Written Answers Nos. 476-495
476. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection the correct level of jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason jobseeker's allowance has been recently reduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28038/13]
View answerThe maximum family rate of jobseeker's allowance for two adults is €312.80 per week or €156.40 per person per week. The spouse of the person concerned has recently been awarded jobseeker's allowance at €156.40 per week. The jobseeker's allowance of the person concerned was adjusted to €156.40 per week in order to keep the combined family payment within the maximum rate allowed.
477. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Social Protection in view of the growth of the east side of Galway City, if a permanent citizen information centre will be opened on that side of the city or in the nearby town of Oranmore. [28093/13]
View answerGalway Citizens Information Service (CIS) is funded through the Citizens Information Board to provide information, advice and advocacy services to the citizens of County Galway. There are offices in Galway city, Tuam, Clifden and Rosmuc. In addition, outreach services are provided in a number of towns, including Headford, Portumna, Loughrea, Gort and Oranmore in the east side of the county.
There are no plans to increase the level of service in Oranmore as the average number of personal callers availing of that outreach service in 2012 was 3 per month. The Board of Galway CIS is satisfied that the current level of service is adequate to meet the service demand in the outreach areas. Local management monitors the level of demand for services across the county and should the level of demand warrant an increased level of service in any of these areas, this will be considered by the Board of Galway CIS in the light of available resources.
The Citizens Information Board also operates a national helpline, telephone 0761 07 4000, which provides a comprehensive and confidential information service to people throughout the country, Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm. Further information is provided on a broad range of subjects on the citizen’s information website www.citizensinformation.ie, which aims to meet customer demands for fast, easy access to comprehensive information on rights and entitlements.
478. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way the Office of Public Works is using the information from the National Biodiversity Data Centre; if it is moving towards granting protection of the proposed 600 Natural Heritage Areas here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26669/13]
View answerMy Department provides funding to the Heritage Council for the operation of the National Biodiversity Data Centre. My Department is one of the main providers of biodiversity data to the centre. My Department uses distribution data collated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre in reports to the EU on the status of species protected under EU Directives. It works with the Centre and experts across all of Ireland to produce assessments of the status of other threatened species which are published as “Red Lists” on my Department’s website www.npws.ie. It also uses data collated by the centre on Invasive Species which have reached, or might reach Ireland.
In relation to Natural Heritage Areas, my priority in protecting areas is the completion of the designation process of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas, as required by the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, respectively. However, in 2011, I published the National Biodiversity Plan “Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016”, and this includes an action to review previously proposed Natural Heritage Areas and to designate them as appropriate under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act, 2000. This work will progress in line with the completion of the priorities outlined above.
479. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to establish a mechanism at a county level for the protection of local biodiversity areas as part of a move to protect the proposed 600 Natural Heritage Areas; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that organisations such as BirdWatch Ireland have been forced to issue a code of conduct for visitors to bird colonies in view of the fact that there are no signage, wardens or cordoning of visitors that would prevent disturbance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26670/13]
View answerMost of the important bird breeding colonies are protected as Special Protection Areas under the EU Birds Directive, and a great many are difficult to access. Nesting birds are strictly protected under the Wildlife Acts and my Department is active in enforcing the Acts. I welcome the contribution of voluntary organisations which provide codes of conduct for their members and the public in areas important for nature.
Local authorities also have a role to play in both promoting and protecting local biodiversity. This is a role I am interested in expanding. The national biodiversity plan “Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016” which I published in 2011, following consultation with other Government Departments, local authorities and stakeholders, recognises the important role of local authorities and communities in protecting biodiversity. An action in the plan is that each local authority would publish a Local Biodiversity Action Plan or review existing plans.
480. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the restoration plan for the section of the Royal Canal from Killashee, County Longford to Longford town, in view of the fact that this has been characterised as the missing link on the Royal Canal system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27522/13]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that the Waterways Ireland Corporate Plan for 2011-2013, which has been approved by the North South Ministerial Council, plans for the completion of the feasibility study on the extension of the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal in December 2013, I am informed by Waterways Ireland that this study is presently on target.
481. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on whether it is contrary to the strategic interest of Irish indigenous companies involved in the seaweed extraction business that on 1 March 2013 a decision was made by the board of Údarás to sell a company (details supplied); the way this decision will affect the supply of seaweed material to Irish companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27708/13]
View answerI understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that the proposed sale of shares in the company referred to by the Deputy was approved by the board of Údarás on the 1st of March 2013 on the basis that the proposed sale met the criteria laid down by Údarás. One of those criteria was that the supply of raw material to the indigenous Irish customer base would be assured and safeguarded into the future. I also understand that the proposed purchaser of the shares in the company fully accepts the need to safeguard the supply of raw material to the indigenous Irish companies who are customers of the company referred to by the Deputy.
My consent and the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform are required in order to proceed with the sale of Údarás’ shares in the company. The proposed sale of shares is currently being examined by my Department and I expect that a final decision will be made in the near future. In that regard, I understand that should the decision of the board of Údarás be ratified, it is the intention of Údarás to put a mechanism in place to assure the continued supply of raw material to the Irish customer base of the company. In that context, it should be noted that not all indigenous Irish companies involved in the seaweed extraction business are dependent on the company referred to by the Deputy for their supply of raw material.
Finally, while my Department has no statutory role in respect of the seaweed extraction business, I understood that there are other issues concerning the ongoing supply and licensing of seaweed harvesting which are also important to the strategic interest, not only of the company itself, but also of its Irish customer base involved in seaweed processing and creation of value added products.
482. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will explain the rationale behind the decision to close the shops at Ireland's national museums (details supplied) in County Mayo; his views on the impact that this decision will have on jobs; if he will acknowledge that this decision will have an adverse knock-on effect to the economies locally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27886/13]
View answerSince the National Museum of Ireland became an autonomous statutory body under the provisions of the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997, the Board of the Museum is statutorily responsible for all operational matters and I, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, do not have a statutory function in respect of such matters.
483. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties with houses on which there are preservation orders, where household income will not allow remedial work to be carried out without grant aid; if he is considering reintroducing a grant scheme to help cover cost of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27920/13]
View answerPart IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012 provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including them on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
Recognising this duty of care placed on owners of protected structures, a number of State financial supports provide for the conservation and restoration of heritage structures in both private and public ownership. As the Deputy can appreciate however, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances.
I recently announced grant funding to thirty-four local authorities under the Department’s Structures at Risk Fund 2013 to enable conservation works to forty-five heritage structures in both private and public ownership deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration and which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012. The Structures at Risk Fund is set up to assist with urgent works to safeguard such structures, in private and civic ownership, and in certain cases works to structures within Architectural Conservation Areas.
This scheme which is administered by the local authorities has been in operation since 2011 and has encouraged regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helped to secure the preservation of protected structures which may otherwise have been lost. Since 2011 over 70 structures have been funded under this scheme. Funding for this scheme is fully allocated for 2013. Subject to on-going budgetary constraints, I hope to fund this scheme again in 2014.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also administers a number of heritage grants schemes. It is a matter for the Heritage Council to prioritise its allocations within the resources available to it.
484. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he will take to address the serious threat to wildlife at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will consider introducing a bounty to hunters to alleviate this problem; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27232/13]
View answerWild mink are not protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 and they can be controlled by farmers, landowners and others.
A study commissioned by my Department, and published in 2009, estimated the population of wild mink in the State could reach a total of between 20,500 and 33,500 individuals, and identified ground-nesting birds as the species most vulnerable to mink predation. In this regard, my Department is concentrating its resources on protecting the nesting sites of rare and threatened bird species, including red-throated diver, corncrake, grey partridge, waders and terns, from a range of predators, including mink. My Department undertook predator control programmes on land it owns or manages in recent years. €92,000 was spent in 2011 with a further €135,000 spent in 2012. Expenditure in 2013 is likely to be in the region of the 2012 figure. However, this covers many predatory species as well as the mink, including also grey crow, magpie and fox.
I also provided €20,000 to the National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) to stimulate increased control of mink by game shooting clubs. I consider that this offers a useful addition to the measures already being taken by my Department. While feral mink are found in most parts of the country, I requested that, as far as possible, special attention should be given to the counties of Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Kerry, where my Department has also concentrated its efforts. The scheme is operated by the NARGC, with a verification process agreed with my Department.
In relation to Kerry in particular, my Department is aware that local gun clubs and landowners are working to address the wild mink situation in the areas identified by the Deputy. My Department has also provided mink traps to local groups in Kerry to assist them in their work and it will continue to target trapping in priority areas within the resources available to it.
485. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the national coursing meeting in Clonmel, County Tipperary on 2, 3 and 4 February, was monitored by the NPWS; similarly for the Irish Cup in Limerick on 22, 23 and 24 February; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27280/13]
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.
My Department issues licences to the Irish Coursing Club and its affiliated clubs to net and capture hares under the Wildlife Acts. Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis, to monitor compliance with conditions on the licences granted by my Department. During the most recent 2012/13 coursing season, over 50% of the meetings held by the Irish Coursing Club were monitored by my Department. Neither of the two meetings identified by the Deputy was attended by my Department although a pre-coursing inspection was carried out at the Limerick meeting on 22 February.
486. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there are any supports available for students studying in performing arts-musical theatre courses abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26825/13]
View answerMy Department does not provide grants to students or performing arts practitioners. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council has primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the State. As Minister, I cannot intervene in the Council’s funding decisions, as it is statutorily independent in the exercise of that function under the Arts Act 2003.
487. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the action his Department is taking to promote the Irish language; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26881/13]
View answerThe 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 consists of a comprehensive strategy for the preservation and promotion of the Irish language. The Strategy promotes a holistic, integrated approach to the Irish language which is consistent with international best practice. The Strategy sets out nine areas for action, including education, the Gaeltacht, the family, public services, the media, the economy, legislation and various cross-cutting initiatives. The Strategy recognises that the implementation of the various measures contained therein requires a phased approach. While my Department has the overarching responsibility for the Strategy, it is working in co-operation with other key stakeholders to implement the Strategy on an incremental basis within available resources.
Since the Strategy was published in December 2010, priority was given during 2011 to implementing the Strategy’s establishment phase. This involved providing information about the Strategy and establishing the structures required for its implementation. Priority was given during 2012 to legislative matters. The enactment of the Gaeltacht Act 2012 was a significant achievement as it provides for a statutory language planning process, both within and outside the existing Gaeltacht, and for a statutory role in this regard for Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge, as appropriate. It is intended to publish a progress report shortly on the implementation of the Strategy to date, in addition to implementation plans by the key stakeholders.
Under the Revised Estimates for 2013, my Department has been allocated almost €57m for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the islands. This includes funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga and the North South Language Body. The Language Body consists of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency and its budget is subject to the approval of the North South Ministerial Council.
Further information with regard to the promotion of the Irish language is available on the following websites: www.ahg.gov.ie, www.udaras.ie, www.coimisineir.ie and www.forasnagaeilge.ie.
488. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of permission being granted to the many turf cutters on National Heritage Sites, if he will confirm if the review will be carried out on the National Heritage Sites before Autumn in order for ample time and resources to be made available for alternative arrangements in the next turf cutting season if necessary. [27352/13]
View answerSome 75 raised bogs have been formally designated as Natural Heritage Areas – NHAs - under the Wildlife Acts. The Wildlife Acts provide protection to NHAs through a requirement for certain, potentially damaging activities to obtain Ministerial consent before being undertaken. Turf-cutting, drainage works and afforestation are typically listed as activities that require such consent.
As with the case of Special Areas of Conservation, a 10 year derogation was applied to allow domestic turf cutting to continue on NHAs. In May 2010, the previous Government decided that turf-cutting should come to an end on all raised bog NHAs at the end of 2013.
However, as set out in the Programme for Government, the current Government undertook to review the situation with regard to raised bog NHAs. This review is currently underway and the future of turf-cutting on such sites is being considered as part of that review. To assist in this task, my Department has engaged a team of scientific specialists to underpin this review. I hope that the review will be completed in the autumn.
NHAs are not subject to the same legal regime under the Habitats Directive that applies to raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). However, the approach to peat extraction on NHA raised bogs has been raised by the European Commission in the same Reasoned Opinion that was addressed to Ireland in relation to turf-cutting on raised bog SACs. The issue relating to NHAs concerns adherence to the requirements of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Directive.
In this regard it should be noted that the NHA raised bogs were formally designated as part of a resolution to a case where Ireland was found against in the European Court of Justice in relation to inadequate application of the EIA Directive regarding peat extraction. This judgment was made against Ireland in 1999.
Therefore, while the Government has more options in regard to the approach that can be taken to the management of NHA raised bogs we will need to work closely with the European Commission to ensure that the approach taken meets our legal obligations.
It is my intention that the review of NHAs will provide clarity for turf-cutters and landowners, in advance of the 2014 turf cutting season and my Department will be contacting individual landowners and turf-cutters on these sites once the outcome has been finalised.
Issues in relation to NHA raised bogs have been discussed with stakeholders represented at the Peatlands Council.
489. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if any funding is available to republish the self tour guide Exploring Maynooth for Maynooth, County Kildare which has since gone out of print but is in popular local demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27376/13]
View answerAs the Deputy can appreciate fiscal support for the heritage sector is a matter of competing priorities in these challenging times. Funding allocated to my Department for heritage programmes is fully committed for 2013.
I am advised that the booklet was originally published by Maynooth local history group in 2000 with funding from a programme then operated by the Department of Agriculture – the precursor of the current LEADER programme.
490. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will advise on the funding opportunities that are open to a local cultural facility (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27392/13]
View answerAlthough welcoming further commemorations that might contribute towards an informed appreciation this historic figure's very significant contribution to the Independence movement and the Irish State, this particular proposal appears primarily to be a commercial venture for which I am unable to provide financial support.
491. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the work his Department is currently undertaking on various pieces of upcoming legislation, through a potential Bill to go through the Houses of the Oireachtas or through statutory instrument, to ensure Ireland is in compliance with the upcoming deadlines of directives from the European Union; the deadline in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27468/13]
View answerMy Department has responsibility for the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, both of which have been fully transposed into Irish law through the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 and the Planning and Development Acts. There are no outstanding transposition deadlines for which my Department is responsible.
By way of implementation of these directives, individual Statutory Instruments are signed into law by me to formally designate Special Protection Areas, under the Birds Directive, and Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive. This work is ongoing.
492. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the gift and-or books shops under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27558/13]
View answer493. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of gift and-or books shops under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27560/13]
View answer494. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the revenue made in the gift and-or books shops under the remit of his Department for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27561/13]
View answer495. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost of running the gift and-or books shops under the remit of his Department for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27562/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 492 to 495, inclusive, together.
The Deputy should note that while there are a number of retail outlets operating in many of the National Cultural Institutions which are funded from my Department's Vote Group, their operations and management fall outside my direct remit and I have no statutory function in relation to these outlets. Similarly, while there are gift shops in a number of the National Parks which are funded from my Department's Vote Group, these are operated by private concerns and their operations fall outside my remit. The Deputy may wish to contact the relevant institutions directly for further information.
