Written Answers Nos. 155 - 162
155. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to establish an inter-agency group to explore ways of advancing the marketing of the Royal Canal in terms of regeneration, sport, recreation, heritage and culture and fully establishing a waterborne and towpath corridor from Dublin to Longford and his proposal regarding the conservation of built heritage features; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46746/12]
View answerWhile there are no plans at present to establish an inter-agency group for the Royal Canal, I am advised that Waterways Ireland regularly works in conjunction with many statutory and voluntary bodies to promote the Royal Canal. In this regard, I understand that Waterways Ireland, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, the South Dublin, Kildare, Offaly, Fingal, Meath, Westmeath and Longford County Councils, and the relevant Rural Partnership Companies, have recently begun the process of formulating a study with a view to identifying the recreational and tourism potential within the Grand Canal Rural and Royal Canal Rural. The study will address the future recreational and tourism needs in these areas and will be managed through the establishment of a steering group, chaired by Waterways Ireland with representatives from Fáilte Ireland and the relevant local authorities, as well as the Rural Partnership Companies. The study will also be developed with the overall inland waterways in mind and the broader navigable waterway network as a backdrop. This will allow for the formulation of an integrated plan for the entire canal network, while at the same time ensuring the individual needs of the Grand Canal Rural & Royal Canal Rural can be identified and accommodated.
The Deputy will, of course, be aware that a key element of the Waterways Ireland corporate strategy is to ensure that the built heritage of the Royal Canal is developed and managed in such a way that its distinctive heritage values are conserved, while its potential for future public use and enjoyment is enhanced. In order to facilitate this, Waterways Ireland commissioned an inventory of heritage structures along the length of the Royal Canal in 2007. This inventory includes architectural, engineering and industrial heritage and was conducted to ensure that heritage requirements are incorporated into the future design, construction and maintenance phases of Waterways Ireland’s projects throughout the Royal Canal.
During the restoration of the Royal Canal, Waterways Ireland undertook a number of conservation works to protect heritage, including the complete refurbishment of Lock 45 on the Royal Canal by heritage specialists using traditional techniques, the refurbishment of the masonry arch bridge at Lyneen, the complete redevelopment of the canal building at Richmond Harbour and the commencement of conservation works at Camlin Lock House in Clondra.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that Waterways Ireland proactively engages with relevant statutory bodies with regard to the protection of built heritage along the Royal Canal and that body has advised that it will continue to do this.
156. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Questions No. 292 of 7 February 2012, no. 249 of 8 May 2012 and No. 395 of 3 July 2012, the progress that has been made on this case; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46606/12]
View answerAs I advised the Deputy in my reply to Question No 395 of 3 July last, contracts for sale had been forwarded by my Department to the Chief State Solicitor’s Office to progress the sale by the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question of his interest in land within a site designated as a special area of conservation, under the voluntary bog purchase scheme administered by my Department. These contracts are expected to be returned to my Department shortly and will then be reviewed by the relevant officials. Provided that there are no outstanding issues, I am advised that the contracts will be signed with a view to closing the sale.
157. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46611/12]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established in June 2011. Since its establishment, a North/South Co-operation Unit has been in place in my Department. There are two staff working full time in the Unit, which is overseen by a Principal Officer, who also has a number of other responsibilities.
158. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will arrange for the immediate National Parks Wildlife Servicer supervised release of hares captured for the Galway and Oranmore coursing meeting following the announcement that the club's coursing meeting will not go ahead as scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46642/12]
View answerThe control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. One condition of the license issued by my Department to the Irish Coursing Club requires that all hares must be returned back to the wild once the coursing meeting has concluded. I understand, however, that a Galway & Oranmore Coursing Club meeting originally scheduled has been postponed due to unsuitable ground conditions and accordingly the requirement for release following conclusion of a meeting does not arise at this time.
159. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on his discussions with the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure in the Executive in Northern Ireland in relation to the Irish Language Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46646/12]
View answerThe St. Andrews Agreement included a commitment by the British government to introduce an Irish Language Act in Northern Ireland and to work with the Northern Ireland Executive to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. Following restoration of the devolved institutions on 8 May 2007, the question of an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland became a devolved matter and is now the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Government remains fully committed to the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement, including the provisions relating to the Irish language, and raises these issues with the British Government and with the Northern Ireland Executive, as appropriate. The Government continues to follow developments closely in relation to the proposed Irish Language Act, as well as the overall enhancement and protection of the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
I am aware that the public consultation process, launched by the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure, on the draft strategy for the Irish language in Northern Ireland will come to a close on 27 November 2012. It is hoped that the outcome of this process will facilitate further developments in terms of the Irish language in Northern Ireland.
160. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No.182 of 17 of October 2012, if he will provide figures, on a bog by bog basis, of those who have actually received compensation for loss of turf cutting rights on bogs classified as special areas of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46648/12]
View answerDetails are set out in the following table, on a bog by bog basis, of the number of payments and turf deliveries made to date under my Department's cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme. A total of 1,665 payments and 130 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the 2,450 applications for compensation received by my Department to date.
|
Site code |
Name |
Payments made in respect of year 1 |
Payments made in respect of year 2 |
Turf deliveries made |
|
000006 |
Killyconny Bog (Cloghbally) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
000231 |
Barroughter Bog |
36 |
20 |
1 |
|
000248 |
Cloonmoylan Bog |
45 |
17 |
0 |
|
000285 |
Kilsallagh Bog |
19 |
7 |
0 |
|
000296 |
Lisnageeragh Bog and Ballinstack Turlough |
6 |
4 |
0 |
|
000297 |
Lough Corrib |
42 |
35 |
0 |
|
000301 |
Lough Lurgeen Bog/ Glenamaddy Turlough |
12 |
7 |
2 |
|
000326 |
Shankill West Bog |
5 |
4 |
0 |
|
000382 |
Sheheree (Ardagh) Bog |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
000391 |
Ballynafagh Bog |
23 |
11 |
7 |
|
000440 |
Lough Ree |
166 |
0 |
11 |
|
000497 |
Flughany Bog |
10 |
6 |
0 |
|
000566 |
All Saints Bog and Esker |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
000572 |
Clara Bog |
60 |
15 |
25 |
|
000575 |
Ferbane Bog |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
000580 |
Mongan Bog |
1 |
1 |
0 |
|
000581 |
Moyclare Bog |
22 |
13 |
0 |
|
000582 |
Raheenmore Bog |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
000585 |
Sharavogue Bog |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
000592 |
Bellanagare Bog |
102 |
57 |
5 |
|
000595 |
Callow Bog |
65 |
0 |
2 |
|
000597 |
Carrowbehy/Caher Bog |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
000600 |
Cloonchambers Bog |
10 |
5 |
0 |
|
000604 |
Derrinea Bog |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
000614 |
Cloonshanville Bog |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
000641 |
Ballyduff/Clonfinane Bog |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
000647 |
Kilcarren-Firville Bog |
11 |
9 |
0 |
|
000679 |
Garriskil Bog |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
001242 |
Carrownagappul Bog |
61 |
42 |
33 |
|
001818 |
Lough Forbes Complex |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
002110 |
Corliskea/Trien/Cloonfelliv Bog |
32 |
28 |
1 |
|
002298 |
River Moy |
26 |
0 |
0 |
|
002331 |
Mouds Bog |
40 |
0 |
16 |
|
002332 |
Coolrain Bog |
37 |
0 |
4 |
|
002333 |
Knockacoller Bog |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
002336 |
Carn Park Bog |
38 |
0 |
3 |
|
002337 |
Crosswood Bog |
37 |
0 |
2 |
|
002338 |
Drumalough Bog |
10 |
0 |
0 |
|
002339 |
Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough |
33 |
0 |
0 |
|
002340 |
Moneybeg and Clareisland Bogs |
64 |
0 |
1 |
|
002341 |
Ardagullion Bog |
17 |
0 |
1 |
|
002342 |
Mount Hevey Bog |
22 |
0 |
0 |
|
002343 |
Tullaher Lough and Bog |
135 |
0 |
4 |
|
002346 |
Brown Bog |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
002347 |
Camderry Bog |
8 |
0 |
3 |
|
002348 |
Clooneen Bog |
5 |
0 |
0 |
|
002349 |
Corbo Bog |
36 |
0 |
0 |
|
002350 |
Curraghlehanagh Bog |
19 |
0 |
9 |
|
002351 |
Moanveanlagh Bog |
21 |
0 |
0 |
|
002352 |
Monivea Bog |
24 |
0 |
0 |
|
002353 |
Redwood Bog |
59 |
0 |
0 |
|
002354 |
Tullaghanrock Bog |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
002356 |
Ardgraigue Bog |
12 |
0 |
0 |
|
1,384 |
281 |
130 |
161. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans in place to promote County Kerry as a suitable destination for making films; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46677/12]
View answerThe Irish Film Board (IFB) is the statutorily independent agency with primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions. The IFB is funded through my Department but is independent in its day-to-day operations. I understand that the IFB no longer operates a specific regional support scheme and that all supports for production funding are now allocated from one scheme, covering all of the country. Details are available on the IFB website at www.irishfilmboard.ie.
162. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if there is a North South Co-operation unit in his Department; the number of staff working in the North South Co-operation unit; the number of staff who have worked in the North South Co-operation unit in each year since 2007. [46613/12]
View answerThere is extensive North/South cooperation on a range of issues in the sectoral areas of Energy, Communications and Broadcasting, which are under the aegis of my Department. Staff discharge this work in addition to other functions in the relevant areas. The Coordination Unit in my Department also has a role in relation to overall coordination on North/South elements. Finally, the North/South Body, the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission is under the co-sponsorship of my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland, and staff in the Natural Resources areas of my Department service this work in addition to their other duties.
