Wednesday, 29 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 106-112

Special Areas of Conservation Designation

Questions (106, 107)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

106. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the wake of his considerable efforts to achieve a resolution of issues relating to traditional turf cutters at various bogs throughout the country and recognising his welcome proposals in respect of natural heritage areas, NHAs, if he has sought approval or intends to seek approval from the European Commission to relocate some of the more sensitive special areas of conservation, SACs, to adjoining acceptable sites with reference to particularly sensitive areas where traditional turf cutting has continued without interruption for many years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4506/14]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

107. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has received a response from those affected by national heritage areas and special areas of conservation at various turf cutting locations throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4507/14]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together.

My Department has initiated a public consultation process on the three documents - the draft National Peatlands Strategy, the draft National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Management Plan and the Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs), which I published recently. Copies of these documents are available on my Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Publications. Written submissions are invited until 18 April.

In general, turf-cutting on raised bog SACs is incompatible with their conservation and will not be possible in future. There are some exceptions which are dealt with the draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan.

De-designation of SACs is legally possible only in very limited circumstances, as provided for in the EU Habitats Directive. The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan explores the possibility of using the limited flexibility within the terms of the Habitats Directive for continued turf-cutting on a small number of raised bog SACs where relocation possibilities are shown not to exist. In such a case, a robust case would need to be submitted to the EU Commission under Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive and compensatory measures provided to make up for any damage to the SAC network.

However, it has not been possible at this point to determine whether the draft Plan could form the basis of a case to the EU Commission that an exception should be made for continued turf-cutting on any particular site, notwithstanding the damage it would cause. The issue is dealt with in more detail in Chapter 6 of the draft Plan.

I hope that the publication of the draft Plan and the consultation process now underway will encourage further consideration by turf-cutters and their representatives in regard to this issue and their engagement with me and my Department in the finalisation of the Plan.

Heritage Sites

Questions (108)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

108. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which his Department works in unison with the authorities in Northern Ireland in the promotion of heritage sites of Irish culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4508/14]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The promotion and marketing of the island of Ireland as a tourist designation is primarily a matter for Tourism Ireland, which, as all-island body, works in strategic partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and with other industry partners to expand Ireland’s valuable tourism market and to highlight the unique qualities of Ireland’s national heritage abroad.

My own Department’s remit includes Waterways Ireland and An Foras Teanga (encompassing Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulstèr Scotch -the Ulster-Scots Agency) which both have a key role in promoting tourism and cultural diversity, understanding and development throughout the island of Ireland. My Department also works on a range of issues across the area of built heritage, arts and culture and the natural heritage with public agencies in Northern Ireland where opportunities for co-operation arise.

My Department provides core funding for the Heritage Council, which supports a range of initiatives, including National Heritage Week that in 2013 included events from Counties Antrim and Down. The Irish Walled Towns Network includes, as a founder member, Derry City which celebrated the 400th anniversary of the laying out of the ground on which Derry’s walls were built in 2013. In October 2013 I attended the 23rd European Walled Towns Symposium in the Guild Hall in Derry where I had a dialogue about our shared objectives with regard to the promotion of heritage with the Minister for the Environment in the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Through the Irish Walled Town Network, the Heritage Council has funded medieval festivals and other activities that highlight the importance of the walls as a community and heritage resource. Since 2007, €103,500 has been awarded by the Heritage Council through the Irish Walled Towns Network to Derry City Council for medieval festivals and other activities that highlight the importance of the walls as a community and tourist resource. €6,500 was provided by the Heritage Council in 2013 for Derry’s walled town festival.

The Museum Standards Programme of Ireland, which sets out to raise standards of curatorship across Irish museums and galleries, includes, as one of its participants, the Museum of Free Derry. Many of the museums in the programme also participate in cross border initiatives under their own auspices such as Donegal County Museum, Cavan County Museum and Monaghan Museum. Furthermore, Heritage Officers in border counties often undertake projects in co-operation with their northern colleagues and there is on-going co-operation and collaboration between Local Authority planners in the border counties on heritage issues. My Department funds Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann which held its largest and flagship annual event in Derry in 2013 to celebrate the Derry Londonderry UK City of Culture.

In September 2013, I hosted a World Heritage Seminar, designed to consider the interest of local authorities and community groups in pursuing full nomination of World Heritage Status for the sites on the Tentative List and to clarify all the elements involved in applying for and retaining such status. The seminar was attended by representatives of Armagh District Council in connection with the possibility of including Eamhain Mhacha / Navan Fort in the Royal sites of Ireland nomination. Arising from the seminar, my Department has established contacts with the local authorities and communities involved with a view to further advancing that process.

Arts Promotion

Questions (109)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

109. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department continue to promote the arts through the education system with particular reference to primary and second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4509/14]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As the Deputy is aware, in January 2013 the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD, and I jointly launched the Arts in Education Charter. This Charter places new responsibilities on Government Departments, agencies, cultural institutions and arts organisations in terms of providing and promoting arts education to children and young people.

Both Minister Quinn and I believe passionately in arts education and want to see a joined-up Government approach across Departments, education agencies and arts organisations. The Charter will see organisations like the Arts Council, the National Cultural Institutions, the Colleges of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment working with both Departments in order to bring the arts into the classroom and learners into the institutes for the arts.

A High Level Implementation Group was established to oversee the implementation of the Art in Education Charter, chaired by Professor John Coolahan, Professor Emeritus, NUI Maynooth. The membership includes Orlaith McBride, Director of the Arts Council, Mary Nunan, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University of Limerick, Alan Wall, Director, Department of Education and Skills and Niall Ó Donnchú, Assistant Secretary, Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The Group has met on a number of occasions and has been proactive in meeting organisations from both the arts and education sectors. Progress is being made on a number of initiatives, including developing a website/portal as a key communications and information channel for both the education and arts sectors. Suitable models for art-rich schools and for artists to become involved in the programme are also being examined by this Group.

In 2012, I announced the introduction of a new philanthropic initiative on a pilot basis for arts and culture organisations. €210,000 was made available to arts organisations under this scheme and last year the initiative was directed towards arts and culture organisations seeking support for projects that included an education component. In 2013 almost €200,000 was made available under that programme.

Arts Promotion

Questions (110)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

110. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department continue to promote traditional music and song at various levels and types of media; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4510/14]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department is committed to enhancing our traditional culture by supporting groups and organisations involved in furthering the traditional arts. Since 2005, in excess of €20m has been provided in capital grant aid to organisations that promote traditional music and song, such as Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and Na Píobairí Uilleann (The Pipers Club), for infrastructural development throughout the State.

My Department provides an annual current grant to Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. In 2014, this amounts to €1.448m. Comhaltas has over 400 branches nationwide and has been to the fore in training young people in the traditional arts. The Irish Traditional Music Archive based in Merrion Square which is a wonderful resource for those studying traditional music is also supported by The Arts Council.

Other organisations funded by my Department that encourage and foster the traditional arts of music and singing include the Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge and Ealaín na Gaeltachta. As well as providing educational opportunities for young people these organisations provide funding to the many festivals held in the country every year where thousands of young people participate and are encouraged to develop their artistic talents. My Department also assists An Gael-Acadamh, which provides a range of classes for young people in the Connemara Gaeltacht.

I would especially like to direct the Deputy's attention to Culturefox, an initiative paid for by my Department to promote the arts and culture. Culturefox is both a website and an "app", and has a separate section for the promotion of traditional music and song. It is free to use for promoters and consumers alike.

Heritage Sites

Questions (111, 112)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

111. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has received applications for funding for the improvement, renovation, restoration or conservation of buildings, sites or national monuments; the extent to which any such locations are likely to receive attention in the current and future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4511/14]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

112. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has received communications indicating heritage sites or buildings deemed to be at risk for whatever reason; the number of sites or locations made known to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4512/14]

Written answers

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Nonetheless, I can assure the Deputy that the competing priorities regarding the preservation and enhancement of the national heritage are kept under ongoing review, having regard to the resources available to my Department. In this regard, I recently announced the introduction of the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme for the repair and conservation of structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012. A sum of €5 million has been made available to the scheme under the Government’s Capital Stimulus programme.

This scheme will allow owners throughout the country to apply for funding for conservation works to protected structures at risk. The scheme is being managed by city and county local authorities, each of which has been given a funding allocation based on population size and number of structures on the Record of Protected Structures in the geographical area they serve. Applications for funding are currently being made directly to the local authorities. I have requested each local authority to forward a list of eligible applications to me for approval of funding by the end of February 2014.

Finally, in relation to sites or buildings at risk, there is a number of ways in which my Department is made aware of possible risk to protected structures, sites or monuments, one of these being the receipt of applications for funding for the improvement, renovation, restoration, conservation, preservation or otherwise making safe of same. In addition, my Department often receives information relating to potential risk to protected structures, sites and monuments from local authorities, the Heritage Council, heritage-based NGOs and members of the public. However, a single set of comprehensive statistics is not available in respect of the number and location of endangered heritage sites or buildings throughout the country.