Written Answers Nos. 19-23
19. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn den Aire Ealaíon; Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéid post nua a raibh sé mar sprioc ag Údarás na Gaeltachta iad a chruthú, ag tús na bliana; agus cé mhéid acu atá cruthaithe go dtí seo. [41969/12]
View answerIs é an sprioc fostaíochta atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ná 400 post a chruthú in 2012. Tuigtear ón Údarás go bhfuiltear dóchasach go mbainfear an sprioc sin amach. Is ar bhonn suirbhé bliantúil a dhéanann Údarás na Gaeltachta tuairisciú ar phoist a chruthaítear agus a chailltear. Foilseofar na figiúirí do 2012 ag tús 2013 nuair a bheidh an suirbhé bliantúil curtha i gcrích. Tá eolas maidir le fostaíocht sa Ghaeltacht le fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin Údarás na Gaeltachta ag www.udaras.ie agus i dtuarascálacha bliantúla agus cuntais bhliantúla an Údaráis a leagtar faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais go bliantúil.
20. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 18 July 2012, if he will provide details of the engagement he has had with national cultural institutions in relation to developing a commemorative programme to tie in with the Decade of Centenaries and the Gathering event; if part of this engagement has been with the National Archives, the National Library, the Military Archives section of the Defence Forces, and other such genealogical resources with a view to providing a consolidated means of assisting persons, particularly foreign tourists, in tracing Irish ancestry; if there will be any genealogical component to either the Decade of Centenaries of the Gathering; if he will elaborate on same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42019/12]
View answerThe national cultural institutions will make significant contributions, both to the commemorative programme for the Decade of Centenaries and The Gathering. Among the initiatives by the cultural institutions, the centenaries commemorative programme has already included special events such as the restoration and presentation of the Asgard at the National Museum, the introduction of online access to the records of the military archives in association with the National Archives, and the collecting and recording of World War memorabilia by the National Library as part of a Europeana programme. Supporting education and providing access to information are also very important elements of the commemorative programme. I will continue to work with the cultural institutions on their further contributions to the programme in the coming years. A priority interest on my part has been to increase the availability of records whenever possible. The Deputy will be aware of the continuing preparation for public access to the records of the Military Service Pensions Archive, relating to service in the Easter Rising and War of Independence. I am very pleased that the Defence Forces are working in close co-operation with the National Archives on this project, including giving careful consideration to the use of electronic information systems. I believe the making available of material online will assist people greatly, especially those inquiring from abroad, in tracing Irish ancestry.
I set out in my earlier reply to Question No. 13 information regarding a number of initiatives that the National Cultural Institutions are promoting, which are specifically designed to contribute to the success of The Gathering. I also referred to the contribution that will be made by the Arts Council, and by both the Culture Night and International Celebration of Irish Culture initiatives. In the heritage area, I referred to two new websites I recently launched - Places to See and Monuments to Visit - that aim to highlight lesser-known national monuments and heritage buildings that are open to the public but which tend to be only visited by those very familiar with the particular area in which they are situated. It is hoped that the new websites will assist in welcoming relatives and friends from abroad as part of The Gathering. Finally, I am conscious that genealogy will be a subject of particular interest in the context of The Gathering. There is a wide range of genealogical material available in the country. In relation to my Department and the agencies under my auspices, genealogical services are provided by the National Library of Ireland, the National Archives and through the website www.irishgenealogy.ie, which is operated by my Department. My Department and the institutions are exploring what improvements can be made to our genealogical offering against the backdrop of The Gathering. That work is ongoing.
21. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made on marketing the decade of commemorations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41804/12]
View answerThe development of the commemorative programme for the Decade of Centenaries has been following two priority considerations. First, it has sought to reflect the timeline of historic events that commenced in April 1912 with the introduction to parliament at Westminster of the third Home Rule Bill. The campaign on this Bill, and particularly the Unionist response in the expectation that it would be enacted, is of fundamental significance to many of the events that followed and particularly to the outcome at the end of the decade. It is intended to continue to reflect the Home Rule debate in the coming year, including the formation of the Ulster Volunteer Force and the Irish Volunteers, along with the economic and social history reflected in the Dublin Lockout. Second, alongside the current commemorative activity, the development of the commemorative programme for the coming years has been oriented towards consultation with interested parties and the development of links with official, institutional and community partners with a view to co-operative initiatives and complementary events. A website is under development that will from the outset provide notice of forthcoming events and occasional reports on the continuing programme. This site will develop as a space to feature information of relevant commemorative activities at home and abroad. It will be of particular value to diaspora communities interested in the commemorative arrangements and especially those intending to arrange travel to Ireland.
The developed public awareness of the Decade of Centenaries programme will also be assisted by the preparation of special materials and features by print and broadcast media. Special supplements to newspapers and broadcasts of feature material on radio and television have been arranged to complement the general reportage of commemorations. I very much appreciate the interest of media organisations to consult on their planning of such special commemorative material to coincide with the anniversaries of key historic events. In the coming years, the Decade of Centenaries programme will provide a unique platform for the promotion of Ireland abroad and also provide special opportunities to attract inward tourism. All members of the Government will be supporting the programme with a view to achieving its full potential. I believe strongly that the history of the revolutionary period is the shared heritage of all of us. I will be very grateful to receive any views or suggestions that Deputies may wish to send me in relation to the commemorative programme content and development.
22. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht if additional capital funding will be allocated to the national theatre for its redevelopment on Eden Quay, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42023/12]
View answerThe long-term location of the Abbey Theatre is now settled. The Abbey Street location is now, and will be for the future, the home of the National Theatre. I welcome the acquisition of property beside the existing theatre building as a clear road map for the future and believe that the fundraising focus of the Abbey must now be on delivering the maximum amount of private support possible to allow for development to take place on this site over time. That fundraising challenge cannot be underestimated. I was pleased to be able to allocate some additional capital resources for the Abbey this year to help deal with an asbestos issue at the building, but in the time ahead the level of taxpayer resources that are available will – as is the case with all institutions - be under very serious pressure and it is clear that alternative funding for projects such as this will need to be sourced.
23. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dessie Ellis den Aire Ealaíon; Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sé tuairisc ar chaiteachas a Roinne go dáta agus é a chur i gcomparáid leis an mbuiséad a leagadh amach don bhliain. [41977/12]
View answer40. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Jonathan O'Brien den Aire Ealaíon; Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta na ciorruithe atá déanta ag a Roinn ó thús na bliana. [41979/12]
View answerTógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 23 agus 40 le chéile.
Is é €268.451 milliún oll-leithdháileadh mo Roinne chun a réimse leathan clár agus beart a chur i gcrích in 2012. Is laghdú 9% é sin i gcomparáid leis an táirgeacht shealadach do 2011. Mar eolas do na Teachtaí, ar an 30 Meán Fómhair 2012, ba é €186 milliún ollchaiteachas iomlán mo Roinne. Ba ionann sin agus isteach agus amach le 96% den phróifíl foilsithe agus 69% den leithdháileadh sna Meastacháin Athbhreithnithe. Tá mé ag súil go bhfanfaidh caiteachas de réir phróifíle agus go dtarraingeofar anuas mo leithdháileadh ina iomláine. Leanfaidh mé orm ag déanamh dlúthmhonatóireachta ar threochtaí caiteachais ar fud fho-mhírchinn uile mo Roinne agus muid ag déanamh ar dheireadh bliana.
