Written Answers Nos. 922-931
922. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount spent by his Department on drivers and Ministerial transport since February 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2 June 2011, following substantial Departmental reconfigurations. The amount spent by my Department on drivers and Ministerial transport since that date, in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on such matters, is € 294,501.35. As stated by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the decision to discontinue the provision of State cars for Cabinet Ministers (with the exception of An Taoiseach, An Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice) has reduced the cost to the Exchequer on average by 65%.
924. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if derogations were applied to the Minister's Department in respect of (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37650/12]
View answerMy Department does not have any record of an application being made or of a derogation licence being issued in respect of the works referred to in the Deputy’s Question. In 2008, the applicable law was the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations 1997 to 2005. These regulations were replaced in September 2011 by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and amendments to the Planning Acts. While it is difficult to be more explicit within the constraints of a 'details supplied' Question, I am advised that Ministerial consent was not required for the county council in question to undertake the works referred to, nor was there such a requirement for the Government body referred to, on the assumption that it was operating under its relevant legislation.
925. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will supply a list of all Labour Court recommendations that have been issued in respect of his Department and organisations under his aegis that have not been complied with in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37747/12]
View answerThere are currently no Labour Court recommendations in respect of my Department. With regard to organisations under the aegis of my Department, the table sets out details of relevant Labour Court recommendations that have not been complied with in full.
National Museum of Ireland
|
Labour Court Recommendation Ref. Number |
Date issued |
Subject |
Current Status |
|
LCR 19615 CD/09/65 CCc-064700-08 |
18/08/2009 |
Incremental Credit |
It has been determined that none of the claimants are eligible for incremental credit and this has been advised to the staff union who are representing the grade in question. |
|
LCR 19607 CD/09/403 CCc-076897-09 |
30/07/2009 |
Head and Senior Attendants |
It is not possible to implement the recommendation as it has been determined that the claim is a cost-increasing one and not therefore allowable under the Croke Park Agreement. |
|
LCR 19585 CD/09/372 CCc-074837 |
13/07/2009 |
Security Duties |
There were four recommendations associated with this Labour Court case, three of which have been implemented in full. The implementation of the fourth recommendation is under discussion with the relevant staff association. |
National Gallery of Ireland
|
Labour Court Recommendation Ref. Number |
Date issued |
Subject |
Current Status |
|
LCR 19770 |
12/04/2010 |
HR Issues |
Implementation of the recommendation that a vacancy in the Human Resources (HR) Department be filled is constrained by the current moratorium on recruitment and promotions. |
|
LCR 19770a |
07/03/2011 |
HR issues |
A recommendation that an assessor be appointed to investigate issues around the role of the HR Department and HR practices within the organisation was not acceptable to the management side and has not been implemented. |
926. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon; Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén fáth nach raibh cruinniú ann den Choiste Monatóireachta do na seirbhísí farantóireachta chuig Oileáin Árann le sé mhí anuas; cén uair a bheidh an chéad chruinniú eile den choiste ann; agus an bhfuil sé i gceist go mbeidh cruinniú gach sé mhí ann as seo amach. [37777/12]
View answerBhí cruinniú ag an gcoiste monatóireachta do sheirbhísí iompair chuig na hOileáin Árann leis an Roinn ar 3 Feabhra 2012 agus arís ar 7 Meán Fómhair 2012. Níl dáta deimhnithe don chéad chruinniú eile ach tá sé i gceist go mbeidh cruinniú den choiste monatóireachta ann ar a laghad dhá uair sa bhliain.
927. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding recruiting persons with a disability; the number of persons currently employed in his Department; the number of persons with a disability who have been employed since 1 January 2011 to date in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37831/12]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the position regarding opportunities for employment in my Department is limited by the recruitment and promotion moratorium which was announced on the 27th March 2009. Notwithstanding the moratorium, the 3 per cent target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Public Service remains in place and the National Disability Authority reports on compliance with this target under Part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. The returns for my Department for 2011 show that of its 563 staff, 3.2% have a declared disability. While my Department has, therefore, reached the statutory minimum target, it will continue to look at opportunities to promote and support the employment of persons with disabilities.
Finally, the Civil and Public Service is an equal opportunities employer and all recruitment campaigns are conducted in strict compliance with the Codes of Practice set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. Such codes include the Code of Practice governing the External and Internal Appointments of Persons with Disabilities to Positions in the Irish Civil Service and Certain Public Bodies.
928. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht when payment of fuel allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38010/12]
View answerThe Government has put in place a compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. The scheme now comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State. An additional once-off payment of €500 for qualifying turf cutters will be provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
An application for compensation under the scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I understand that a payment of €1,500 in respect of the first year has been made recently to this applicant. My Department has commenced making payments in respect of the second year to those who had been cutting in raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999, such as the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment in this regard will be made to this individual as soon as possible.
929. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will make funding available as a matter of urgency in respect of an arts centre (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38128/12]
View answerUnder the original ACCESS scheme 2003 to 2007, in which my Department allocated over €40m to capital infrastructure projects throughout the country, a grant of €1.01m was paid to the arts centre referred to by the Deputy. However, my Department does not operate a formal application scheme to cater for groups involved in the performance of the arts. As the Deputy is aware, primary responsibility for current funding of the arts rests with the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Council is independent in its decision-making processes.
930. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is designating further bogs at present for 2014 including Killaclogher Bog, Monivea, Athenry, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38230/12]
View answerIn 2005 and 2006, 75 raised bog sites were designated as Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) under the Wildlife Acts. Killaclogher bog is one such site. In May 2010, the then Government decided that turf-cutting should come to an end on all raised bog NHAs, at the end of 2013. The current Programme for Government includes an undertaking to review the situation with regard to NHAs and the future of turf-cutting on such sites will be considered as part of that review. It is intended that the review will be completed prior to the commencement of the 2014 turf-cutting season. The outcomes of the review and the proposed approach to the future of turf-cutting within these sites will be discussed as part of the Government’s ongoing dialogue with the European Commission regarding compliance with EU law in this area.
931. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38233/12]
View answerThe individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question applied to sell her interest in land in a raised bog special area of conservation under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, administered by my Department. In the light of the issues which have arisen in relation to the voluntary bog purchase scheme, I decided that applicants could, if they wished, transfer instead to the compensation scheme established by my Department for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This will allow applicants to retain ownership of their land holding or rights, while availing of compensation.
This cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme now comprises a payment of €1,500 per year, index linked, for 15 years or, where feasible, relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to relocate can avail of the financial payment or the delivery of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while relocation sites are identified and prepared. The costs of acquiring and preparing relocation sites will be met by the State. An additional once-off payment of €500 for qualifying turf cutters will be provided where legal agreements are signed with me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
My Department wrote to the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question to outline her options under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme as an alternative to proceeding with her application under the purchase scheme. An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was subsequently received, together with a letter from the individual’s solicitor stating that his client was in the process of setting up a bank account. I understand that my Department has not yet received details of this bank account and a reminder letter has issued to the solicitor regarding same. Upon receipt of these details, the application can be processed with a view to making the initial payment under this scheme.
