established February 2001. No report issued. Terms of reference: to allow for a comprehensive system to represent the views of all parties interested in the conservation of natural heritage in the national park. The council will work with Dúchas, the heritage service of the Department Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands on finalising the management plan for the National Park and reviewing the implementation of that plan.
