Written Answers Nos. 232-240
232. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review the restrictive interpretation his Department has taken in relation to the EU guidelines on financially assisting regional airports as a consequence of recent EU court decisions on regional airports across Europe. [39623/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question 605 of 7th October regarding the 2014 EU Guidelines on State-aid to airports. Those Guidelines set out EU Policy on regional airports and reflect the decisions arising from a number of EU Court cases, in particular, the Altmark and Leipzig/Halle Airport cases. It is not open to any Member State to interpret these Guidelines, but all are required to give their explicit unconditional agreement to their implementation. Ireland has already done so.
The draft Regional Airports Programme 2015-2019 sets out the policy for State supports for regional airports for that period and reflects the requirements laid down in the Guidelines. That Programme, currently with the EU Commission for consideration and approval, confines State aid supports on capital expenditure by the regional airports to safety and security related projects only. This is in accordance with longstanding Government policy.
233. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has received a request for funding for a greenway from Merlin Woods Park to Rinville, Oranmore, County Galway; if he will indicate the current status of the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39694/14]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Galway City Council is responsible for the development of cycling and walking infrastructure in Galway City which includes the Merlin Woods Park area. Rinville, Oranmore, on the other hand, comes within the jurisdiction of Galway County Council.
The Sustainable Transport Division of my Department is the division responsible for the administration of funding schemes for the provision of greenways in Galway County and has confirmed that there is currently no funding proposal on hand for this location.
However, given that the NTA has an involvement in the provision of cycling and walking infrastructure in Galway City, I have forwarded your request to the Authority and have asked them to reply to you directly. Please advise my private office is you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
234. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist ag na hAonaid Ghaeilge in institiúidí éagsúla AE sceideal comórtas agus earcaíochta a chur le chéile don dá bhliain atá romhainn chun go líonfar an 183 post a thiocfaidh chun cinn le dul in éag don mhaolú ar stádas na Gaeilge san AE ar an 31/12/16. [39665/14]
View answer235. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén polasaí atá aici lena chinntiú go mbeidh dothain daoine oilte ar fáil leis na poist a bheidh ar fáil do lucht aistriúcháin agus d'ateangairí a líonadh nuair a thiocfaidh deireadh leis an maolú atá ag an nGaeilge san AE ar 31/12/16; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [39666/14]
View answerTógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimhreacha 234 agus 235 le chéile.
Mar a cuireadh in iúl don Teach cheana, beidh cinneadh le tógáil faoi dheireadh na bliana 2015 ar a dhéanaí, maidir le síneadh a chur nó gan a chur ar feadh tréimhse bhreise leis an maolú reatha atá i bhfeidhm i ndáil le húsáid na Gaeilge in institiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh.
Tar éis don Choiste Rialtais don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht an cheist seo a bhreithniú le gairid, tá plé ar bun ag mo Roinn, i gcomhar le Roinn an Taoisigh, le hinstitiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh maidir le cur chuige féideartha ag eascairt as an mbreithniú sin. Is léir go mbeidh tionchar ag toradh an phlé sin ar na moltaí a bheidh le cur faoi bhráid an Rialtais in am trátha sula dtógfar cinneadh críochnaitheach maidir leis an gceist seo.
Mar chuid de straitéis an Rialtais chun a chinntiú go mbeidh glacadh leordhóthanach leis na poist atá ar fáil agus chun a chinntiú go mbeidh foireann leordhóthanach cháilithe ann chun freastal ar na riachtanais a eascraíonn as an Ghaeilge a bheith aitheanta mar theanga oifigiúil agus oibre de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh, cuireann mo Roinn maoiniú substaintiúil ar fáil i gcomhar réimse de shainchúrsaí tríú leibhéal agus chun téarmaíocht Ghaeilge a fhorbairt do bhunachar téarmaíochta an Aontais Eorpaigh dar teideal InterActive Terminology for Europe nó IATE, mar a thugtar go coitianta air.
Tuigfidh an Teachta gur ceist í d’institiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh sceideal comórtas agus earcaíochta a chur le chéile ag brath ar riachtanais na n-institiúidí.
236. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on progress to ensure the ending of the derogation of the status of Irish as an official language of the European Union; if she recognises the potential for job creation associated with this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39529/14]
View answerAs already advised to the House, a decision on whether or not to extend the derogation for the use of Irish in the EU institutions for a further period of time is required by December 2015 at the latest. Following consideration of the matter at a recent meeting of the Cabinet Committee on the Irish Language and the Gaeltacht, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach, is actively engaging with the EU institutions in regard to potential approaches arising from that consideration. Clearly, the outcome of that engagement with the EU institutions will inform the proposals that will be brought to Government in due course, prior to a final decision being taken on this matter.
As part of the Government’s strategy to ensure that there is sufficient take-up of the jobs available and to ensure that a sufficient number of qualified personnel are available to meet the needs of the EU institutions, my Department continues to provide substantial funding for a range of specialised third-level courses and for the development of Irish language terminology for the EU terminology database, InterActive Terminology for Europe (IATE).
237. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the terms of reference of the Peatlands Council appeals sub-group; the membership of the group; the number of appeals received by the group; the number of cases on hand and the numbers determined; the current processing time for such appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39598/14]
View answerIn April 2011, the Government agreed to the setting up of an independently chaired Peatlands Council to assist the Government and stakeholders regarding certain issues related to the management of Ireland’s peatlands, in particular bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas. Applicants to the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme operated by my Department may, further to the option of an internal review, appeal their case to the Peatlands Council in the event that they are informed that the qualifying criteria of the scheme have not been met. The Council may then make recommendations to me, as Minister, on such cases.
As part of the appeal process the Council decided in May 2013 to establish an Appeals Sub-Group consisting of 3 members of the Council. Membership of the Appeals Sub-Group is a matter for the Peatlands Council. The present membership comprises representation of Irish Rural Link, the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council and Bord na Móna.
The Council received one request for appeal in 2013 which was duly considered and a recommendation made to the then Minister. Earlier this year, it was decided to review the approach to appeals and to draw up full Terms of Reference in relation to the appeals function. These Terms of Reference will be published on-line once the review is finalised. I hope that this will be concluded shortly.
Two further appeals have been received which I understand will be dealt with as soon as the review is complete and appeals should be decided upon within an 8 week period.
238. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the percentage of board members in arts organisations who are directly from the arts community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39662/14]
View answerI do not have responsibility for membership of boards of arts organisations funded by the Arts Council or by my Department. In 2014, the Arts Council funded 470 organisations. I am cognisant, however, that all arts organisations which receive funding from the public purse should adhere to the principles of good governance. Public bodies are required to adhere to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. While the Code may be burdensome for small not-for-profit arts organisations, I consider that the principles of good governance and transparency should nonetheless be observed.
For this reason, smaller arts organisations funded by my Department are subject to a condition that they comply with good standards of transparency and accountability, which are set down on the website www.governancecode.ie. These standards are specifically tailored to meet the challenges of ensuring proper governance in the not-for-profit sector and are suitable for use by arts organisations, many of which are small. Adherence to these standards requires, inter alia, that the relevant organisations publish details of their board membership in their annual reports and accounts. I understand that the Arts Council also requires the organisations it funds to comply with these standards.
In relation to the Board of the Arts Council itself, the Deputy will find a short biography of each member of the Council on the Arts Council's website at http://www.artscouncil.ie/about/Who-we-are/
On its website, the Arts Council commits to operating to the highest standards of corporate governance and has adopted a corporate governance regime in accordance with best practice which includes a section on conflicts of interest. This document is also available on the Council's website.
In addition to its own governance code, members of the Council are appointed on the basis that during their term of appointment, they will not be employed by or serve on the boards of any organisations which apply for or receive funding from the Arts Council.
239. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide update on the proposals to support and assist young artists here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39663/14]
View answer240. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will support the arts and its community in 2015. [39664/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions No. 239 and 240 together.
Primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Council is funded by my Department and is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and specifically in its funding decisions. In 2014, the Arts Council will receive an allocation of over €56.8 million in funding and I have maintained that funding level for the Council in 2015.
I am confident that the Council's work in relation to young artists will be supportive of Government policy regarding the creation of jobs for young people, which forms an integral part of the Programme for Government and the Action Plan for Jobs.
