Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
595. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update in tabular form of the commitments in the programme for Government that relate to his Department; and the progress that has been made in the implementation of each commitment. [14108/14]
View answerMy Department is continuing to implement the commitments made in the Programme for Government. In that regard, I would draw the Deputy's attention to the recently published Programme for Government Annual Report which sets out key areas of progress over the last 12 months. I also wish to draw his attention to recent Dáil statements where I set out progress to date across the various commitments which fall within my area of responsibility and also key priorities for 2014. For example, progress in the arts area includes the development of a series of commemorative projects for the Decade of Centenaries programme focussing in particular on the 2013-2016 period. €6m in total will be allocated in 2014 to a number of Departments including my own to fund a number of these commemorative projects. In addition, a new Cultural and Heritage Centre is being established in partnership with Bank of Ireland at Parliament Buildings in College Green. A programme of exhibitions and events to be held here will be developed as part of the Decade of Centenaries.
Progress has also been made in the encouragement of a culture of philantrophy in the Arts sector through the introduction of targeted initiatives in my Department.
In the heritage area, the Review of Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs) was published in January 2014 setting out significant reconfiguration of Ireland's NHA raised bog network to meet conservation targets. Turf cutting will continue on 45 NHAs while cutting on a further 36 NHAs will be phased out over three years and 25 new, mainly State owned, sites will be proposed for designation to replace the habitats lost through de-designation of the more heavily cut sites.
In the Irish language area, a progress report on the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish language was published in July 2013. Údarás na Gaeltachta continues to drive economic development in the Gaeltacht. Its client companies created 616 new full-time jobs in 2013 with a further 560 expected as a result of projects already approved. Údarás client companies employ over 7,650 people, both full-time and part-time, and contribute over €400 million in the form of direct expenditure in the Irish economy. Good progress was also made on the commitment to review current investment and funding programmes that benefit Irish language organisations. Foras na Gaeilge announced new funding arrangements last year to support the development of the Irish language in both jurisdictions. Six lead organisations were selected to specialise in six major areas of activity.
I am satisfied that significant progress has been made so far across the range of commitments in the Programme for Government relating to my areas of responsibility and I look forward to building on that progress over the remaining two years of the Government's mandate.
