Written Answers Nos. 260-269
260. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the annual passenger figures by category for Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports for the years 2000 to 2014 inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6357/15]
View answerThe information being sought by the Deputy to end of 2013 is set out in the airport authorities' annual reports which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The figures for 2014 are set out in the table below.
State Airport Passenger Figures for 2014
|
Overall - Individual State Airports |
2014 |
|
Dublin |
21,712,169 |
|
Cork |
2,144,476 |
|
Shannon |
1,639,315 |
|
Total |
25,495,960 |
|
|
|
|
State Airports Domestic Passengers |
2014 |
|
Dublin |
70,795 |
|
Cork |
3,801 |
|
Shannon |
- |
|
Total |
74,596 |
|
|
|
|
State Airports Transit Passengers |
2014 |
|
Dublin |
4,634 |
|
Cork |
987 |
|
Shannon |
103,539 |
|
Total |
109,160 |
|
|
|
|
State Airports International Passengers |
2014 |
|
Dublin |
21,636,740 |
|
Cork |
2,139,688 |
|
Shannon |
1,535,776 |
|
Total |
25,312,204 |
261. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider flying the Amber Flag from his Department buildings, on a chosen day, in order to raise awareness of the Amber Flag programme, which works to raise awareness of mental health issues within second level schools, sports clubs and youth organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6437/15]
View answerThe protocol section of the Department of an Taoiseach has recently requested that the National Flag be flown from buildings under this Department's control equipped with a permanent flagpole on certain dates. It is the practice of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to fly the National flag only in accordance with these requests.
With regard to the Deputy's specific request, I will consult with my officials and consider this matter further.
262. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the responsibilities and powers that have been delegated to the Minister of State, Deputy Ann Phelan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6572/15]
View answerMinister of State Phelan has a range of responsibilities relating to rural economic development and related matters across a number of Departments. In my Department, these responsibilities relate to rural transport.
263. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the organisations and Departments which provided Gaeltacht scholarships to students attending first-level and second-level schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6363/15]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to scholarships provided to assist primary and secondary school students to attend Irish colleges in the Gaeltacht during the summer. My Department does not grant such assistance directly to students. However, I am aware that scholarships are provided from time to time by various Irish language, cultural and sporting organisations, as well as several local authorities. I am also informed that some of the Irish colleges themselves offer part-scholarships. Details regarding Irish colleges can be obtained from the umbrella organisation CONCOS at www.concos.ie .
264. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a chlúdófar Óileán Árainn Mhór mar chuid den phroiséas pleanála teanga; cén fáth nach bhfuil cead ag an gcomharchumann áitiúil, atá ag obair go dian ar an phleanáil teanga ar an oileán, ionadaí a chur chuig an chúrsa pleanála teanga atá á reáchtáil ag Údarás na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [6388/15]
View answerTá sé i gceist fógraí a fhoilsiú go han-luath faoi alt 7(3) d'Acht na Gaeltachta 2012 chun tús oifigiúil a chur leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga i 4 Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta eile, lena n-airítear Árainn Mhór i gCo. Dhún na nGall. I gcomhthéacs an róil atá sainithe don Údarás mar a bhaineann sé leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga faoin Acht, tuigtear do mo Roinnse gur thug an tÚdarás an deis do gach eagraíocht forbartha pobail, lena n-airítear eagraíochtaí pobail atá ag feidhmiú ar Árainn Mhór, freastal a dhéanamh ar an gcúrsa dar teideal Dioplóma sa Phleanáil agus Buanú Teanga, atá á reáchtáil faoi láthair ag Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge.
265. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider flying the amber fFlag from her Department buildings, on a chosen day, in order to raise awareness of the Amber Flag programme, which works to raise awareness of mental health issues within second level schools, sports clubs and youth organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6424/15]
View answerI have noted and very much welcome this worthwhile initiative, which is aimed at colleges, schools, clubs and other youth organisations. The objective is to encourage such organisations to put in place programmes to combat the scourge of suicide and promote positive mental health. The Amber Flag scheme is one in which the flag is earned following the introduction of mental health programs for young people within an organisation. The application form, which must be completed in order to participate in the project, requires the applicant organisation to confirm that "permission has been obtained for photos of our students to be used in conjunction with the Amber Flag initiative".
Given the focus of the Amber Flag initiative, it is not considered that a Government Department falls within the intended scope of the project. In any event, the flying of flags at Government Departments is strictly limited by protocol.
I commend Suicide Aware, the voluntary organisation that developed the Amber Flag initiative, and its project partners, the Institute of Guidance Counsellors and the Union of Students in Ireland, and wish them every success with the project.
266. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on the review of the proposals for extension to the controlled burning of gorse; if she will introduce a compromise measure by extending the current closing date from 1 March to 31 March, as 1 April was the old traditional date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6505/15]
View answer267. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will extend the current closing date for controlled gorse burning from 1 March to 31 March, to bring it into line with the regulations in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6506/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
Section 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. 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.
I have established a Working Group within my Department to consider all submissions received by this deadline. I have asked the Working Group to report back to me with a range of proposals promptly.
Once the process is complete, I intend to launch a public awareness process so all stakeholders, including local authorities, landowners and members of the public, are fully informed as to the restrictions under the Wildlife Acts.
Any changes to the closed period for cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation would require amending legislation. It will not be feasible to introduce any potential changes to section 40 of the Wildlife Acts prior to this year’s closed period which commences on 1 March.
268. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to commemorate the 1916 Rising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6510/15]
View answerPlans to commemorate the 1916 Rising are well under way. The aim of the commemoration of the 1916 Easter Rising is to have a rich diversity of programmes and events, complementary and additional to formal state occasions, which will run throughout 2016. In this regard, I am committed, together with my Government colleagues, to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful.
The Ireland 2016 initiative, which I am leading, aims to develop, coordinate and deliver a programme to honour and remember those who fought and died in the 1916 Easter Rising. The Ireland 2016 initiative will reflect on the legacy of that period and look towards our future, based around 5 themes, as set out in the Government's framework plan:
- Remembering the past
- Reconciling and respecting all traditions
- Presenting Ireland to the world
- Imagining our future
- Celebrating our achievements.
The dedicated Ireland 2016 Project Team in my Department is currently engaged in an extensive consultation process across the Government, State agency and community sectors in order to progress the development of detailed plans for the commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. Meetings have taken place between the team and the various key Departments, agencies, local authorities and other interested parties and I am delighted at the level of interest and enthusiasm for the programme to date. I envisage that this formal consultation phase will be complete by end-February, but engagement will, of course, be ongoing with interested parties as the programme develops towards implementation.
In this regard, I have secured an allocation of €4 million in current funding to support the development of an integrated national plan focused on the commemoration of the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. This allocation will be used to engage with and support a wide range of activities and events by interested groups, including local community groups and the arts, as well as Irish language and educational projects. The allocation of €4 million is in addition to the capital provision of €22 million, which will be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship commemorations projects.
269. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide an update on an application for payment under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, in respect of person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the action her Department has taken to identify the correct turf bank or payment for this person. [6579/15]
View answerAn application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that a payment of €1,500 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2011), €1,500 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2012) and €1,518 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2013) have been made to this applicant. In addition, a once-off payment of €500 has been made to the applicant in respect of the signing of a legal agreement under this scheme.
It has come to the attention of my Department that the turf plot on which the applicant now claims to have been extracting turf is different to the one which she had indicated that she had been extracting turf from on her application form. My Department has been assessing the details in relation to this plot to ascertain if the qualifying criteria of the scheme have been met in this instance.
A letter has recently been sent to the applicant seeking additional information including evidence of a legal interest in this plot. Once this information is received my Department will complete its assessment of the application and will be in further contact with the applicant.
