Vol. 747 No. 5
1 Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will detail reductions in expenditure announced in the Capital Spending Review 2012 — 2016 related to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36915/11]
Under the Capital Investment Plan 2012-2016, capital expenditure by my Department is estimated to total some €190 million, comprising €44 million in 2012, €38 million in 2013 and €36 million each year for 2014, 2015 and 2016.
With regard to the specific details of this expenditure, I am currently prioritising plans within the context of the forthcoming budget. However, I anticipate that expenditure will focus in particular on supporting jobs in the film and TV sector, and in the Gaeltacht. It will also seek to target investment in priority areas in the culture and heritage sectors that will support cultural tourism as one of the most important elements of Ireland's tourism product.
Expenditure will also be directed at ensuring compliance with EU directives, including investment in alternative solutions for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting in special areas of conservation. Other investment will support the built heritage, strategic developments in our national parks and the development of our waterways in the context of the implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews agreements.
I thank the Minister for his reply. A recent Indecon report cited the ability of arts organisations to support employment, which is directly related to the overall income of such organisations. The report also said this has recently been impacted by the constraints in public finances and the collapse in consumer demand. The Minister is now saying that in the coming years we will see significant reductions in the arts budget. The Indecon report, the recent creative capital report and others all state that there is scope for the arts sector to create jobs. Despite a serious cutback in departmental investment in the arts sector, is the Minister satisfied we will still be able to realise the job creation we so badly need? Independent experts have signalled that the arts industry is due to grow, so should we not at least maintain our current level of expenditure for that sector?
I remind the Deputy that we are dealing with capital funding, not current expenditure which has yet to be decided. Hopefully, the arts, heritage and Gaeltacht areas will not take a big hit. I remind the Deputy that my Department was an amalgamation of a number of other departmental sections. The arts, for example, came from the former Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism. The arts budget was reduced from €78 million to under €32 million from 2008 to 2011, under the previous Government. Meanwhile, heritage was reduced from €63 million to under €11 million this year, a drop of 83%, again under the Deputy's party's Government. The budget for the Gaeltacht and islands was reduced from €73 million in 2008 to €12 million this year, which is minus 83%. Even the North-South body's budget was reduced from €11 million to €6 million this year, a reduction of 45%.
I have therefore come from a very low base where massive capital funding reductions have already been impacting on this Department. Hopefully, we will fare better with current funding. I hope to make up some of the loss from the taxpayer by encouraging philanthropists to invest and others to become involved in the arts. In the budget I hope to set up a mechanism through which philanthropy will be encouraged. In addition, we will also get funding from other sources.
I agree with the Indecon report. I have been saying for years that there is a major multiplier in the arts. For every euro invested there could be a tenfold return, which makes perfect sense. Hopefully, current funding will not impact as much as capital funding. In defence of previous Governments, over €1 billion in capital funding has been invested in arts projects, including creative spaces, in this country over the past decade. There has been a major investment therefore in capital projects in the arts, heritage and to a lesser extent in the Gaeltacht areas in the last ten years.
The important thing now is to retain current funding as much as possible so we can retain staff in places like arts centres. We must also ensure there are programmes they can pursue. In addition, Arts Council funding must be protected as much as possible as it funds the majority of these community groups, events and centres around the country.
2 D’fhiafraigh Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéid damáiste don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus do Straitéis 20 Bliain atá le titim amach de bharr cinneadh an Rialtais Oifig an Ombudsman agus Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga a chónascadh; cé mhéid airgid atá le ghabháil ag an rialtas chun á shábháil i 2012, 2013 agus 2014, an bhfuil Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga i nGaillimh le dúnadh agus an ndearnadh cinneadh an Rialtais mar gheall ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla roimh fhorfheidhmiú an athbhreithnithe [36917/11]
I dtús báire, ba mhaith liom a dheimhniú don Teachta agus go deimhin don Teach seo nach bhfuil Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga le dúnadh. Is é an cinneadh atá tógtha ag an Rialtas go ndéanfar feidhmeanna na hoifige sin a chónascadh le hOifig an Ombudsman agus go gcuirfear an cinneadh sin i gcrích i gcomhthéacs an athbhreithnithe ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003 atá ar siúl ag mo Roinn faoi láthair. Tá sé luaite go sonrach sna téarmaí tagartha don athbhreithniú go "mbreithneofar na forálacha a leagann amach ról Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga". Ar ndóigh, tuigfidh an Teachta go dteastóidh leasú reachtaíochta chun Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga a chónascadh le hOifig an Ombudsman.
Ba mhaith liom a mheabhrú fosta nach é Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga amháin an t-aon oifig Ombudsman atá luaite i bplean an Rialtais chun athchóiriú a dhéanamh ar an tseirbhís phoiblí. Tá cinneadh tógtha ag an Rialtas oifigí éagsúla, a bhfuil feidhmeanna Ombudsman leo, a chónascadh ar mhaithe le cur chuige níos éifeachtaí agus níos sruthlínithe a chur i bhfeidhm maidir le seachadadh seirbhísí do shaoránaigh an Stáit.
Tá na cinntí Rialtais seo tógtha mar chuid den athbhreithniú cuimsitheach caiteachais a thionscain an Rialtas agus atá faoi stiúir na Roinne Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe. Tá próiseas comhairliúcháin leanúnach ar siúl idir an Roinn sin agus gach Roinn Rialtais eile mar chuid den athbhreithniú caiteachais chun gur féidir leis an Rialtas na cinntí cuí a thógáil.
Is é €670,000 soláthar an Státchiste d'Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga i mbliana agus baineann circa €450,000 den tsuim seo le costais phá don fhoireann. Déanfar cinntí maidir leis an soláthar airgid don Oifig do 2012 agus do na blianta ina dhiaidh sin i gcomhthéacs an phróisis meastachán.
Ar ndóigh, tá sé ráite go soiléir ag an Rialtas nach sábháil airgid amháin atá á lorg sna cúrsaí seo. Tiocfaidh na buntáistí is suntasaí as timpeallacht riaracháin níos simplí agus níos éifeachtaí a bheith ann, rud a thabharfaidh cuntasacht dhaonlathach níos fearr, níos lú dúblála agus línte freagrachta níos soiléire maidir le seachadadh seirbhísí don saoránach.
Is buille tubaisteach é seo don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus don straitéis 20 bliana. Níl amhras ar bith ar éinne, seachas an t-Aire, go laghdóidh an cinneadh seo an Ghaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht. Ní hé mo thuairm féin amháin atá i gceist. Tá na saineolaithe go léir agus na heagraithe feachtais atá ar son na Gaeilge ag rá an ruda chéanna.
Tá bunú Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga ar cheann des na rudaí is fearr a rinne aon Rialtas ariamh ar son na Gaeilge. Tacaíonn sé le cearta na teanga agus leis na Gaeltachtaí. Tá a lán dul chun cinn tar éis teacht de bharr an obair atá déanta ag an gCoimisinéir.
Caitheann an cinneadh seo amhras ar cé chomh dáiríre is atá Fine Gael agus an Lucht Oibre maidir le cúrsaí Gaeilge. Roimh an toghcháin bhí na páirtithe ag caint faoin nGaeilge a scrios már ábhar riachtanach san ardteistiméireacht. Nuair a tháinig an Rialtas i bhfeidhm d'athraíodh an cómhéad idir pháistí agus múinteoirí ins na gaelscoileanna.
De réir na saineolaithe, déanfaidh an cinneadh seo an-chuid damáiste don Ghaeilge. Dúirt an t-Ollamh Williams as Ollscoil Cardiff gur cheart an cinneadh a chur ar ceal. An gcuirfidh an Rialtas an cinneadh ar ceal, ar son na Gaeilge?
Tá an-mheas ag an Rialtas ar an obair atá á dhéanamh ag an gCoimisinéir Teanga ó bunaíodh an oifig sé bliana ó shin. Sin ceann des na fáthanna go bhfuair an coimisinéir téarma eile an bhliain seo caite go dtí 2016. Tá an-obair déanta aige agus níl aon locht ar obair an choimisinéara.
Ní buille tubaisteach don teanga é. Dúirt an Taoiseach féin, an lá a fógraíodh an cónascadh seo, nach mbeadh aon titim, aon dul ar gcúl nó aon chúlú siar ar an tseirbhís nó ar údarás an Choimisinéara Teanga maidir leis an jab atá á dhéanamh aige faoi láthair.
Níl aon rud socraithe go fóill ach an cónascadh a dhéanamh. Ní rud ann féin é a bhaineann leis an gCoimisinéir Teanga. Tá na hoifigí Ombudsman eile á gcónascadh chomh maith, le hOifig an Choimisinéara. Níl déanta, maidir leis an gCoimisinéar Teanga, ach cinneadh an chónascadh a dhéanamh. Tá ath-bhreithniú iomlán á dhéanamh, mar a d'fhógair mé i gCill Áirne ag an Oireachtas cupla seachtain ó shin, ar ról agus ar obair an choimisinéara, mar a dhéanann sé a chuid oibre, más féidir feabhas a chur air agus an bhfuil laigí ar bith ann. Tá an t-iomlán á mheas ins an tréimhse comhairliúcháin agus ath-bhreithniú atá ar siúl anois.
Ní aontaím ar chor ar bith lena ndeir an Teachta. Ba mhaith linn rudaí a dhéanamh níos éifeachtaí más féidir é sin. Tuigeann an Teachta cúrsaí eacnamaíochta agus gurb é an polasaí ginearálta atá ag an Rialtas cuid mhór des na háiseanna seo a thabhairt le chéile. Mar a dúirt mé agus mé ag freagairt na ceiste, tiocfaidh na buntáistí is suntasaí as timpeallacht riaracháin níos simplí agus níos éifeachtaí a bheith ann, rud a thabharfaidh cuntasacht daonlathach níos lú dúblála, agus mar sin de. Sin an príomh rud. Níl an méid airgid atá le sábháil chomh mór sin. B'fhéidir, nuair a bheidh an deireadh thart go gcosnóidh sé níos mó. Tá an-chuid sonraithe le déanamh go fóill.
Cé mhéad airgid a chaomhnófar mar gheall ar an gcinneadh seo? Tá an oifig seo ag íoc airgid le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta. Ní féidir foireann na hoifige a dí-earcadh agus caithfear a dtuarastáil a íoc.
Nuair a bhí an t-Aire Stáit ina urlabhraí ar an nGaeilge, dúirt sé an méid seo. "Is oifigeach de chuid an Oireachtais é [an coimisinéir] agus tá léirithe aige go dtí seo go bhfuil sé neamhspleách. Tá sé iontach tábhachtach go mbeadh sé mar sin go deo". Tá an neamhspleáchas sin bainte ag an Aire.
Ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Tá an coimisinéir neamhspleách. Caithfidh an Teachta a admháil go bhfuil an Ombudsman an-neamhspleách agus stádas an-ard ag Oifig an Ombudsman. Tá acmhainní ins an oifig sin a d'fhéadfaí cur i gcabhar ar Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga agus bheith ina dtaca di.
Maidir leis an airgead, ní hé buntáistí airgid amháin atá i gceist, cé go bhfuil roinnt airgid i gceist. Tá gach céad míle an-tábhachtach ins an saol atá anois ann. Dá mbeadh €100,000 agamsa mar Aire Stáit atá i mbun na Gaeltachta bheinn an-sásta ag teacht isteach sa Dáil. Ní hé sin amháin atá i gceist.
Luaigh an Teachta an ghaelscolaíocht agus dáiríreacht Fhine Gael. Ní aontaím leis na tuairimí atá sé ag cur chun tosaigh. Beidh a fhios aige faoi cheann cúig bliana cé chomh dáiríre agus atá Fine Gael agus an Rialtas maidir leis an Ghaeilge.
I remind Deputies that the time limit is six minutes per question.
3 Deputy Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the overall sums of money that have been set aside to resolve the issues arising from the designation of 54 bog complexes as special areas of conservation under the habitats directive; if he will provide a breakdown of moneys which will be allocated to the various resolutions put forward, that is, to relocation expenses including the purchase of non designated bogs and the expenses of developing access to those bogs, to de-designation of certain bogs, and to the minority of turf cutters who will accept compensation as offered by him; if he will also make known the funds being made available to pay the 500 or so turf cutters who have entered into agreements with him to sell their bogs but to date have not received any payment; and if such funds will now be ring fenced and held specifically for the purpose of resolving the issues arising out of the implementation of the habitats directive. [36712/11]
In April, the Government announced a redress package for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on these sites. The package offers qualifying turf cutters the option of a financial payment over 15 years or their relocation to non-designated bog, where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of a financial payment or the delivery of cut turf while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State.
The Government is committed to achieving a solution to this issue that protects the interests of those who have relied on these bogs for their fuel needs. I have held discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, in recent weeks to ensure that sufficient funds can be made available to meet the various schemes which we have put in place for the cessation of turf cutting on special area of conservation, SAC, raised bogs. I assure the Deputy that this Government will make available the funds necessary to meet our commitments in this regard.
These funds will come from central Exchequer sources and from my Department's share of the environment fund. Final allocations between the various schemes have not yet been made but I am satisfied that the total amount available to me will be sufficient to meet the demands over the coming years. Decisions relating to the allocations for the various schemes will depend on the expected demand for these schemes. My Department will give consideration to that matter over the coming weeks. More than 520 applications have now been received for compensation, through the financial payment over 15 years or through relocation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.
The remit of the Peatlands Council includes an opportunity to review the compensation and relocation arrangements and to make recommendations to me. For example, the idea for the free delivery of turf arose at the council and was accepted by me as an interim measure while relocation arrangements were being put in place. My Department has 348 applications relating to SACs not yet finalised. The Department will write very shortly to these applicants to offer them the opportunity to transfer to the recently announced compensation scheme as an alternative to completing the sale of their land or turbary right. Those who decide to remain in the purchase scheme will have their applications dealt with in due course.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Any decision to declassify an SAC is a matter for the European Commission in accordance with Article 9 of the habitats directive, where it is warranted by natural developments, such as those caused by landslides, erosion, climate change or other natural phenomena. As this does not arise with Ireland's raised bog SACs, it is difficult to see how a case for declassification could be made. With regard to the voluntary bog purchase scheme, around €26 million has been paid to date since its launch in 1999 and more than 1,000 individual transactions have been completed.
There is no point in saying there are obvious differences between us on the issue and we will not go through them today because I am not asking about them. It is important to say that when the Minister mentions 15 years of compensation or the delivery of turf, that delivery is not for 15 years. Although we may be happy about aspects of that provision, it is an issue for another day.
Time will tell if we agree on the following issue. The last thing we want is people who have not been cutting turf applying for compensation to help them with burning turf or getting alternative fuel in their files. I flag this as a potential problem because the only people who have contacted me about the compensation package have turned out not to be entitled to the package because they have not cut turf for years. I only discovered this on delving into their requests. I told them there was no point in applying for the scheme but the vast majority said they would apply for it anyway because they might get it. Whatever about what we disagree on, I presume we agree there is a shortage of money in the State and if we are to pay compensation to people — if people want compensation it is their own business, knowing the pitfalls around it — we must be wary of people taking advantage of the scheme who are not entitled to it when it was meant for others.
I thank Deputy Flanagan for his welcome contribution and for the advice he has given me. I totally agree with him that the compensation that has been made available will have to go to those people who are going to be seriously inconvenienced by having to relocate. I am the first to accept that. I totally agree with that.
I am sure Deputy Flanagan is aware that I have been left with no option. When I was given the responsibility for this matter I contacted the European Commission to see whether we could renegotiate or if there was any wriggle room. I was told there was not. I got advice from the Attorney General's office. I was told there was no place to go. As Deputy Flanagan is aware, we had given the commitment 20 years ago. The European Commission wants us to enforce the law.
There was a reference to the matter in a newspaper article today. Commissioner Potocnik was clear at the Petitions Committee last Tuesday — we can all read the transcript of it — that the Commission will move against this country and issue an injunction against us. This could be the first time ever for the European Court to do it, if we do not implement the law. It is very serious.
All I can do for people at this time is to ensure they are compensated properly and that we provide relocation options so they can continue to cut turf. If either of those two solutions do not suit, we will deliver 10 tonne of turf to their house. I assure Deputy Flanagan that I will do everything possible to help those people, including cousins of mine who are cutting turf on the one bog in Kerry that was designated.
Deputy Flanagan was quoted in a newspaper as saying that 75% of people who cut turf on bogs with which he is familiar are willing to relocate and that it is only in a small number of cases that problems arise. I would like to engage with the Deputy as much as possible to try to resolve the matter in whatever way we can. I mean that sincerely.
As Deputy Flanagan is aware, I have met with turfcutters and contractors and I am available to meet them anytime. I went to Galway and Roscommon by helicopter last March. I am available to help out in every way possible but, unfortunately, as a country we are left with no room for movement. Everyone realises that at this stage. We could be severely embarrassed and punished as well if we do not comply with EU legislation that we have transposed into Irish law in this House.
I thank the Minister. I will be in serious trouble if I do not apply the rules. There are only six minutes per question. Unfortunately, they are the rules.
It is Thursday evening. You should give us some latitude, a Cheann Comhairle.
4 D’fhiafraigh Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sé athbhreithniú ar an gcinneadh deireidh a chur le toghchán d’Udarás na Gaeltachta; an gceapann sé go bhfuil sé ceart go mbeidh polaiteoirí ag toghadh an Údaráis; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [36916/11]
Thóg an Rialtas cinntí sonracha polasaí ar an 31 Bealtaine 2011 maidir le struchtúr agus feidhmeanna Údarás na Gaeltachta, lena n-áirítear cinntí chun bord an Údaráis a laghdú go substaintiúil agus chun deireadh a chur leis an riachtanas do thoghcháin do bhord an Údaráis. Tá na dréacht-chinn den mBille Gaeltachta, a thabharfaidh feidhm do na cinntí seo, de réir mar is cuí, dréachtaithe ag mo Roinn agus táthar ag súil na dréacht-chinn a chur faoi bhráid an Rialtais go luath. Tá an Bille Gaeltachta le foilsiú in 2012, de réir chlár reachtaíochta an Rialtais.
Aithníonn an Rialtas go bhfuil sé tábhachtach nach gcaillfear an ghné dhaonlathach mar thoradh ar na cinntí atá tógtha i gcás bhord an Údaráis. Dá bhrí sin, tá súil agam — faoi réir chinneadh an Rialtais ar ball — go mbeifear in ann teacht ar mheicníocht oiriúnach chuige sin faoin mBille Gaeltachta. Cur chuige amháin, mar shampla, ná go bhféadfaí foráil a dhéanamh chun a chumasú d'údaráis áitiúla, a bhfuil limistéir Ghaeltachta faoina gcúram, líon áirithe comhaltaí a chur faoi bhráid an Aire le hainmniú do bhord an Údaráis. Ar ndóigh, tá slite eile go bhféadfaí a thabhairt faoin gceist sin. Ag an am céanna, d'fhéadfadh an tAire roinnt comhaltaí eile a ainmniú mar thoradh ar shaineolas ar leith a bheith acu i réimsí gnímh an Údaráis.
Níl mé sásta go mb'fhéidir go mbeadh baint ag polaiteoirí nó comhairle contae le hainmniúchán don Údarás. Caithfidh mé an cheist a chur arís: Cad atá ag tarlú i dtaobh na toghcháin agus faoi reachtaíocht? Labhair an tAire Stáit faoi reachtaíocht i dtaobh an choimisinéara teanga. An mbeidh sé ag tabhairt reachtaíochta isteach sa Dáil chun deireadh a chur le bord an Údaráis nó an rachaidh na toghcháin ar aghaidh muna dtagann reachtaíocht isteach sa Dáil?
Beidh reachtaíocht i gceist. Mar a luaigh mé, tá Bille na Gaeilge á ullmhú i láthair na huaire. Tá cinn an Bhille sin réidh le dul faoi bhráid an Rialtais agus tá sé ráite i gclár reachtaíochta an Rialtais go mbeidh an Bille sin ag teacht isteach an bhliain seo chugainn, 2012. Mar atá bord an Údaráis faoi láthair, tá 20 duine ar an mbord agus tá síneadh tugtha dóibh. Beidh an téarma sin ag teacht chun críche ar 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2012, beagnach bliain amháin eile.
Tá lúcháir orm seasamh leis an bhfógra a rinne muid i mí Bealtaine go mbeidh Údarás na Gaeltachta ann agus go mbeidh feidhmeanna fiontraíochta ag an Údarás, rud atá an-tábhachtach don Ghaeltacht ar fad. Beidh baill ar bhord Údarás na Gaeltachta, ach ní bheidh an bord chomh mór agus a bhí. B'fhéidir go mbeidh deichniúr air nó dáréag ar a mhéad. Mhínigh mé go gcaithfidh muid amharc i ndiaidh an daonlathais chomh maith. Ar ndóigh, ceann de na fáthanna nach bhfuil an toghchán ag dul ar aghaidh ná go bhfuil géarchéim eacnamaíochta againn. Sábhálfaidh muid leath bhilliún, €500,000, ar thoghchán agus is airgead suntasach é sin sa saol atá againn anois. Mar sin, beidh Údarás na Gaeltachta ann, beidh bord ann, beidh fiontraíocht tionscalaíochta ag an mbord agus beidh freagracht ar an mbord chomh maith maidir le cur chun cinn straitéis na Gaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta. Mar sin, sílim go bhfuil todhchaí maith ag Údarás na Gaeltachta. Sílim freisin go bhfuil baill an údaráis sásta go leor leis an gcinneadh atá déanta go dtí seo ag Rialtas.
Beidh údarás ann, ach ní bheidh sé daonlathach agus ní fheicim go mbeidh freagracht aige. Céard faoi chúrsaí fionntraíochta agus cúrsaí gnó? An dtabharfaidh an Roinn airgead don údarás go dtí go dtiocfaidh na hathruithe seo i bhfeidhm?
Maidir le acmhainní nó caiteachas caipitil, tá sé sin á phlé, mar is eol don Teachta, i láthair na huaire ag an Rialtas leis an Roinn Airgeadais agus leis an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe, ach tá mise dóchasach. Anuraidh, bhí €6 mhilliún de dheontas caipitil ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus cúpla bliain roimhe sin €26 milliún acu. Bhí titim tubaisteach ann ó €26 milliún go dtí €6 mhilliún. Mar sin, mar a dúradh faoin Údarás anuraidh, tá sé ag déanamh obair mhaith leis na hacmhainní teoranta atá aige. Táimid ag déanamh ár ndícheall, oiread agus is féidir linn deontas caipitil agus deontas reachtála a fháil don Údarás chun cumas a thabhairt dóibh dul ar aghaidh leis an obair atá á dhéanamh acu le tamall anuas.
Sin ráite, caithfidh muid na deacrachtaí airgid agus eacnamaíochta atá againn a chur san áireamh. Ní thig linn iad a ligean i ndearmad. An príomh rud ná go bhfuil an t-Údarás ag fanacht agus go mbeidh feidhmeanna fiontraíochta, fostaíochta agus tionscalaíochta aige. Sin céim chinnte. Nuair a tháinig mise isteach san oifig seo, ní raibh mé cinnte an mbeadh Údarás na Gaeltachta ann, mar bhí an deontas ag dul ó €26 milliún go dtí €6 mhilliún. Má íslíonn sé mórán níos faide, ní bheidh an t-Údarás ann.
Tá mé dóchasach go mbeimid ábalta é sin a chaomhnú, más féidir liom é a chur mar sin.
Níl an daonlathas ann.
Thug mé freagra air sin chomh maith ins an chéad fhreagra.
5 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is a list of identified sites specific to cillíní; and if he is satisfied that the legislation is sufficiently strong to protect these unmarked graves. [36918/11]
The term cillín traditionally applies to an area of unconsecrated ground where unbaptised or stillborn children were interred. The origins of the practice are believed to date back to the medieval period. Graves were generally marked by simple, low, upright stones or slabs that usually lacked inscription or other carving.
All known cillíní are listed as children's burial grounds in the statutory record of monuments and places maintained by my Department in accordance with the requirements of the National Monuments Acts. In all, details of 1,393 cillíní are contained in the record.
Given their inclusion in the record of monuments and places, cillíní are entitled to statutory protection under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. This provision requires any person intending to carry out work at or in relation to a recorded monument to provide the Minister with two months advance notice of the proposal. This allows my Department time to consider how the work may proceed in tandem with the protection of the particular monument. Failure to comply with the requirement to notify the Minister is an offence under the Acts and is subject to significant penalties.
I am advised that no proposals likely to impact on cillíní have been notified to my Department in recent years.
This is a sensitive area. We are not talking about stillborn babies only. Some of those buried in unconsecrated ground were victims of infanticide or suicide or people who died in mental institutions or industrial schools. Quite a number of people were, for various reasons, not buried in consecrated ground.
I accept what the Minister says about the sites that are included in the list of monuments, but there are far more in the country. In many places, there is a reliance on local knowledge and folklore to protect them. In many cases there are no living relatives but in a significant number of cases there are.
Could the matter of unmarked graves be pursued with the archaeology departments in our universities? There is a danger that they could be lost with development.
I welcome what Deputy O'Sullivan has said. If the Deputy has any information about unconsecrated burial grounds or locations where investigations should be carried out, I ask her to bring that to my attention so that I can arrange for her to meet the National Parks and Wildlife Service and senior officials in my Department on this very sensitive issue whenever she would like that opportunity. If she wishes to pursue this matter I will help her in every way possible. I agree that this is a very sensitive issue.
In our own neighbourhoods we have heard of where there were graveyards in the past where infants were buried in various circumstances. We may not have documentary evidence to prove this but some of this information may be accurate. If I can assist the Deputy in pursuing this matter, I will do so.
I thank the Minister for that. An interesting survey is being carried out in Milltown Cemetery in Belfast involving Queen's University Belfast. I will bring the Minister's offer to the people who have been asking me about this issue.
I recently read an article about a certain developer who moved a 4,000 year old megalithic burial tomb out of the way of a proposed development. We know that developer's life has completely changed. Maybe there is a lesson for us in protecting our ancient burial grounds.
That person was pursued under the National Monuments Act. I will shortly introduce a new Bill which will give further protection to monuments. My Department is working on the Bill at present. So much legislation associated with the troika deal and the financial situation is coming through that this Bill had to be delayed to some extent, but I will introduce it shortly. I am sure Deputy O'Sullivan will want to take a further look at this area when the Bill is debated. If the Deputy can give me more information on what is happening in Milltown Cemetery, especially the work by Queen's University, I would be very interested in that.
