Written Answers Nos. 233-239
233. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an méadóidh sí an deontas a sholáthraítear do Mhná Tí sna ceantair Ghaeltachta mar chúiteamh as na muirir uisce a bhaineann le lóistín a thabhairt do na mic léinn Ghaeilge, agus an ndéanfadh sí a machnamh ar chóras ina mbeadh an bille ón cheathrú nó ón tréimshe roimh ré ar fáil le haghaidh codarsnacht a dhéanamh. [40540/14]
View answerTá áthas orm a chur in iúl don Teachta ar dtús go bhfuil i gceist agam leanúint leis an gcúnamh atá ar fáil ó mo Roinnse faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge in 2015 ag an leibhéal céanna agus a bhí ann in 2014. Íocann mo Roinn deontas laethúil de €9.50 i leith an fhoghlaimeora le teaghlaigh aitheanta a choinníonn foghlaimeoirí Gaeilge ar iostas fad agus a bhíonn said ag freastal ar chúrsaí Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Tugann na cúrsaí seo deis do na foghlaimeoirí dul i dtaithí ar líofacht nádúrtha na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht. Tuigim an ról fíor-thábhachtach atá ag na coláistí Gaeilge i gcur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge agus tugann mo Roinn gach cúnamh is féidir dóibh chun an ról sin a chur i gcrích. Tá sé i gceist agam tionchar na dtáillí uisce ar Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge a choinneáil faoi bhreithniú. Sa chomhthéacs sin, ní miste a lua go raibh mé i dteagmháil leis an Aire Airgeadais faoi tháillí uisce i gcomhthéacs Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus go bhfuil sé i gceist agam an cheist a phlé fosta leis an Aire Comhshaoil, Pobail agus Rialtais Áitiúil agus le hUisce Éireann.
Ní miste a rá, ar ndóigh, go bhfuil an deontas a íocann mo Roinnse faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge saor ó cháin. Ní chuirtear san áireamh ach an oiread é agus iarratais ar éileamh íocaíochta leasa shóisialaigh ón Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí á meas.
234. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has sought assistance from the EU to help address the problem of farmers being at a loss because of lands being sterilised because of the hen harrier; if she will examine all avenues to sort out this damaging restriction for landowners; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40577/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 280 of 18 September 2014. There is significant EU funding available to assist farmers in meeting the requirements of the Birds and Habitats Directives. Participation in the Single Farm Payment scheme requires farmers to abide by the statutory requirements relating to Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation – collectively known as Natura 2000 sites. Additional funding is also provided through the rural development programme. Agri-Environmental schemes such as REPS and AEOS have provided a range of supports, including EU payments in respect of Natura 2000 sites, to tens of thousands of farmers. In future, the provision of EU financial supports for agri-environmental actions by farmers in SACs and SPAs will be made exclusively through the Green, Low carbon Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS), to be operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
As detailed in the response to the Deputy in Question No. 280 of 18 September, I have convened an Inter-Departmental Steering Group to consider the implication of the Hen Harrier SPA designations in relation to agricultural use, forestry and wind-farm development. This Group has been tasked with drawing up a threat response plan for the Hen Harrier and will deal with various issues of concern to land-owners.
The Departments represented on the Steering Group have been asked to nominate relevant stakeholders for inclusion on the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan Consultative Committee. My officials will shortly write to the nominated stakeholder organisations formally inviting nominees to be appointed to represent their interests and input into the development of the threat response plan. Stakeholders from the farming, forestry and wind energy industries, as well as environmental non-government organisations and local authority representatives, will be invited to sit on the Committee.
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which her Department remains committed to facilitating and encouraging the arts nationally and at local community level; the extent to which local events and festivals continue to receive support from her Department or its subsidiary bodies; the extent to which she expects such activity to continue in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40646/14]
View answer239. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she expects to be in a position to continue promotion of the arts directly or indirectly at local community level with particular reference to generating a greater awareness of the arts through schools at primary and second level and through the aegis of local community based groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40650/14]
View answer242. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department continues to support community based arts or heritage groups with a view to promoting the arts at community level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40653/14]
View answer243. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department directly or through bodies under its aegis continues to support various festivals or cultural events organised annually or on a once-off basis throughout the country; the amount of such support provided in the past three years to date under specific headings directly through the Arts Council or other bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40654/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 239, 242 and 243 together.
The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life.
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 received an allocation of over €56.8 million in funding and I have maintained that funding level for the Council in 2015.
The Arts Council supports for a range of arts forms are set out in its strategic overview documents, which are available on the Council's website at www.artscouncil.ie. These set out the key strategic principles that inform its funding decisions. Details of all funding provided by the Arts Council to arts practitioners, arts groups and venues, including arts centres, are also available on its website.
The Arts Council’s funded organisations contribute hugely to the cultural heritage of Ireland. The Council supports over 50 multidisciplinary venues (also supported by local authorities), large festivals (such as the Galway, Kilkenny and Earagail Arts Festivals), a significant number of artform specific festivals and up to 150 small-to-medium sized festivals spread all through the country.
In January 2013, the Arts in Education Charter was launched as a joint initiative with the Minister for Education and Skills. The Charter places new responsibilities on Government Departments, agencies, cultural institutions and arts organisations to provide and promote arts-in-education among children and young people.
A High Level Implementation Group, chaired by Professor John Coolahan, Professor Emeritus, NUI, Maynooth, was set up to oversee the implementation of the Arts in Education Charter. Progress is being made on a number of initiatives, including increasing the number of Artists in Residence in colleges of education and developing a website/portal as a key communications and information channel for both the education and arts sectors. Suitable models for artists to become involved in the programme are also being examined by this Group.
There is a range of ways in which my Department is supporting arts, cultural and heritage initiatives in conjunction with local groups and communities. These include:
- The St. Patrick's Day celebrations;
- Culture Night;
- Heritage Week;
- Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann for the promotion of the Irish traditional arts;
- Web-based projects being developed by my Department to promote greater appreciation and understanding of Ireland's heritage for residents and visitors alike; and
- Funding by my Department to support the work of National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) in developing arts projects in second level schools.
A full list of capital, current and philanthropy payments made in 2013 by my Department is available on its website at www.ahg.ie. Further details are also available from the Arts Council website and from Culturefox , the free online arts events guide.
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she proposes to take into account the views expressed by traditional canal dwellers and canal users following submissions made on foot of draft by-laws which purported to dramatically increase the cost of mooring, boating and canal dwelling in view of the fact that canal users are quite prepared to make a reasonable contribution but not to the extent proposed and having particular regard to the fact that the Royal Canal in particular was restored mainly through local voluntary effort; if she will meet canal users to discuss the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40647/14]
View answer238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she has met or proposes to meet canal users with a view to resolving issues that have arisen following publication of draft by-laws by Waterways Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40649/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 238 together.
The proposed new by-laws are intended to enhance the ability of Waterways Ireland to manage the Royal and Grand Canals and the Barrow Navigation for the benefit of all canal users. Investment by Waterways Ireland in these waterways has made them more attractive for boat owners and is helping to develop them as a vibrant recreational and tourist amenity for all waterway users. Given that background, it is now necessary to update the by-laws to ensure that the rules governing use of the waterways are fit for purpose and best meet the needs of all waterway users.
I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding aspects of the proposed byelaws. Waterways Ireland undertook a public consultation process in relation to the proposed bye-laws referred to earlier this year. I am advised that the main stakeholders, including the Inland Waterway Association of Ireland, the Heritage Boat Association, the Royal Canal Amenity Group and the Irish Boat Rental Association, were contacted individually and invited to meet with the Chief Executive and the senior management team of Waterways Ireland prior to submitting their views. The current permit holders on the three waterways, including traditional canal users and canal dwellers, received individual written notice and were given the opportunity to make their views and requirements known.
I understand that over 2,000 submissions were made in the course of the public consultation process. Waterways Ireland has concluded its analysis of the public consultation and a summary of the consultation process and of the submissions received is available on the Waterways Ireland website at http://www.waterwaysireland.org/public-consultation. Waterways Ireland has submitted a revised set of draft by-laws to my Department, which is currently being reviewed. When that process is completed, the matter will be referred to me, as Minister, with recommendations for consideration and final decision. In line with a commitment given during a debate in Seanad Éireann on Wednesday 26 February 2014, I will afford interested Deputies and Senators an opportunity to discuss the proposals with me prior to making a final decision on the draft by-laws.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the discussions she has had or proposes to have with traditional turf cutters affected by special areas of conservation and national heritage areas with a view to resolving any outstanding issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40648/14]
View answerMy Department has had detailed engagement with turf-cutters affected by the designation and protection of raised bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Natural Heritage Areas (NHAs). This has occurred at national level through numerous meetings with representative groups, including detailed discussions at the Peatlands Council, at local level through discussions with public representatives and at the personal level, through direct contact between officials and individual turf-cutters. The draft National Raised Bog SAC Management Plan and review of raised bog NHAs, published in January with the draft National Peatlands Strategy, set out how these sites are to be managed into the future and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. Both documents have been subject to public consultation and will be finalised in the coming months.
The needs of turf-cutters are being addressed through the provision of compensation or through relocation to other nearby non-designated bogs and the vast majority of affected turf-cutters are engaging with my Department. 3,017 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have been received by my Department. Of these, 814 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs.
6,116 payments and 610 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of these applications. In addition, 1,373 legal agreements have been returned to my Department and 1,197 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made in respect of these legal agreements. Total expenditure to date amounts to over €10.9 million since this Government introduced the compensation arrangements for affected turf cutters.
Since the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been extended this year to raised bog Natural Heritage Areas, 147 applications for compensation in respect of these sites have been received by my Department. Of these, 4 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. 68 payments have been made in respect of the applications received.
Progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs is being achieved in a number of cases and arrangements have been made as regards:
- Clara Bog in County Offaly, where 25 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on Killeranny Bog; and
- Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog in County Galway, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on the Islands Bog and Killasolan Bog.
Potential relocation sites have been identified for each of the remaining raised bog SACs where relocation may be required. However, relocation is a complex process with many issues to be resolved for each individual site.
My Department will continue to engage with turf-cutters on these sites to ensure that their needs are addressed and that the future of these valuable ecological resources is secured for the benefit of this and future generations.
