Written Answers Nos. 429 - 453
429. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce an adequate number of free child care places, as previously promised, to counteract the difficulties being faced by parents who are losing the one-parent family payment; the timeline in place to provide the child care places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29914/14]
View answer430. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will provide a list in tabular form of the numbers of persons who will move from the one-parent family payment to jobseeker's allowance over the next 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29915/14]
View answer431. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her plans to introduce other supports for working parents who will lose the one-parent family payment; if she will reconsider the income disregards; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29916/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 429 to 431, inclusive, together.
The one-parent family payment (OFP) scheme has played an important role in providing income support to lone parents since its introduction in 1997. The number of OFP recipients stood at 74,426 in May, 2014, and an estimated €863 million is expected to be spent on the scheme during 2013.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, contains provisions to reduce, on a phased basis, the income disregard of the OFP scheme. The income disregard was reduced from €110 per week to its current limit of €90 per week in January, 2014. It will be further reduced from €90 per week to €75 per week in January 2015 and to €60 per week in January 2016. There are no plans to reverse these reductions and any change to these arrangements would require substitute savings and would have to be considered in a budgetary context.
The Social Welfare and Pensions Act, 2012, also contains provisions to reduce, on a phased basis, the maximum age limit of the youngest child at which an OFP recipient’s payment ceases to 7 years from 2014 for new entrants and from 2015 for existing recipients.
On 3 July, 2014, approximately 5,140 customers saw their entitlement to the OFP payment cease as a result of their youngest child reaching the maximum age threshold of the OFP scheme.
Approximately 3,600 of the affected OFP customers are expected to have applied for the jobseeker’s allowance (JA) payment. Of these customers, approximately 70% are not working and, as such, will not suffer any reduction in their new income support payment as the JA payment pays the same personal and qualified child rates as the OFP payment. Any of these customers with a child under 14 years of age will be subject to the JA transitional arrangement, which exempts these individuals from having to be genuinely seeking and available for full time employment. This exemption is in recognition of lone parents caring responsibilities and will reduce their requirement for childcare.
Approximately 850 of the affected OFP customers were also claiming the family income supplement (FIS) by virtue of being in employment for 19 or more hours per week. These customers have had their FIS payment automatically adjusted to compensate for some 60% of the loss of their OFP payment.
It is expected that from now until the end of June 2015 a further 4,000 OFP recipients will lose entitlement to the OFP payment as a result of the reductions in the OFP age threshold which came into effect on 3 July. Monthly figures for the approximate number of these customers, who are expected to transition from the OFP payment to the JA payment over the coming twelve months, are unavailable as the exact number of individuals moving to the JA scheme will depend on their individual circumstances and the number of individuals who may be eligible to apply for the FIS payment.
Childcare policy, and the delivery of childcare services, is the responsibility of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (D/CYA). However, as part of a package of measures in Budget 2013, I, along with then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald, announced an after-school child care (ASCC) initiative between our two Departments. The purpose of the ASCC scheme, which was rolled out nationally in 2013, is to help to offset some of the after-school child care costs that are associated with availing of an employment opportunity in a bid to encourage more individuals to take up employment. The scheme provides 800 subsidised after-school childcare places and is open to both jobseekers and OFP recipients.
In Budget 2014, the re-focusing of some of the original ASCC scheme budget enabled Minister Fitzgerald and I to introduce the community employment (CE) childcare programme. This scheme was implemented in January, 2014, and provides some 1,800 subsidised childcare places to CE participants.
These two schemes build on the existing supports provided for, and implemented by, the D/CYA in the childcare sector, through which childcare is provided to approximately 35,000 children of low-income parents at reduced rates.
433. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of retired civil and public servants who have been rehired on temporary contracts or as consultants under her remit; if she will provide a breakdown of these figures in tabular form, providing associated costs of such rehiring; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30559/14]
View answerOne member of staff in my Department, the Chief Medical Advisor, has been rehired on a temporary contract on a pay scale of €87,741 to €106,423. Payment of his pension is abated pending the termination of his temporary contract.
The Department held a competition to recruit a new Chief Medical officer in late 2013, however, no candidate was deemed suitable at interview. The decision to re-employ the Chief Medical Advisor was taken due to his specific skills and his involvement in the policy reform of the illness related schemes, the difficulty and long lead-in time for replacing his skills, and the critical importance of ensuring continuity and a high level of service to customers of the Department.
As an exception to the current moratorium on recruitment, my department has limited sanction to recruit temporary clerical officers to cover critical staff absences and to assist with the roll-out of the new Public Service Card. One temporary staff member is a retired civil servant. They are on a pay scale of €19,814 to €31,965 and were recruited on foot of open competitions run by the Public Appointments Service. Abatement of pension applies, if applicable, for the duration of these temporary contracts.
Two retired public servants were re-hired by the Pensions Authority in 2011; one at Higher Executive Officer level and one at Assistant Principal Officer level. Both individuals were recruited directly by the Pensions Authority, on three year fixed-term temporary contracts (due to cease by 31 December 2014), and were placed on the standard scales relating to their respective posts. Please note, the Authority is not Exchequer funded.
The Citizen’s Information Board had one former staff member hired on a contract for service basis. The contract followed a procurement process. The amount paid was €3,714.80 and the payments relates to the period Oct-Dec 2013.
434. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his views on recent statements (details supplied) in relation to the historical site in Moore Street, Dublin 1. [29273/14]
View answerIn arriving at my decision on the consent application under the National Monuments Acts in relation to the Moore Street national monument, I took full account of all submissions and observations received. As the Deputy is aware, responsibility for development outside the bounds of the monument site rests with the planning authority, Dublin City Council. In terms of a statement attributed to a person referred to by the Deputy, my Department has been informed by the institution in question that
- any remarks made do not reflect its official views;
- it is not involved in the issue; and
- as such has no official comment to make on it.
435. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will ensure there is capital of €12 million for Údarás na Gaeltachta for the year 2015; if he will further ensure that there is no cut to the budget of Foras na Gaeilge in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29418/14]
View answerI wish to refer the Deputy to my replies to recent Parliamentary Questions in relation to these matters. With regard to the capital budget for Údarás na Gaeltachta, I wish to reiterate that, as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to again acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht.
Údarás na Gaeltachta's end of year statement for 2013 indicated that the rate of job losses in its client companies had reached a record low. This was very welcome news indeed. However, while the level of job losses has stabilised, I am very cognisant of the ongoing difficult challenge in creating a sufficient number of new jobs to maintain, and indeed increase, employment levels in the Gaeltacht.
I met recently with Údarás na Gaeltachta and discussed its strategic proposal to increase its capital budget over time from the present level of €5.687m to €12m per annum. I am very aware and supportive of the case advanced by the organisation that such an increase in funding would enable it to create an additional 300 jobs per annum.
As the Deputy is aware, it was announced as part of Budget 2014 that comprehensive reviews of both current and capital expenditure would be undertaken by all Government Departments in this jurisdiction during 2014. These reviews underpin the Government's multi-annual budgetary framework and are conducted periodically to re-set Departmental expenditure ceilings in line with emerging Government priorities. These reviews are currently ongoing and will be considered by Government later this year with a view to underpinning expenditure ceilings for 2015 and beyond, as well as clarifying policy options and informing prioritisation decisions arising from the expenditure ceilings. Clearly, the capital allocation for Údarás na Gaeltachta for 2015 will be informed by the outcome of those reviews and within the framework of the Budgetary and Estimates processes later in the year.
In relation to Foras na Gaeilge, the Deputy will also be aware that Foras na Gaeilge is one of the agencies of An Foras Teanga, the North South Language Body, and its budget must accordingly be approved by the North South Ministerial Council. Foras na Gaeilge is co-financed on the basis of 75% from my Department and 25% from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland. In addition, my Department provides certain additional ringfenced funding for Foras na Gaeilge in relation to Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge and Colmcille.
While my Department will continue to provide funding for An Foras Teanga, subject to the normal budgetary processes, I should point out that the Public Expenditure/Finance Departments in both jurisdictions have already agreed that minimum efficiency savings of 4% must be achieved by all North South Implementation Bodies in 2015.
436. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the increased opportunities and additional support and funding that will be available under Creative Europe 2014-2020; the expected economic impact of this initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29819/14]
View answerCreative Europe is the European Commission's framework programme for support for the culture and media sectors. Following on from the previous Culture Programme and MEDIA programmes, Creative Europe, with a budget of €1.46 billion (9% higher than its predecessors), will support:
- Culture sector initiatives, such as those promoting cross-border cooperation, platforms, networking and literary translation;
- Audiovisual sector initiatives, such as those promoting the development, distribution or access to audiovisual works; and
- A cross-sectoral strand, including a financial guarantee facility and transnational policy cooperation.
It is not possible to estimate how much any country will receive from the Creative Europe programme. Periodically, there are calls for proposals from the European Commission seeking applications for support under the programme. The applications are then assessed by an independent body, the Executive Agency for Education, Audiovisual and Culture (EACEA). The decisions on what support is provided are based on the merits of the applications and there is no quota or specific amount allocated to each country. Further information is available from www.creativeeuropeireland.eu, which provides a link to the different information points in Ireland.
437. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline in tabular form for every year from 2009 to date in 2014 the total number of freedom of information requests received by his Department; the total refused, granted, part-granted and appealed; the total of successful appeals, part-successful appeals and refusals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29062/14]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of Freedom of Information requests processed by my Department is set out in the table. My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought by him can only be provided from that date. Decisions are pending in relation to one Freedom of Information request and one request for an internal review of a decision submitted to my Department in 2014 and in relation to one Freedom of Information request submitted in 2013.
|
Year |
Total Number of FOI Requests Received |
Number Granted in Full |
Number Part Granted |
Number Refused |
Number withdrawn, dealt with outside the formal FOI arrangements or transferred to another Department/ Office |
Number of Requests for Internal Review (Appeals) Received |
Number of Decisions upheld following Internal Review. |
Number of Decisions partially upheld following Internal Review. |
Number of Decisions overturned following Internal Review. |
|
2011 (from 2 June 2011) |
27 |
3 |
18 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
|
2012 |
70 |
17 |
24 |
15 |
14 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
2013 |
56 |
16 |
18 |
10 |
11 |
6 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
|
2014 (to 1 July 2014) |
26 |
7 |
10 |
1 |
7 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
438. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the number of staff in his Department currently on a sabbatical or career break, broken down by timeframe, that is, zero to six months, six to 12 months, one to two years, two to three years, four to five years, and five years plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29079/14]
View answerThere are currently 9 staff in my Department on Career Break. The details requested by the Deputy are set out in tabular form.
|
Period of Career Break |
Number of Staff |
|
0 – 6 months |
1 |
|
6 – 12 months |
1 |
|
1 – 2 years |
1 |
|
2 – 3 years |
4 |
|
4 – 5 years |
1 |
|
5 years + |
1 |
As the Deputy will be aware, staff can also avail of unpaid leave under the Shorter Working Year Scheme for periods of between 2 and 13 weeks. As it currently stands, 45 staff in my Department are availing of this scheme during 2014.
439. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the total photography costs for his Department since coming to office, inclusive of costs incurred from use of the ministerial allowance; the list of occasions for which photographers were booked; the photographers used; the breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; if there is a policy regarding the booking of photographers within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29096/14]
View answerThe table lists the occasions on which photographers were booked for events for the period, since the establishment of my Department in June 2011 to date, the photographers or photographic companies engaged, and the actual or estimated cost associated with each specific occasion. The total cost amounts to €10,731.63. This includes costs both for the booking of photographers and some general ancillary costs, such as postage, etc, where relevant. In a small number of cases, final invoices are still awaited.
|
Occasion |
Photographer |
Cost |
|
Edinburgh Festival Fringe event |
Alastair Devine |
€362.23 |
|
Launch of Introduction of Architectural Heritage of County Galway |
Joe Travers |
€100 |
|
Culture Night, Dublin |
Maxwell Photography |
€599.25 |
|
National Famine Commemoration, Clones 2011 |
Philip Fitzpatrick |
€400 |
|
2011 Open House Dublin, Lir Theatre, in conjunction with the Irish Architecture Foundation |
Alice Clancy |
€0.00* |
|
2011 National Famine Conference, Dublin |
Mac Innes Photography |
€370.87 |
|
Release of white-tailed sea eagles, Killarney National Park |
Valerie O'Sullivan |
€120 |
|
Launch of National Biodiversity Plan, Botanic Gardens, Dublin (2011) |
Mac Innes Photography |
€283.75 |
|
British-Irish Council Ministerial Meeting (Minority Languages Sector), Co Donegal |
Tommy Curran |
€80 |
|
Launch of Treaty Online Project, National Archives, Dublin |
Mac Innes Photograhy |
€341.83 |
|
Ballycroy National Park Whaling Exhibition |
Eamonn O'Boyle |
€320 |
|
Official Opening of Burren National Park Information Centre, Corofin |
Nicholas Mac Innes |
€550 |
|
Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference 2012 event |
Erin Baiano |
€347.89 |
|
CITES meeting March 2012 |
Mac Innes Photography |
€283.75 |
|
Commemoration at Teampallín Bán Famine Graveyard 2012 |
Domnick Walsh Photography |
€205.70 |
|
Launch of Ireland's Memorial Records 1914-1918 at National Museum |
Lensmen |
€209.10 |
|
Launch of Culture Connects initiative for Ireland's EU Presidency |
Maxwell Photography |
€397.29 |
|
Presentation of coin find to National Museum |
Maxwell Photography |
€466.17 |
|
Launch of Arts in Education initiative |
Maxwell Photography |
€276.75 |
|
Display of coin find in National Museum at Collins Barracks |
Maxwell Photography |
€413.28 |
|
Launch of Century Ireland website |
Maxwell Photography |
€362.85 |
|
Launch of Scéim Oiliúna Peile agus Iománaíochta, An Cheathrú Rua |
Pixsheáin |
€147.60 |
|
Dublin launch of Venice Artist Biennale April 2013 |
Lensman & Associates |
€307.50 |
|
International Famine Commemoration 2013 |
Maxwell Photography |
€311.19 |
|
National Famine Commemoration, Drogheda 2012 |
Paul Connor Photography |
€295.20 |
|
Presentation of European Diploma of Protected Areas (Burren, Co. Clare) |
Eamon Ward |
€332.10 |
|
Europeana Conference on Digitisation, Dublin Castle |
Maxwell Photography |
€356.70 |
|
Photocall for successful artists attending the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2013 |
Maxwell Photography |
€362.85 |
|
Contract signing for works at Killarney House |
Press 22 |
€425.63 |
|
Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme |
Naoise Culhane |
€535.05 |
|
National Gallery – commencement of refurbishment works |
Naoise Culhane |
€461.25 |
|
Launch of 1916 Rising Oral History Collection |
Maxwell Photography |
€485.85 |
|
Opening of Grantstown Wood and Nature Reserve, Co. Laois |
Denis Byrne Photography |
€220 |
* Part of a package of two events for the price of one
The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of the engagement, the expected level of media interest and the national/regional scope of the subject. At all times, value for money is a critical consideration in the context of the booking of photographers.
440. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide, in tabular form, the use of external public relations firms employed by his Department since coming to office; the list of uses of each external public relations firm; the internal Department policy with regard to employing external groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29113/14]
View answerThe table lists the occasions on which an external public relations firm was hired since the establishment of my Department in June 2011.
|
Name of Company |
Service Provided |
|
Zoetrope |
Provision of press and publicity, online and social media services to Culture Ireland for the duration of the Imagine Ireland programme 2011 Provision of PR and Media services to Culture Ireland for the Venice Architecture Biennale 2012 |
The engagement of external groups for the provision of specialised services, including public relations firms, is dependent on a number of factors, including the expertise and resources available within my Department. In this context, value for money is at all times a critical consideration.
441. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total amount spent on external IT consultants by his Department in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29148/14]
View answer442. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department has renegotiated external IT consultancy contracts and costs since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29167/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 441 and 442 together.
Since my Department was established on 2 June 2011, a total of €4,120 has been expended on external IT consultancy. This total is comprised of expenditure for the assessment of a Wide-Area-Networks procurement in 2012 and the assessment of Firewall systems in 2014. In both instances, it was considered advisable to seek external network-market expertise to accord with best practice for this type of technical procurement.
My Department does not retain an external IT consultant on an ongoing contractual basis but instead procures the required services as and when required.
443. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide in tabular form the number of appointments to State boards under his Department's remit made from March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his Department's remit from March 2011 to date; the number of vacancies on State boards under his Department's remit publically advertised from March 2011 to date; and the number of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [29185/14]
View answerMy Department was established on 2 June 2011 and the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought by him can only be provided from that date. The information requested by the Deputy regarding appointments to State Boards in the bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group since 2 June 2011 to date is set out in the table. My Department seeks expressions of interest from the public by advertising on my Department's website. As Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in making such appointments I am not restricted to giving sole consideration to those who have responded to publicly advertised invitations to submit expressions of interest. I can also approach candidates who, in my view, may have a contribution to make and be willing to serve. In the case of certain bodies, board appointments may also be made by the bodies themselves or on an ex officio basis.
It may also be noted also that appointments to the boards of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency, being agencies of the North South Implementation Body - An Foras Teanga, are made by the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction.
Appointments
|
Board |
Vacancies arising between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
Vacancies arising between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
Vacancies arising between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
Vacancies arising between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
Appointments made between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
Appointments made between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
Appointments made between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
Appointments made between 2 June 2011 and 1 July 2014 |
The number that were publicly advertised |
Number drawn from the public advertisement process |
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
- |
- |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
|
National Concert Hall |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
15 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
12 |
12 |
|
National Library of Ireland |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
3 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Irish Film Board |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
|
Arts Council |
7 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
11 |
9 (there was also 1 re-appointment) |
|
Heritage Council |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
7 |
|
National Archives Advisory Council |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
0 (no expressions of interest were received) |
Appointments
|
Board |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Censorship of Publications Appeals Board* |
NA |
NA |
5 |
0 |
NA |
NA |
0 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
|
Censorship of Publications Appeals Board* |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
NA |
||||
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
1 |
1 (there were also 7 re-appointments and 1 ex-officio appointment) |
|
Chester Beatty Library |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
3 (there was also 1 ex-officio appointment) |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
0 |
12 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
1 |
0 |
7 |
4 (there were also 5 appointments by County Councils with Gaeltacht areas within their jurisdictions) |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
1 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
15 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
N/A |
N/A |
* Responsibility for the Censorship of Publications Board and Censorship of Publications Appeals Board transferred from the Department of Justice and Equality to the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in June 2013
444. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of Bills his Department has published since March 2011; the number of regulatory impact assessments that his Department has published since March 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29287/14]
View answerMy Department was established on 2 June 2011 and the Deputy will appreciate that the information sought by him can only be provided from that date. Since my appointment as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, my Department has published the following Bills:
- Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill 2011;
- Bille na Gaeltachta 2012; and
- Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012.
In addition, my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform worked together on the publication of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission (Amendment) Bill 2012.
I am advised that regulatory impact assessments were not undertaken in these cases as no significant potential regulatory impacts were identified in advance of, or in the course of, preparing these Bills for publication.
445. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department or agencies under its auspices have engaged the services of a debt collection agency in pursuing moneys owed to them; if his Department has guidelines regarding hiring such agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29324/14]
View answerI am advised that there is no record of my Department having made any payments for debt collection services in the period since it was established on 2 June 2011. With regard to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, the Deputy will appreciate that the matters raised are 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.
446. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way many historical wells and hand water pumps have been categorised by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29435/14]
View answerThe Archaeological Survey of Ireland, part of my Department’s National Monuments Service, has compiled records of in excess of 151,000 confirmed or potential archaeological monuments. The majority of the records have been identified from their representation as antiquarian features on Ordnance Survey maps, while others would have been brought to the attention of the Survey through ongoing research by local historians and other interested parties. The Archaeological Survey records include 2,990 holy wells, 459 other wells and 5 records that describe pumps. Information on recorded monuments is available from the Archaeological Survey of Ireland section of my Department’s National Monuments Service website, www.archaeology.ie.
Separately, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) records water pumps and water hydrants. The NIAH survey can be viewed on www.buildingsofireland.ie. Those rated of 'regional or above' significance are included by me, as Minister, in recommendations to planning authorities, made under section 53 of the Planning and Development Act as amended, for inclusion on their Records of Protected Structures.
447. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his legal fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29546/14]
View answerThe individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question applied to sell his interest in land within a site designated as a special area of conservation, under the voluntary bog purchase scheme administered by my Department. I am advised that the Chief State Solicitor’s Office has confirmed that the payment in relation to legal fees in this case has been approved and is being sent to the applicant’s solicitor.
448. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update in relation to correspondence submitted to his office on 8 May 2014 (details supplied) regarding funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29559/14]
View answerI appreciate the communication from the Deputy in relation to this matter and know that he will understand the constraints that apply in replying to a "details supplied" Question of this nature. I can say that my Department will contact those interested in participating in the proposed arrangements with a view to co-ordinating the several initiatives and providing support, where possible. In this regard, I would very much appreciate the continuing assistance of the Deputy in this matter.
449. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the name, position and annual salary awarded to each of his special advisers; and if he will provide details of any request made for an increase above the special adviser pay cap set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the amount of the increase sought. [29597/14]
View answerIn accordance with the Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministers' Offices, both of my special advisors were placed on the first point of the Principal Officer standard scale upon their appointment. The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table.
|
Name |
Position |
Annual Salary |
|
James Kenny |
Special Adviser |
€42,941 (abated from 3rd Point of the Principal Officer standard scale, as he is in receipt of a public service pension) |
|
Claire O'Keeffe |
Special Adviser |
€79,401 (1st Point of the Principal Officer standard scale) |
450. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way Adopting a Woodland can deliver the work now urgently needed in the areas of Killarney National Park under scrutiny, requiring careful planning and execution and involving hard labour in isolated woodlands and having to contend with adverse conditions, difficult terrain, rain and insects. [29624/14]
View answerThe recently announced ‘Adopt a Woodland in Killarney National Park Project’ will harness additional assistance from volunteer groups to augment the resources already being applied to the on-going Rhododendron control and management programme in Killarney National Park. In the coming months, I will work with my officials to develop the details of the project, with a view to seeking expressions of interest in the autumn.
451. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his Department and the Government have any proposals to acquire the letters of farewell sent by teenage revolutionary, Kevin Barry, to his mother; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29658/14]
View answerI am advised by the National Library that a number of items associated with Kevin Barry featured in an auction on 1 July 2014. The Library, which already possesses in its collections copies of some of the items on sale, was represented at this auction. Many of the items were sold for amounts greatly in excess of the estimates. I understand that no correspondence of Kevin Barry’s was included in the July 1 sale.
452. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will extend the National Parks and Wildlife payment to farmers by one year until GLAS is up and running, as this payment is badly needed since the last scheme finished in October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29669/14]
View answerThe grazing restriction in the 12 Bens/Garraun Complex and Maam Turk Mountains Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) ran from the 1 November 2008 until the 31 October 2013. The grazing restriction in the Owenduff/Nephin Special Protection Area (SPAs) ran from the 1 November 2006 until the 31 October 2013. This grazing restriction was lifted on 1 November 2013. My Department has now fulfilled its financial commitments to the farmers in the area who were in REPS and the NPWS Farm Plan Schemes in relation to those restrictions.
453. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the draft heads of a national monuments Bill will be published; when it is likely to be introduced to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29696/14]
View answerDrafting of a Monuments Bill to revise and update the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004 is in progress and I expect the Bill to be published by the end of the year.
