Written Answers Nos. 308-25
308. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when it is proposed to reopen the walkway which spans the weir on the River Shannon in Meelick, County Galway; if funding has been provided for this work; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this is an important local and tourist amenity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44424/13]
View answerI am informed by Waterways Ireland that it is currently preparing a submission for planning permission to construct a new walkway over the River Shannon at Meelick. Indeed, environmental studies are underway to support the planning application.
I must advise the Deputy that construction work may only commence when all necessary permits have been received. It is Waterways Ireland's intention to undertake works at the weir during 2014, subject to the appropriate statutory approvals being granted and financial resources being available.
309. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on the impact of national heritage areas designations on areas in the buffer zones surrounding the NHAs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44643/13]
View answerMy Department has not set down any buffer zones surrounding Natural Heritage Areas.
311. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when payment under the turf cutting compensation scheme will be made in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44158/13]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy's Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of year 1 of 15 (2011) and a payment of €1,500 in respect of year 2 of 15 (2012) have been made to this applicant.
The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
As part of my Department's verification procedures, the applicant has been requested to forward information demonstrating his legal interest in the plot to which his application relates. Once this information is supplied, my Department will be in a position to process his application further with a view to the provision of compensation in respect of this year.
312. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 744 of 18 September 2013, when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44282/13]
View answerThis payment was processed by my Department earlier this week and will issue very shortly.
313. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will honour the agreement with farming organisations on the Review of Implementation of the Habitats Regulations 1997; if retrospective payments will be made as happened in the corncrake areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44426/13]
View answerI presume the Deputy is referring to the agreement made in 2004 under the 2003 Sustaining Progress Partnership Agreement. The agreement made at that time is being implemented and, as set out, is subject to ongoing monitoring by farming organisations and the Department. This takes place through fora such as the Designated Areas Monitoring Committee meetings.
My Department continues to make payments to farmers contracted under the National Parks and Wildlife Farm Plan Scheme. In terms of future schemes, my Department is now engaged in discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine concerning suitable agri-environment measures under the next Rural Development Plan. In this regard, the Agreement noted that future EU policy developments on funding of rural development and nature conservation would be discussed with farming organisations in relation to the management of habitats. The changes to CAP recently negotiated by the Irish Presidency now require such discussion.
I have no plans to make any additional retrospective payments to farmers.
314. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will review the content and conditions of contracts issued to turf cutters under the cessation scheme; the number of contracts issued and the numbers returned to date; the number under each compensation and relocation category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43583/13]
View answerUnder the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, three types of legal agreements have been 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 - my Department will consult with turf cutters as to the best option to take at that time.
I am satisfied that the legal agreements as set out above are appropriate to the circumstances in these cases.
It is the aim of my Department to secure a relocation site for every person who has applied for one and progress is being made in that task. However, 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 as possible within the shortest timeframe.
1,635 legal agreements have been issued and my Department is continuing to issue agreements to qualifying applicants. Applicants have been requested to return the completed legal agreements within four months of the date of issue. 1,123 legal agreements have been returned to my Department thus far. The numbers of legal agreements by type issued by and returned to my Department are not available at this time.
316. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on his engagements with the North-South Ministerial Council. [43517/13]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) was established to develop consultation, co-operation and action within the island of Ireland - including through implementation on an all-island and cross-border basis - on matters of mutual interest and within the competence of the Administrations, North and South. The NSMC comprises Ministers of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government, working together to take forward co-operation between both parts of the island to mutual benefit. Six North South Implementation Bodies have been established. They operate under the overall policy direction of the NSMC, with clear accountability lines back to the Council and to the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
My Department, along with the Department of Culture, Arts, and Leisure in Northern Ireland, is particularly engaged in support for the NSMC in its Language and Waterways sectors, given our role in co-funding and supporting two North/South Implementation Bodies under our remit, Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga, which comprises two agencies - Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency/Tha Boord o Ulstèr-Scotch. My Department is fully committed to supporting North/South co-operation, particularly in the context of the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement. I, along with the Minister of State at my Department, Mr. Dinny McGinley, T.D., participate regularly in meetings of the NSMC, in both the Waterways and Language sectoral formats. There have been four such meetings already during 2013 – three in Language sectoral format viz. 6 March, 19 June and 10 July and one in Inland Waterways on 19 June 2013 – each held in Armagh. A further two sectoral meetings are planned for November. The Council issues a Joint Communiqué following sectoral meetings. These are available on
http://www.northsouthministerialcouncil.org/index/publications/joint-communiques/sectoral-jc.htm.
I also participate at the highest level of engagement, when the North-South Ministerial Council meets in plenary format. There has been one such meeting this year, held on 5 July 2013 in Dublin, with the next meeting planned for November.
317. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil aon srianta speisialta i gconradh Aer Árann maidir le hearcú foirne de bhreis ar na gnáthrialacha reachtúla; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [44664/13]
View answerTá conarthaí ag mo Roinnse le Galway Aviation Services Ltd., a thrádálann mar Aer Arann, chun seirbhís aeir a chur ar fáil d'Oileáin Árann agus chun seirbhísí bainistíochta aeradróim a chur ar fáil. Faoi na conarthaí sin, tá dualgas ar an gcuideachta cloí leis an reachtaíocht ábhartha uile, ina measc reachtaíocht a bhaineann le hearcú foirne. Níl aon srianta speisialta i gconarthaí mo Roinnse leis an gcuideachta.
318. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the full-year effect of all expenditure reductions for his Department as set out in the expenditure report 2014, as provided for in the expenditure report 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44740/13]
View answerThe 2014 savings for my Department arising from measures set out in the Expenditure Report 2014 are the full year savings for those measures.
319. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department have utilised The Gathering as a means of promoting the arts; the extent to which the economic benefit accruing has been fully utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44789/13]
View answerThe Gathering initiative, undertaken by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, has the strong support of my Department and the agencies under my Department's remit. A range of actions that have been taken to support The Gathering were outlined in my replies to Questions No. 16 of 28 November 2012, No. 13 of 30 January 2013, No. 120 of 13 March 2013, Nos. 16 and 163 of 30 May 2013 and Nos. 47 and 726 of 18 September 2013.
Throughout 2013, my Department has worked to encourage linkages between the cultural area and The Gathering initiative. As outlined previously, my Department's Culture Ireland Programme, which seeks to promote Irish arts worldwide, has included as a grant condition for 2013 events that grantees, when presenting their work, should promote The Gathering and encourage their audiences to embrace the initiative.
In addition, national cultural institutions under the auspices of my Department have identified special exhibitions to link in with The Gathering. I understand that a great number of arts organisations funded by the Arts Council, particularly those involved in festivals, are participating in The Gathering. Údarás na Gaeltachta developed a dedicated scheme to support events and festivals in the Gaeltacht as part of The Gathering initiative.
My Department and its agencies have made a substantial contribution towards ensuring a strong linkage between the cultural area and tourism and in doing so to The Gathering. This promotes and enhances the artistic image of Ireland.
320. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of events held throughout the year and supported or promoted by his Department or bodies under his aegis wherein this country's heritage was promoted; the extent to which such events compare favourably with the years 2009 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44790/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Department oversees and has policy responsibility for the conservation, preservation, protection, development and presentation of Ireland's heritage and culture. My Department also seeks to promote the Irish language, to support the Gaeltacht and to assist the sustainable development of island communities. Information in relation to the functions of my Department, as well as the programmes, schemes and events operated and supported by it, can be found on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie.
In relation to the Deputy's specific question concerning events supported by my Department wherein this country's heritage was promoted, the Deputy may wish to note that my Department was established on 2 June 2011 and, therefore, the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought by him in respect of my Department can be provided for the current year to date and also for 2012. I am advised that, in 2012, it is estimated that some 675 events were held or promoted directly by my Department or where support was committed or provided by my Department, wherein this country's heritage was promoted. In the current year to date, over 450 such events have been held.
A number of State bodies and agencies with responsibilities relating to various aspects of my Department's remit are funded from within my Department's Vote Group. The Deputy will appreciate that the organising of any events to promote the country's heritage is part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question. I am arranging, therefore, for the terms of the Deputy's Question to be transmitted to the heads of relevant bodies with a request that they provide information, to the extent feasible, directly to the Deputy.
Finally, if the Deputy has a particular question in relation to a specific event or issue I would be glad to seek to provide the relevant information.
321. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which funding provided by his Department, directly or indirectly, for the arts in each of the past four years to date has attracted private or philanthropic funding; the extent to which employment has been maintained or enhanced accordingly, in view of the fact that benefit is usually in a ratio of 4:1; if he is satisfied regarding the future development of the sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44791/13]
View answerThe Programme for Government includes the following commitment in the area of Philanthropy and the Arts:
"We will work with stakeholders in the Arts community to develop new proposals aimed at building private support of the Arts in Ireland exploring philanthropic, sponsorship or endowment fund opportunities".
Since taking office two years ago, I have introduced a number of initiatives to address this commitment.
In May 2012 I introduced a new philanthropic initiative for arts and culture organisations. The initiative - the Philanthropic Leverage Initiative - was designed to encourage philanthropic sponsorship and endowment of the arts from private sources. The initiative has provided an incentive to arts organisations to proactively seek new funding relationships with sponsors which deliver private sector financial support, thereby increasing overall funding available to the arts. The initiative proved very successful with a multiplier of 4.26 in philanthropic donations being leveraged for the arts. The arts got a boost of over €1 million last year, of which less than one-fifth came from the public purse. A full list of awards under this scheme can be viewed on my Department's website at www.ahg.gov.ie.
This year, €210,000 is available to arts organisations under the Initiative. The terms are as follows:
- Up to €5,000 of funds can be accessed through the scheme if the organisation can match each €1 from the taxpayer with €2 from private sector sources;
- Up to €10,000 if each €1 from the taxpayer can be matched by €3 from private sector funding;
- Up to €15,000 if each €1 from the taxpayer can be matched by €4 from private sector funding.
In 2013, priority was given to arts and culture organisations seeking support for projects that include an education component. This is to support the Arts in Education Charter, which I launched in conjunction with Mr Ruairi Quinn, T.D., Minister for Education and Skills. Accordingly, the Initiative, while continuing to provide an incentive to arts organisations to engage in fundraising, will also encourage arts and culture organisations to engage creatively with children and young people and add to their education. In doing so, they will be helping to foster the artists and the audiences of the future.
I should mention also that in October 2012 I hosted and chaired a forum on Philanthropy and the Arts in Smock Alley Theatre. It featured speakers from key philanthropic organisations and the arts in Ireland. The conference was very well attended and generated very positive feedback. There is a full report of the conference on my Department's website.
Parallel to these initiatives, the Arts Council is undertaking an initiative - RAISE: Building Fundraising Capacity - which dovetails with the work in my Department. The initiative consists of a programme which is providing one-to-one professional support to selected arts organisations for two years to assist in planning and implementing a tailored fundraising programme for each organisation. Eight leading Irish arts organisations are aiming to raise €10 million in private funding over the next five years as part of this Arts Council initiative.
My Department has also provided support to Business to Arts (a not-for-profit organisation working to support resilience and transformation in the cultural sector through research, innovation and partnership) for a number of years and, in each of the last three years, this has been allocated to delivery of the New Stream Programme, which builds fundraising skills in the cultural sector in Ireland (The Bank of America Merrill Lynch investment in this project is €400k over three years).
323. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which final agreement has been reached with traditional turf cutters displaced by EU or national conservation orders throughout the country; the extent to which he expects to be in the position to resolve issues in relation to the outstanding locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44794/13]
View answer325. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has reached full and final agreement with traditional turf cutters in County Kildare who have been displaced by national or EU-inspired SACs; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44796/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 325 together.
2,816 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department. 793 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. 1,790 payments have been made in respect of Year 1 of 15, 1,566 payments have been made in respect of Year 2 of 15 and 509 payments have been made in respect of Year 3 of 15. 322 deliveries of turf have also been made.
Arrangements for the relocation of turf cutters to non-designated bogs have been made as regards a group from Clara Bog special area of conservation in County Offaly and a group from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog special areas of conservation in County Galway. The group from Clara Bog commenced turf cutting at the relocation site in Killeranny, County Offaly, in June 2012, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have now been accommodated. Turf cutting for the 2013 season took place on this site in April last. My Department envisages that qualifying turf cutters from the group from Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog will be able to commence turf cutting in one of the relocation sites from the 2014 turf cutting season.
Progress has been made with a view to the relocation of 7 qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog special area of conservation in County Kildare to Timahoe North, County Kildare, which is in the ownership of Bord na Móna. My Department envisages that qualifying turf cutters from Ballynafagh Bog will be able to commence cutting in the relocation site during the 2014 turf cutting season, provided that final agreement is reached with them. Progress has also been made with a view to the relocation of a small group of 3 qualifying turf cutters from Ballynamona Bog and Corkip Lough special area of conservation in County Roscommon to Togher, County Roscommon, which is in the ownership of Bord na Móna. My Department envisages that this group of qualifying turf cutters will be able to commence cutting in the relocation site during the 2014 turf cutting season, provided that final agreement is reached with them.
I am advised that of the remaining 49 raised bog special areas of conservation, potential relocation sites have been identified for a further 32 bogs and work is ongoing on identifying and investigating sites. Relocation is unlikely to be required, or is likely to be small-scale, for another 16 raised bog special areas of conservation due, for example, to the small number that had been cutting turf on these sites during the relevant five year period and would qualify for the relocation option available under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme.
Relocation is a very complex process, in terms of investigating suitable sites for turf quality and quantity, the infrastructure/drainage works required, establishing the number that can be accommodated on the site, the cost and feasibility of land purchase or lease, and possible planning and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements. In that regard, Bord na Móna has assessed in the region of 70 potential relocation sites at the request of my Department. Bord na Móna has also commenced negotiations with landowners in relation to the purchase or long-term lease of sites.
There are 2 raised bog special areas of conservation in County Kildare affected by the cessation of turf cutting - Ballynafagh Bog and Mouds Bog. 58 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Ballynafagh Bog and 106 applications have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Mouds Bog. 28 and 40 of these groups of applicants, respectively, have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. 61 payments and 12 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received from Ballynafagh Bog and 105 payments and 65 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of the applications received from Mouds Bog.
Lattins Bog, also known as Mouds North Bog, in County Kildare has been identified as a potential relocation site for turf cutters from Mouds Bog. Bord na Móna had produced a preliminary suitability assessment report and stratigraphy assessment report for the relocation site. It has now undertaken a full suitability assessment for the site and my Department has provided a copy of the assessment report to the Secretary of the Committee of the Kildare Turf Cutters Association.
There are also 2 natural heritage area raised bogs in County Kildare designated under national law in accordance with the provisions of the Wildlife Acts - Carbury Bog and Hodgestown Bog. In May 2010, the previous Government decided that turf cutting should come to an end on all raised bog natural heritage areas 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 natural heritage areas.
This review is currently underway and the future of turf cutting on such sites is being considered as part of that review. It is my intention that the review 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 in due course.
A payment of €1,500, index-linked, or a supply of 15 tonnes of cut turf per annum is available under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme to applicants while awaiting relocation to non-designated bogs.
Following the Dáil motion of 7 March 2012, which called on the Government to “engage actively with the European Commission to seek a resolution within the terms of the Habitats Directive, and to prepare and submit a National Raised Bog Restoration Plan to the Commission as a matter of urgency”, I secured the agreement of the European Commissioner for the Environment for the development of a National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, in keeping with the recommendations of Mr. Justice Quirke. The approach of the national plan may unlock some flexibility, within the terms of the EU Habitats Directive, in regard to the most difficult of sites, where relocation options are limited.
To progress the preparation of the plan, my Department engaged a team of specialists (RPS) to provide the scientific basis for raised bog conservation in Ireland. RPS has been working with my Department and the Peatlands Council to prepare a National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan, a draft of which I hope to make available for consultation before the end of the year. Further information on the work of RPS can be found at www.raisedbogrestoration.ie.
The clear majority of domestic turf-cutters on the raised bog special areas of conservation are now engaging with my Department in finding acceptable solutions within the law. The door is still open for others to engage in this process with me, my Department and with other stakeholders to address the needs of turf cutters and other interested parties. Such engagement would, I am sure, help to address the needs of turf cutters more speedily.
