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Thursday, 18 Jul 2013

Written Answers Nos. 409-422

Departmental Funding

Questions (410)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

410. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the contribution of Irish cultural institutions to the Europeana project; the funding that has been set aside by his Department for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36475/13]

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Written answers

There are almost one million items from the Irish Cultural Institutions on the Europeana web portal.

The institutions represented are :

- National Archives of Ireland

- National Library of Ireland

- Irish Traditional Music Archive

- The Royal Irish Academy

- National Gallery of Ireland

- The Chester Beatty Library

- Royal Irish Academy

- Crawford Gallery

- Irish Manuscripts Commission

- Irish Film Institute

In 2013, €25,000 has been allocated from my Department's Vote for Europeana participation.

Cultural Policy

Questions (411)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

411. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to advance the cultural ties between Ireland and France; if his Department has engagement with the Irish Cultural Centre in Paris to promote Irish culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36476/13]

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Written answers

The Culture Ireland Division of my Department promotes Irish arts and culture worldwide including supporting Irish artists to present their work in France.

The Centre Culturel Irelandais in Paris has long been recognised for its strategic importance in promoting Irish culture and the Culture Ireland Division of my Department accordingly supports its annual culture programme. It is the key European cultural venue in which the State has invested and Culture Ireland Division works closely with the Director in delivering a high class programmes across all art forms.

For the first six months of 2013, to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, my Department put in place an extensive Culture Programme, Culture Connects, which had a special focus on Paris with much of the activity taking place in the Centre Culturel Irelandais. This offered the opportunity to project a strong, positive image of Ireland to audiences within the EU, to celebrate our historic cultural engagement with Europe, and to portray our world-class contemporary artistic strengths in a key European city. High profile events in France included

- the Marché de la Poésie et sa Périphérie festival in June this year which I personally attended, where Ireland was the feature country and the Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney was among the many Irish artists participating,

- the production of Rian by Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre which sold out many months in advance and was seen by over 5,000 people,-an exhibition of the work of Eileen Gray at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, visited by around 500,000 people, which was used to cross promote contemporary Irish design,

- an exhibition of Irish designed furniture by Zelouf and Bell,

- a special multidisciplinary festival of Irish culture, which included performances by Colin Dunne, the Gare. St Lazare Players Ireland and Altan, in Cherbourg,

- a celebration of the work of Dundalk born Peter Rice, who worked as an engineer on some of the world's most iconic buildings of the second half of the twentieth century, including the Sydney Opera House, Centre Pompidou and the Louvre Pyramid and

- Fête de la Musique which featured Irish musicians, including The Gloaming and Delorentos and attracted an audience of 2,000 people.

Other initiatives in France, supported by my Department through the Irish Film Board, include the Cannes Film Festival and the Clermont Ferrand Film Festival where the Culture Ireland Division has supported an Ireland short film stand for many years.

The cultural ties that exist between Ireland and France are strong and I am committed to maintaining and building that bond.

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Questions (412)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

412. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the future governance of the National Gallery of Ireland, the Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Gallery in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36477/13]

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Written answers

In the context of the Public Sector Reform Plan, the Government has agreed a range of reform actions in respect of the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery Cork. The range of reforms includes the updating and streamlining of the corporate governance framework for all three institutions. In addition, the number of board members will be reduced, and members will serve pro bono. There will also be ongoing shared service arrangements between all three institutions in order to ensure more effective use of resources. The reforms will respect the curatorial and artistic independence of the directors of all three institutions. The process of preparing the draft legislation to give statutory effect to these reforms is underway. In the meantime, I am pursuing the administrative implementation of them.

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Questions (413)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

413. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the future governance of the National Archives and the Irish Manuscripts Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36478/13]

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Written answers

There is no change proposed to the governance of the National Archives, which is part of my Department. The Deputy will be aware that as part of a range of reforms agreed by Government under the Public Service Reform Plan, it was decided, inter alia, that the Irish Manuscripts Commission will retain its existing functions, but be re-constituted as a pro bono committee of academic experts, with its staff and funding being brought within the administrative remit of the National Library. The membership of the National Archives Advisory Council will be reduced and will continue to operate pro bono.

Work is ongoing bilaterally with the Directors of the relevant institutions and regular meetings of my Departments' Reform Committee have taken place to further the implementation of the Government's Reform Plan. I intend to seek Government approval in the coming weeks for a draft Heads of Bill, which will enable the drafting of legislation to give effect to the reform measures that are being undertaken by my Department.

Public Service Reform Plan Measures

Questions (414)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

414. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the future governance of the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36479/13]

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Written answers

Engagement with the national cultural institutions on the Reform Agenda is ongoing and intensive.

In relation to the Boards of the National Library and the National Museum, work is ongoing bilaterally with the Directors of the institutions and regular meetings of my Departments' Reform Committee have taken place to further the implementation of the Government's Reform Plan. I intend to seek Government approval in the coming weeks for draft Heads of Bill, which will provide the necessary legislation to give effect to the reform measures in relation the Boards and governance arrangements.

Question No. 415 answered with Question No. 390.

Arts Funding

Questions (416, 427, 428)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

416. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider developing a long-term strategy for the classical arts here, including opera and ballet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36482/13]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

427. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grant aid may be available through his Department or the Arts Council to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare towards the development and production of ethnic and church gospel music. [36610/13]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grant aid maybe available through his Department or the Arts Council to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare towards the development and production of ethnic and church gospel music; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36732/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 416, 427 and 428 together.

The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life.

The Deputies will be aware that responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels, including ballet, opera and music throughout the country, is devolved to the Arts Council. Under the Arts Act 2003, the Arts Council is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and my Department has no role to play in its executive or funding decisions. In a wider context, the Arts Council support of a range of arts forms is set out in its strategic overview document entitled Developing the Arts in Ireland: Arts Council Strategic Overview 2011-2013. In this strategy document, which is available on the Council's website, its work and key strategic principles that inform its funding decisions are laid out.

My Department operates a philanthropic initiative for arts and culture organisations. This is designed to encourage philanthropy, sponsorship and endowment of the arts from private sector sources. Details can be found on my Department's website www.ahg.gov.ie.

National Monuments

Questions (417)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

417. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for a free lecture series on Irish history and archaeology; if he foresees a long-term expansion of the series; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36483/13]

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Written answers

On 8 July, I launched the first of a series of monthly lectures organised by my Department’s National Monuments Service as part of The Gathering celebrations. The lectures, to which admission is free, highlight the influences of cultural and historical developments in each of the regions on the lecture circuit and have generated considerable interest from local groups and communities. The lectures will continue up to November. Full details are published on my Department’s website www.archaeology.ie.

My Department is always anxious to provide the public with information about our history and heritage and takes up such opportunities whenever they are presented. In another similar initiative, the Department is publishing a series of articles on Ireland’s archaeological heritage in the Irish Examiner, beginning in September.

While the lecture series I have recently launched is taking place as part of this year’s Gathering, my Department will continue in the future to engage with communities and other groups, whenever possible, to assist them in understanding and appreciating their own unique local heritage.

National Monuments

Questions (418)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

418. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his role in the conservation of national monuments here; if he is satisfied with the current work of the National Monuments Service; if he is concerned at the perceived increase in the damage or theft of national monuments in the previous number of months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36484/13]

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Written answers

My Department has a comprehensive suite of tools, both legislative and advisory, at its disposal to address reports of actual damage or threats of damage to protected structures and monuments. All known archaeological monuments, of which there are in excess of 130,000, are entitled to protection under the National Monuments Acts. The Acts allow me to make a preservation order where I consider a national monument to be at risk. Protection may be extended to previously unrecorded monuments by entering them in the Register of Historic Monuments or the Record of Monuments and Places. Many monuments are located in the more remote parts of the country and the assistance of local communities is crucial in aiding my Department in their protection. The vigilance of local people has proved to be of crucial assistance in identifying unlawful interference with archaeological monuments and objects and in their successful investigation and recovery. Prosecutions in respect of damage to recorded monuments are also initiated where warranted and there have been a number of successful convictions in the recent past, while several other investigations by an Garda Síochána are ongoing.

My Department’s National Monuments Service and the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for care and maintenance of national monuments sites, will continue to keep security measures for such sites under ongoing review.

Question No. 419 answered with Question No. 388.

Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Issues

Questions (420)

Denis Naughten

Question:

420. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to revise contracts issued to turf cutters under the cessation of turf cutting schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36486/13]

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Written answers

Under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, three types of legal agreements have been issued and are being issued by my Department. The first is a legal agreement for qualifying turf cutters who are signing up to the annual payment of €1,500, index-linked, for 15 years. The second is a relocation interim legal agreement for qualifying turf cutters who have expressed an interest in relocation but no relocation site is currently available for them to relocate to. This relocation interim legal agreement provides for the payment of €1,500, index-linked, or a supply of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum while these applicants are awaiting relocation to non-designated bogs. The third is a relocation final legal agreement. This agreement has been issued to qualifying turf cutters where a site has been assessed as suitable for relocation and is ready or can be made ready for use for domestic turf cutting.

Turf cutters who sign and return the applicable legal agreement to my Department will also receive a once-off incentive payment of €500.

The interim legal agreement is required in the case of relocation sites because, for the majority of raised bog special areas of conservation, the relocation site and the terms and conditions applicable to those sites will take time to finalise. Turf cutters are being asked to sign the interim agreement on the understanding that when a relocation site is sourced, assessed and agreed they will be asked to sign a final legal agreement at that time. If it is not possible to find a suitable relocation site, for example, for reasons of quality or quantity of turf, planning requirements, or issues in relation to the purchase or lease of a site, then the Department will consult with turf cutters as to the best option to take at that time.

For the avoidance of all doubt, it is the absolute aim of my Department to secure a relocation site for every person who has applied for one. That is what my officials are working to achieve, and progress is being made in that task. However, I feel it is important to be upfront with turf cutters and be clear that relocation is a complex process that does take some time to deliver. The agreements being issued reflect this reality. The interim agreement is designed to give all stakeholders the time to deliver relocation options that work for turf cutters. The clear directions that I have given my officials is to examine all relocation options with a view to securing alternative cutting locations for as many turf cutters within the shortest timeframe.

Commemorative Events

Questions (421, 422)

Derek Keating

Question:

421. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will give a commitment that his Department will sponsor a nationwide primary and second level school project as part of the centenary celebration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36487/13]

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Derek Keating

Question:

422. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the stage of his plans to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Rising; his plans to include all the areas of national importance such as the Four Courts, the Custom House, the GPO, Beggar's Bush, Bolands Mill, Kilmainham Gaol and other such locations; if he will consider a national school project as part of the commemoration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36488/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 421 and 422 together.

The commemoration of the Easter Rising and the Proclamation of the Irish Republic will be the centrepiece of the Decade of Commemorations. I am working closely with my colleagues in Government and with the National Cultural Institution to bring forward appropriate proposals for comprehensive and authentic commemorations. The historic significance of locations and buildings in Dublin and elsewhere will be reflected in the programme, perhaps through means of commemorative exhibitions and the dedication of memorials, where appropriate.

Supported by the Advisory Group on Commemorations, a number of different educational projects relating to the Decade of Centenaries are under consideration, and details of these will be announced in due course. Currently my Department is supporting the on-line archive for the Decade of Centenaries "Century Ireland". This can be found on www.rte.ie/centuryireland. This is hugely important education and scholarship resource.

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