Written Answers Nos. 147-164
147. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of bog relocations that have been completed; the number where alternative locations have been sourced that will meet the demand for relocation; the number where alternatives have to be sourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5461/15]
View answer3,057 applications have been received under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation to date. Of these, 783 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. Relocation is a complex process in terms of
- investigating suitable sites for turf quality and quantity;
- the infrastructure/drainage works required;
- establishing the number that can be accommodated on the site;
- the cost and feasibility of land purchase or lease; and
- possible planning and Environmental Impact Assessment requirements.
Notwithstanding this complexity, progress in relocating turf cutters to non-designated bogs is being achieved in a number of cases and arrangements have been made to date as regards:
- Clara Bog special area of conservation in Co Offaly, where 25 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on Killeranny Bog; and
- Carrownagappul Bog and Curraghlehanagh Bog special areas of conservation in Co Galway, where 23 qualifying turf cutters have been accommodated on the Islands Bog and Killasolan Bog.
Works have been undertaken on Lemanaghan Bog in County Offaly with a view to facilitating turf cutters from Moyclare Bog. Works have also been completed at Cloonabricka Bog in County Galway to facilitate additional cutters relocating from Carrownagappul and Curraghlehanagh Bogs.
Potential relocation sites had been identified for each of the remaining raised bog special areas of conservation where relocation may be required. When relocation sites have been assessed as suitable, my Department has been seeking expressions of interest from turf cutters with a view to them moving to these sites. In 2014, the Department wrote to over 250 turf cutters, from 14 special areas of conservation, seeking expressions of interest in relocating to specific non-designated bogs.
148. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to revise the Wildlife Acts with a view to enhancing protection of certain species and increasing penalties for any contraventions of the Act; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5529/15]
View answerI have a broad remit to protect Ireland’s natural heritage and am of the view that the resources available to my Department for that purpose should be focused on
- raising awareness and a common understanding of the richness of that heritage and the issues we face in protecting it; and
- securing compliance with EU Directives on nature conservation.
The Wildlife Acts, along with other nature conservation legislation in Ireland, particularly the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, provide a suite of protective measures for Ireland’s biodiversity, habitats and species. The law provides for significant penalties for those that are found to breach those protective measures - for example, fines of up to €100,000 or imprisonment of up to two years can be imposed following convictions on indictment for cases involving the shooting of a Hen Harrier.
In that regard, I consider incidents such as the killing of rare and protected species, as we have seen in recent weeks, to be completely unacceptable. They are damaging to our wildlife, to our reputation, to tourism-related business, and to the image generally of Ireland’s healthy countryside.
I can assure the Deputy that the provisions of the Wildlife Acts are kept under continuous review and I remain open to introducing improvements to the law, where appropriate.
149. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there has been no national heritage plan in place since 2007; the reason this is the case; her views on introducing a new plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5510/15]
View answerFollowing on from the National Heritage Plan 2002-2007, and over the course of recent years, my Department’s responsibilities for the development of policies for the protection and promotion of our built and natural heritage have been met by various ongoing policy developments, responding to the range of challenges in each of the sectoral areas within my heritage remit.
Whilst my Department has no specific plans at this stage to develop an overall heritage plan updating the National Heritage Plan 2002-2007, the situation will be kept under review in the context of competing priorities and ongoing policy developments.
150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she anticipates the use of the arts and Ireland’s heritage as a means of promoting the national image at home and abroad with consequent economic benefit throughout all aspects of the economy; her views on particular proposals or promotions in this regard such as the marketing of historic sites relating to events and encouraging a greater awareness of our rich culture and heritage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5481/15]
View answerMy Department has responsibility for the arts, film, built heritage, natural heritage, the Irish language and the islands. In addition to their great intrinsic value, these are central to promoting the image of Ireland and its perception as a rich cultural destination. My Department has taken a number of initiatives in that regard. In 2014, my Department appointed a Cultural Tourism Officer, who has been tasked with establishing and chairing a Cultural Tourism Working Group comprising representatives from across the Department. This working group assisted in the formulation of a Cultural Tourism Working Action Plan, which focuses on identifying areas of potential collaboration, in my Department and its agencies, as well as with external partners such as the Office of Public Works and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
This initiative will enable the development of a more cohesive approach to the promotion of Ireland's culture and heritage at home and abroad by the relevant heritage and tourism bodies, for instance by encouraging the development of initiatives that help communities convey a distinctive, local cultural narrative and promote greater engagement with local cultural heritage. It will also facilitate the protection and delivery of the cultural and heritage experiences that citizens and tourists alike anticipate in Ireland. For example, consideration is being given to extending the reach of the Wild Atlantic Way tourism trail to incorporate visits to suitable national monuments that are in close proximity to the trail as currently configured.
A key objective of this initiative is to promote and realise the value of our cultural assets, both directly in terms of my Department’s contribution to the development of cultural tourism, and indirectly in terms of promoting the development of cultural tourism initiatives across the wider public, commercial and community sectors in order to bring socio-economic benefits to local communities and assist in balanced regional development.
Another example in this area is the annual Heritage Week held each August, which is coordinated by the Heritage Council and funded by my Department. The main aims of Heritage Week are to promote awareness of our built, natural and cultural heritage, thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation. Heritage Week is designed to appeal to as broad an audience as possible and has proved very successful in doing so.
Through these and other initiatives, my Department will continue to encourage a greater awareness of our rich culture and heritage, both for their intrinsic value and for the associated economic benefits.
151. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the fact that the spend on the storage of records intended for the National Archives in 2013 was, at minimum, €1,227,807, her views on reviewing the current abilities of the staff of the National Archives of Ireland to properly catalogue, digitise and store these records, in an effort to reduce both pre-cataloguing storage costs and to reduce potential degradation of records; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5509/15]
View answerI am pleased that, after a number of years of funding reductions, I was in a position this year to increase the National Archives budget and, in addition, that sanction has been given to run a competition for additional archivists for the National Archives.
I am also very conscious that the storage capacity of the National Archives needs to be improved and, to that end, as part of its capital stimulus package, the Government agreed to provide funding this year for phase one of a development plan at the Archives headquarters in Bishop Street. The OPW will shortly go to tender for the project and it is anticipated that works could begin by mid-2015. This will greatly increase the storage capacity of the National Archives.
I am confident that the combination of both the increased resources and the commencement of the phased development plan will go a long way to addressing the long-standing difficulties at the National Archives.
152. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén treoir atá tugtha aici maidir le leibhéal na haerseirbhíse chuig Oileáin Árann sa chonradh nua atá le teacht i bhfeidhm an fómhar seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [5457/15]
View answerNíl cinneadh críochnúil tógtha go fóill maidir leis an gconradh úr don tseirbhís aeir d'Oileáin Árann. Mar is eol don Teachta, d’fhostaigh mo Roinn na comhairleoirí EY chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an tseirbhís aeir agus foilsíodh tuarascáil chuimsitheach anuraidh ina raibh moltaí éagsúla ann. Tógfar moltaí na tuarascála san áireamh agus leibhéal na haerseirbhíse á shainiú sna doiciméid tairisceana.
153. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will inform the Irish people, both at home and abroad, when she will announce the date for the Ulster 2015 National Famine Memorial Day to remember all the victims of An Gorta Mór; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5517/15]
View answerWhile there has been a degree of continuity in the format and scheduling of the annual National Famine Commemoration ceremony, the date of the ceremony, as well as the artistic and cultural elements, may change from year to year. Although it has proved possible in most years to schedule the commemoration on the second Sunday in May, it has not been considered desirable to fix the same date each year, given the factors that may need to be considered, such as the site selection process, the availability of the lead person to officiate at the ceremony and the general arrangements at community level.
A primary objective of the National Famine Commemoration Committee is to ensure that the 2015 ceremony will be a fitting tribute to those who perished in Ulster during the Great Famine and my Department continues to work with the key stakeholders, North and South, within that framework. I hope to be in a position to announce details of the date and venue of the 2015 National Commemoration in the coming weeks.
154. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will provide financial and other support to the Artane School of Music; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5512/15]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts at all levels, including musical performance, is devolved to the Arts Council. The 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.
In addition, my Department funds targeted initiatives for music, which are channelled through the Music Network. These include the Music Capital Scheme, which is designed to assist individuals and groups to purchase musical instruments and is administered by the Music Network on behalf of my Department. Further details in relation to the Music Network and its schemes are available at www.musicnetwork.ie
155. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the digitisation project for the 1926 census which would deliver online access similar to the 1901 and 1911 records; the estimated cost involved; the specific challenges which must be overcome; the staffing required; if space will be provided at the National Archives of Ireland; if industry stakeholders have been consulted; when it is envisaged the project will be complete; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5508/15]
View answerThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to enabling the publication of the 1926 Census records in due course.
The digitisation of the 1901 and 1911 Census returns, which in relative terms was a simpler project than the proposed 1926 Census project, took over four years to complete. The 1926 Census is the next full set of Census records, after the 1911 returns, which is available to the State. However, current legislative provisions, as contained in the Statistics Act 1993, require that census data must be withheld for 100 years. Accordingly, it is not possible at this time to release the 1926 Census returns before the statutory period has elapsed in 2026. If the records were to be released before the expiry of 100 years, a major change in legislation and policy would be required to allow for the early release. This is not currently being proposed.
A 1926 Census Working Group has been formed, comprising officials from my own Department, the National Archives and the Central Statistics Office. The Group has examined this complex project and has assessed the significant resources - in terms of additional financial, staff and infrastructural resources - that will need to be in place to move the project forward to completion. I can say that, following discussions within the Working Group, I am of the opinion that the extensive preparatory work required to prepare the 1926 Census database for processing, and eventual digitisation to facilitate the release of the data into the public domain, should continue. It must be recognised, however, that, in light of the level of additional resources that will be necessary, and of the current engagement by the National Archives on a number of other important projects, including some that form a key part of the programme for the Decade of Commemorations, it will be necessary to work over time towards building the necessary capacity to undertake and oversee the 1926 Census project.
The cost to digitise the 1926 Census could be as high as €10m, as the Census has never been micro-filmed and the individual return sheets would need to be scanned and cross-indexed.
The Government agreed, as part of its capital stimulus package, to provide funding this year for phase one of a development plan at the Archives headquarters in Bishop Street. The OPW will shortly go to tender for the project and it is anticipated that works could begin by mid-2015. This will greatly increase the storage capacity of the National Archives. In addition, sanction has been given to run a competition for additional archivists for the National Archives, adding further to the capacity of the organisation.
156. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén fáth gur cuireadh scéal chuig níos mó ná céad aistritheoir atá ar Phainéal na nAistritheoirí Gaeilge, agus a bhfuil an séala acu, á rá go mbeidh an cháilíocht atá acu mar aistritheoirí, an séala creidiúnaithe, á baint de gach duine a fuair an cháilíocht roimh 2013; cén fáth nach foláir do na haistritheoirí seo an scrúdú a dhéanamh arís agus cén uair a bheidh tuilleadh eolais ar fáil. [5525/15]
View answerMar a mhínigh mé i mo fhreagra ar Cheist Uimh 37 ón Teachta ar an 22 Deireadh Fómhair 2014, is ceist oibríochtúil í seo d'Fhoras na Gaeilge. Ní mór dom a threisiú arís nach cáilíocht san aistriúchán atá i gcóras creidiúnaithe Fhoras na Gaeilge ach dearbhú i ndáil le caighdeán oibre an aistritheora.
Tuigim ó Fhoras na Gaeilge gur cuireadh in iúl d’aistritheoirí a raibh an Séala Creidiúnaithe d’Aistritheoirí faighte acu roimh 2013 go rachadh an séala atá acu in éag ag deireadh na bliana 2015 ach go gcuirfí scrúdú athchreidiúnaithe ar fáil dóibh idir an dá linn.
Ag eascairt as plé idir Foras na Gaeilge agus na haistritheoirí, tuigim gur cuireadh ar ceal an scrúdú athchreidiúnaithe a bhí beartaithe do 2014 agus gur lorgaíodh moltaí maidir le bearta a chinnteoidh ardchaighdeáin in earnáil an aistriúcháin sa todhchaí.
Tuigim ó Fhoras na Gaeilge gur reachtáladh cruinniú le hionadaithe de na haistritheoirí agus go bhfuarthas roinnt moltaí ó aistritheoirí aonair agus ó ghrúpa aistritheoirí fosta. Tar éis d'Fhoras na Gaeilge breithniú a dhéanamh ar na moltaí uile, cuirfear moltaí os comhair an bhoird agus táthar ag súil le cinneadh roimh an gCáisc.
157. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to revoke hare coursing licences here, particularly in view of figures from the National Parks and Wildlife Service which indicate that during the 2013 coursing season over 100 hares required assistance, due to injuries sustained during races; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5523/15]
View answerThe control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Hare coursing is administered by the Irish Coursing Club, which is a body set up under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. Licences were issued by this Department in August 2014 under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, on behalf of their affiliated clubs, to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014/15 coursing season.
There is no current evidence that coursing has a significant effect on hare populations and the decision to issue licences took into consideration the favourable conservation status for the hare as detailed in the Report on “The Status of European Union Protected Habitats and Species in Ireland”, which was submitted to the EU in 2013. The full technical report is available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at www.npws.ie . Hares can show significant inter-annual fluctuations in population and recent estimates indicate that the hare population varies from around 250,000 to over 500,000.
I am advised that during the 2012/13 coursing season some 107 hares were not released back into the wild after coursing meetings due to death arising from injury or natural causes. In overall terms, this represented about 2% of the total number of hares captured. The equivalent figure of hares not released for the 2013/14 season was 35 hares.
158. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the lifting of the derogation for Irish to be recognised as an official language in the European Union; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5511/15]
View answerAs previously 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.
In that context, my Department, in conjunction with the Department of An Taoiseach, continues to be actively engaged with the EU institutions in order to formulate specific proposals on the optimal approach to the derogation. Clearly, the outcome of that engagement will inform the proposals that will be brought to Government in due course, prior to a final decision being taken on this matter.
159. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to introduce a fixed day of remembrance for victims of the Irish Great Famine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5527/15]
View answerWhile there has been a degree of continuity in the format and scheduling of the annual National Famine Commemoration ceremony, the date of the ceremony, as well as the artistic and cultural elements, may change from year to year. It has proved possible in most years it to schedule the Commemoration on the second Sunday in May. However, it has not been considered desirable to fix the same date each year, given the factors that may need to be considered, such as the site selection process, the availability of the lead person to officiate at the ceremony and the general arrangements at community level.
160. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of engagement between her Department and the arts officers in local authorities; her views that each local authority should employ an arts officer; and if there is scope for greater co-operation and collaboration between arts officers from different counties, in view of the benefits of the arts to local cultural life and also tourism. [5513/15]
View answerThe Arts Council, which is the main channel of State current expenditure on the arts, provides significant support for local authorities, including the network of local authority arts officers. This network plays a major role in making the arts more accessible to everyone. I am also aware that the Association of Local Authority Arts Officers provides a forum for discussion and a support for the development of its members’ work within local authorities.
In November 2014, I met with local authority arts officers as a group to discuss their views and their ideas for the future. I have also met many of the arts officers individually and I am constantly looking for ways which would improve communication and linkages between the arts officers and other stakeholder bodies.
Finally, I would like to state my commitment to ensuring the delivery of the country's first ever national cultural policy - Culture 2025 - which will set out the high-level aims and policies of the Government in the period up until 2025, including the role that local authorities can play in promoting the arts.
161. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she and her Department continue to receive submissions of concern arising from the operation of the habitats directive which, in some cases, appears to severely limit the extent to which traditional land use, such as farming and turf cutting, is permitted; if a means will be found whereby both environmental interests and traditional practices can be accommodated within reason; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5480/15]
View answerIreland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive. This Directive aims to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The Habitats Directive has been transposed into national law under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011.
Landowners may object to the proposed designation of a site as an SAC. Following the completion of a Departmental review of an objection to the proposed designation, landowners may opt to take their cases to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board, an independently chaired Board which makes recommendations to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, on such cases. The appeals process includes an oral hearing. The Board heard 17 appeals over the 2013-2014 period. In each case the recommendation of the Board was accepted.
It is recognised that the nomination of a site for designation as an SAC may have an impact on the manner in which certain lands may be farmed. The designation of lands does not mean that the lands are subject to blanket restrictions. However, they must be managed appropriately.
In accordance with the relevant legislation, certain activities in protected sites may only be undertaken with my consent, as Minister. 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 schemes have generally been put in place, where required, without the need to undergo a formal process under the relevant legislation.
While my Department has the lead role in relation to the implementation of the Habitats Directive, 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 Directive. I understand that, i n future, EU financial supports for agri-environmental actions by farmers in SACs and SPAs will be made through the green, low carbon agri-environment scheme (GLAS), to be operated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
Since this Government has come into office, huge efforts have been made to engage with stakeholders with regard to the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive. My Department engages with stakeholders, including those from the farming sector, non-governmental organisations and other public authorities, on an ongoing basis in this regard. This has particularly been the case in efforts to solve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog SACs within the framework of the Habitats Directive. This has included intense engagement with turf cutting interests, farmers, non-governmental organisations and with the European Commission, as well as the putting in place of a long-term compensation scheme.
162. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on discussions with the chief executive officers of local authorities regarding the commemoration of the Easter Rising in 1916 and the organisation of centenary events; and the strategies being developed at the local level for same.. [5514/15]
View answerI have had very positive engagement with the local authorities in relation to the development of commemoration plans at local level for 2016. I have met with the County and Cities Management Association (CCMA) and have written to request each local authority chief executive to lead the development of 2016 initiatives in their own counties. The Ireland 2016 Project Team in my Department has also met with local authority chief executives around the country to discuss their input. Local authorities are appointing steering groups to help to develop and drive their county programmes, as well as Ireland 2016 co-ordinators, who will be the focal points of contact and co-ordination. Public meetings will be undertaken in each county where members of the public can come together to hear about Ireland 2016 , meet those involved in their community, and explore and learn about how they can get involved.
Local authorities have been requested to consult widely with local interest groups and community organisations, historical societies, schools and youth organisations, other stakeholders and members of the authority in relation to the selection of initiatives and development of plans.
I have also provided an allocation of €1 million in 2015 to be distributed across all local authorities. The purpose of this funding allocation is to
- support engagement and facilitation within local communities to generate awareness of the Ireland 2016 initiative and the commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising; and
- support each local authority in developing and delivering a plan for a suitable programme of events and initiatives to take place at a county level in line with the national plans for Ireland 2016 .
Local authorities will be notified of individual allocations very shortly.
163. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad ordú logainmneacha atá deimhnithe ag an Aire le trí bliana anuas; cé mhéad ordú logainmneacha atá ag fanacht le bheith deimhnithe aici; cén beartas atá aici i leith orduithe logainmneacha a dheimhniú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [5458/15]
View answerDírím aird an Teachta ar Cheist Uimhir 1056 a freagraíodh ar an 14 Eanáir 2015. Ón mbliain 2012 go dáta, tá Ordú Logainmneacha amháin déanta, is é sin Ordú Logainmneacha Chontae Chorcaí. Tá Orduithe Logainmneacha le déanamh fós i gcás 17 contae, a bhfuil eolas maidir leis an staid reatha fúthu-san tugtha thíos.
Faoi láthair, tá dréachtorduithe logainmneacha ullmhaithe do chontaetha na Gaillimhe, Liatroma agus Longfoirt agus déanfar na horduithe sin chomh luath agus atá na leasuithe cuí ar Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla achtaithe.
Ós rud é go bhfuil na logainmneacha go léir i ndréachtordú logainnmneacha Chontae Mhaigh Eo scrúdaithe ag an gCoiste Logainmneacha anois, foilseofar ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne iad go han-luath chun tuairimí an phobail a fháil ina leith. Ullmhófar an dréachtordú nuair atá an próiseas sin curtha i gcrích.
Tá an obair thaighde ar chontaetha Cheatharlach, Loch Garman agus Shligigh críochnaithe agus cuirfear logainmneacha na gcontaetha sin faoi bhráid an Choiste Logainmneacha le linn na tréimhse 2015-2016.
Tá obair thaighde ghníomhach ar bun freisin i ndáil le contaetha Laoise, Chill Mhantáin, Chill Dara, an Chláir, Chiarraí agus an Chabháin. Ach an obair sin a bheith curtha i gcrích, rachfar i ngleic leis an taighde ar an gcuid eile de na contaetha, is iad sin Dún na nGall, Ros Comáin, an Mhí agus an Iarmhí.
164. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide this Government's detailed plan for a national strategy for the for the areas within the remit of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht; and the funding that has been allocated for its implementation. [5516/15]
View answerI am committed to the delivery of the country's first ever national cultural policy - Culture 2025- and will be initiating a wide-scale consultation process to ensure that all stakeholders and members of the public can make their views known. With this in mind, a draft discussion paper is currently being finalised, which I hope to publish shortly.
As the purpose is to set out the high-level aims and policies in the area of culture for the period up to 2025, the issue of funding does not arise.
