Written Answers Nos. 1034 - 1053
1034. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding Údaras na Gaeltacht; the person or body responsible for the delivery of Údaras na Gaeltacht grant schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49477/14]
View answerÚdarás na Gaeltachta is the regional authority responsible for the economic, social and cultural development of the Gaeltacht. It is important to state that, while Údarás na Gaeltachta comes under the remit of my Department, it is directed by an independent chair and board who are responsible for making decisions with regard to funding and fostering enterprise development, language, cultural and community-based activities in the Gaeltacht.
Údarás na Gaeltachta staff are dispersed regionally in offices in various Gaeltacht districts and meet clients regularly to give advice, to examine proposed projects, to discuss support for businesses and to prepare documents and recommendations for their board. I am advised that the decision-making process is by way of monthly board meetings, which decide on recommendations made by staff.
1035. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the current status of a scheme (details supplied); the number of persons who have availed of the scheme since it was started to date; and the total amount of money paid under this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49712/14]
View answerMy Department approved 728 Plans under the scheme referred to by the Deputy. The total amount paid under the scheme between 2006 and the end of 2014 was €24,711,394. The Deputy will appreciate the constraints that apply in replying to a “details supplied” Question but I will be glad to forward directly to him any additional information he may require in this matter.
1036. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her policy on encouraging conservation; the incentives that are in place for landowners to set aside appropriate land exclusively for the use of conservation of wildlife; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1375/15]
View answerOne of my Department's key priorities is the maintenance of natural habitats and species in special areas of conservation, special protection areas and natural heritage areas. In that context, my aim is to continue to encourage and support nature conservation to the greatest degree possible.
In accordance with the relevant legislation, certain activities in sites designated for nature conservation may only be undertaken with my consent, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Compensation may be payable where a person has been refused consent by me for a prescribed activity within a designated site that he or she had been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal.
However, compensation or incentive schemes have generally been put in place, where required, without the need to undergo a formal process under the relevant legislation. Such schemes include:
- A comprehensive compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog habitat;
- A voluntary bog purchase scheme; and
- A farm plan scheme to support farmers in adopting appropriate management practices in the Natura 2000 network.
The voluntary bog purchase scheme and the farm plan scheme are closed to new applicants.
It is essential, in my view, that, wherever possible, use is made of opportunities for co-funding from the EU. Therefore, while my Department has the lead role in relation to the implementation of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, significant funding is provided through the rural development programme, operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This programme provides for a range of supports for farmers, including payments in respect of sites nominated for designation or designated in accordance with the Directives.
1037. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to extend the closing dates for hedge-cutting to mid-February due to birds nesting earlier. [1503/15]
View answerSection 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Any change to that period would require amending legislation.
Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity and therefore a review of the current legislation was initiated to ensure that it remains both effective and balanced.
Stakeholders had been seeking an opportunity to input their views on the operation of section 40 of the Acts and I announced, last year, a consultation process which provided that opportunity with a deadline for the receipt of submissions by 9 January 2015.
All submissions received by this deadline will be considered as part of any future decision in relation to the operation of section 40 of the Acts.
1038. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available for committees or organisations towards 1916 centenary celebrations; when this funding will be available; the way groups may apply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49505/14]
View answerI secured an amount of €4 million in current funding in the Revised Estimates for 2015 to allow for the roll out of an integrated plan – Ireland 2016 – with a special focus on commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising. This funding is in addition to the capital provision of €22 million to be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship commemorations projects, including
- the development of a permanent exhibition space and interpretative centre at the GPO;
- the renovation of Kilmainham Courthouse to enhance the visitor experience at Kilmainham Gaol;
- the provision of a permanent visitor facility at Cathal Brugha Barracks for the Military Service Pensions Archive;
- the development of visitor facilities at Teach an Phiarsaigh, Ros Muc;
- renovation works at Richmond Barracks;
- the development of a Tenement Museum in Dublin; and
- the restoration of the Kevin Barry rooms in the National Concert Hall.
It is my intention to allocate the current provision of €4 million in a manner that will help support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups, as well as the national cultural institutions and education sectors. A widespread public consultation process is now underway, the aim of which is to encourage and facilitate the involvement of ground-up initiatives in the wider commemorative programme. Groups and individuals will be encouraged to work with existing structures, including local authorities, to develop their own ideas for commemorating 1916. My Department's 2016 Project Team will be working closely with stakeholders to facilitate this engagement.
1039. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason the Bronze Age walkway in Mayne bog, County Westmeath, was not listed by the Irish monuments service when it was notified; if it will now be listed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49606/14]
View answerArchaeological monuments that are newly discovered in the course of development related investigations are added to the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) by my Department’s National Monuments Service on an ongoing basis. The toghers - or bog trackways - discovered in this case on a privately-owned and operated peat extraction site have been included in the SMR as part of that process. My Department has also funded a partial excavation at the site to create a record and description of the find.
Discussions have recently taken place between my Department and representatives of the site owners in relation to appropriate mitigation measures to be taken regarding the archaeological features present in this case.
1040. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details in tabular form by county of the numbers of offers of compensation offered to landowners where designation for hen harrier habitat protection prevented a landowner from carrying out an activity or a development on their lands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49710/14]
View answerA habitat enhancement scheme (known as the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme) was available to farmers in Hen Harrier SPAs to undertake proactive measures for the species. These measures were not a condition of the designation, nor were they mandatory. For that reason, they are not considered to be compensation for the prevention of an activity or a development on the lands in question.
Voluntary commitments were entered into by 377 landowners under the Farm Plan Scheme, covering over 9,000 hectares. I am advised that 105 farm plans are still active.
1041. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that an application to the Arts Council for the visual artists workspace scheme 2015 was refused on a technicality (details supplied); if she will review this matter; if this decision can be reversed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49725/14]
View answerThe Arts Council operates under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003, which provides, inter alia, that the Council is independent in the performance of its functions in funding the Arts. As Minister, I cannot, therefore, review decisions of the Council in relation to such matters.
It may be noted that the Arts Council operates an appeals and complaints procedure, and, like other agencies under the aegis of my Department, is subject to the Ombudsman (Amendment) Act 2012.
1042. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the special protection areas for endangered birds, including the hen harrier, were established; the budget for same; the duration of the scheme; the number of farmers who were entitled to enter the scheme; the number of farmers who availed of it; her plans to reinstate the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49738/14]
View answerI understand that the Deputy's Question relates to the hen harrier in particular and will focus my reply on issues relating to that species.
Ireland is obliged under the EU Birds Directive to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for Annex I species such as the Hen Harrier. Annex I species are those that are deemed in greatest need of conservation due to population and range declines. In total six sites were designated in 2007 for the Hen Harrier:
1. Slieve Bloom Mountains SPA, Counties Laois & Offaly
2. Stack's to Mullaghareirk Mountains, West Limerick Hills and Mount Eagle SPA, Counties Cork, Kerry & Limerick
3. Mullaghanish to Musheramore Mountains SPA, Co. Cork
4. Slievefelim to Silvermines Mountains SPA, Counties Limerick & Tipperary
5. Slieve Beagh SPA, Co. Monaghan
6. Slieve Aughty Mountains SPA, Counties Clare & Galway
These SPAs include conifer plantations, heath/bog and rough grassland. Intensively managed agricultural land, houses and farm buildings have generally been excluded. Together the six sites total some 169,000 ha of land. Conifer plantation makes up 80,950 ha (48%), rough grassland 39,630 ha (23%) and heath/bog 47,760 ha (28%).
A habitat enhancement scheme (known as the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme) was available to farmers in Hen Harrier SPAs to undertake proactive measures for the species. These measures were not a condition of the designation, nor were they mandatory. My Department issued notifications to some 5,508 persons who were identified as having an interest in these sites. Voluntary commitments were entered into by 377 landowners under the Farm Plan Scheme covering over 9,000 hectares. 105 of the farm plans are still active.
Since the scheme commenced in 2008 until the end of December 2014, €13,950,658 has been paid to the farmers in question. This scheme was sourced solely from Exchequer funding. Due to budgetary constraints, the scheme closed to new applicants in April 2010. My Department is honouring contracted commitments to the end of the 5 year period.
In terms of the future, my Department is in ongoing discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine concerning a range of measures for the protection or restoration of biodiversity, including the Hen Harrier, under Ireland's next EU co-funded Rural Development Programme.
1043. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within, funded by or established by her Department which have been scrapped, merged or reduced since this Government was formed; the amount saved in each case; the reduction in staff as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1008/15]
View answerThe Public Service Reform Plan, published by the Government on 17 November 2011, outlined a series of rationalisation measures relating to agencies and other public bodies, including measures related to bodies funded from my Department's Vote. In this regard, my Department conducted a critical examination of the structure and operation of the institutions included in the Public Service Reform Plan and developed a comprehensive and practical approach to the implementation of the various Government Decisions in this area.
Savings were made primarily in three ways:
- Through the ending of payments to Chairpersons and members of boards or advisory councils;
- Through a programme of shared services between institutions, including, for example, in retail, security, marketing, procurement and storage; and
- Through the provision of services by my Department to some institutions, including human resources services and financial services, thus relieving those institutions of the need to incur a cost in accessing these services.
The functions of Culture Ireland were merged fully into my Department during 2013 and the Board was replaced with an Expert Committee whose members provide their time on a pro bono basis. In addition, the term of office of the Placenames Commission expired in October 2012 and was replaced by an Expert Committee which also operates on a pro bono basis.
Furthermore, a formal Framework for Co-operation and Improved Services between the National Gallery of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery was developed and endorsed by Government. Arising from that, the three Galleries signed a formal Service Level Agreement outlining a number of specific measures to share a number of services across the three Institutions. Legislation has been prepared to give effect to these changes and to reduce the number on boards, provide for pro bono service and gender equality on each board.
In December 2013, a new Human Resources Shared Services Unit was established in my Department to provide HR support to the National Museum of Ireland. Work is continuing between the National Museum of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland and the National Archives of Ireland to improve co-operation between these institutions and to progress shared services. Legislation to formally enact these changes and changes to board structure is being progressed.
I am satisfied that this programme of change has made a significant contribution to achieving the overall €20m savings target set out in the Public Service Reform Plan, while at the same time enhancing the operations of the bodies concerned.
1044. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the agencies or sections from her Department that were decentralised during the period 1997 to 2011; the travel costs and expenses incurred by decentralised personnel travelling to their base Department in that period. [1023/15]
View answer78 staff of my Department are based in two locations - New Road, Killarney (44 staff) and Newtown Road, Wexford (34 staff) – that were established under the Decentralisation Programme announced in 2004. However, since my Department was only established in its present format in June 2011, I am advised it would not be possible, in the context of available staffing resources and the considerable time that would be required, to collate the information requested by the Deputy for the period 1997-2011.
1045. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total amount of moneys paid by her Department to external consultants, professional companies or advisers in relation to the jobs action plan in each year since and including 2012; if she will provide in a tabular form the list of those organisations that received money; her Department's procurement policy regarding this work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1131/15]
View answerNo external consultants, professional companies or advisors were engaged by my Department in relation to developing its contribution to the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012 or in any subsequent year.
For completeness, I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of capital projects funded by my Department generate a significant number of jobs and are referenced in the Action Plan for Jobs for the years in question. Cost benefit analysis studies were undertaken in advance as part of two of those projects, the refurbishment project currently underway at the National Gallery and the proposed scheme of improvements for the National Archives. In addition, a study was commissioned on the benefits of capital investment in film studios, which also has the potential to generate jobs.
It is the policy of my Department, when acquiring services of this nature, that a competitive process should always be used unless there are justifiably exceptional circumstances. Following three separate competitive tendering processes, Dorgan Associates were commissioned to carry out these three studies at a total cost of €32,104.50, including VAT.
1046. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for recruiting staff at Killarney House in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1236/15]
View answer1047. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff she plans to employ at Killarney House in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1237/15]
View answer1048. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of full-time/part-time, permanent/temporary staff she plans to recruit at Killarney House in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1238/15]
View answer1049. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she will commence recruiting staff at Killarney House in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1239/15]
View answer1050. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way jobs at Killarney House in 2015 will be advertised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1240/15]
View answer1051. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the different types of jobs that will be available at Killarney House in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1241/15]
View answer1052. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her budget for employing staff at Killarney House in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1242/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1046 to 1052, inclusive, together.
Staffing requirements at the location referred to by the Deputy, as with all other areas of my Department, will remain the subject of ongoing consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay framework approved for 2015. The nature of the posts required, as well as the numbers involved and the budgetary implications, are yet to be determined. Any temporary posts that arise will be advertised in the local media and/or my Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie/en/Heritage.
1053. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil a fhios aici cathain a fhoilseofar an tuarascáil ón meitheal smaointe a bunaíodh i mí Aibreáin 2014 chun fiosrúchán a dhéanamh maidir le cruthú post i nGaoth Dobhair; cé hiad na daoine a bhí páirteach sa ghrúpa sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [1418/15]
View answerBhunaigh Údarás na Gaeltachta grúpa oibre, Fóram Forbartha Fiontraíochta, i mí Aibreáin seo caite chun tabhairt faoi phlean gníomhaíochta a ullmhú, a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige tograí fiontraíochta nua a aimsiú agus a mhealladh le lonnú in iarthuaisceart Chontae Dhún na nGall agus deiseanna nua fostaíochta a chruthú sa cheantar. Tá ionadaíocht ar an ngrúpa oibre ag Údarás na Gaeltachta, Fiontraíocht Éireann, an tÚdarás Forbartha Tionscail, SOLAS, Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall, Institiúid Theicneolaíochta Leitir Ceanainn, an Roinn Coimirce Sóisialaí, agus mo Roinn féin. Tuigim go bhfuil sé beartaithe tuarascáil an ghrúpa oibre a fhoilsiú i mí an Mhárta.
