Terence Flanagan
Question:270. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the International Airlines Group, IAG, bid for Aer Lingus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9845/15]
View answerAer Lingus Sale
Questions (270)
Written answers
As Aer Lingus is in an 'offer period' under the Irish Takeover Rules, I am constrained in what I can say publicly on the matter, as these rules apply to significant shareholders in some regards as well as offerors and offeree companies during an offer period.
I briefed the Cabinet last week on the latest position in relation to the IAG proposal to make an offer for Aer Lingus and subsequently made a detailed statement clarifying the Government’s position on the matter. On 4 March the Government’s Inter Departmental Steering Group held a further meeting with representatives from International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG), at their request.
In line with stated policy, the Government remains open to considering any improved proposal.
State Properties
Questions (271)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:271. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the area of bog owned by the State in an area (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9607/15]
View answerWritten answers
Some 30 hectares of bog are registered with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland (PRAI) as being in the ownership of the State in the area referred to in the Deputy's Question. Ownership of a further 18.3 hectares of bog on this site is in the process of being registered with the PRAI on my behalf as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data
Questions (272)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:272. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the names of bogs to which her Department has successfully relocated applicants from (details supplied); the number of plots available for relocating applicants in each of these relocation bogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9608/15]
View answerWritten answers
Some 99 applications under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of the bog referred to in the Deputy’s Question. Of these, 33 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog.
To date, none of these applicants have been relocated to a non-designated bog. However, a number of bogs have been assessed as suitable relocation sites for turf cutters from this raised bog special area of conservation:
(a) One in County Galway which could accommodate in the region of 7 turf cutters;
(b) One in County Tipperary which could accommodate up to 30 turf cutters; and
(c) Bog plots in a site in County Galway, where the number of turf cutters who could be accommodated at is dependent on how much land is available to purchase in relation to relocation to this site.
My Department had sought expressions of interest from qualifying applicants under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme with a view to relocation to (a) and (c) above. My Department is in discussions at present with a number of turf cutters who have expressed an interest in relocating to (a).
Invasive Plant Species
Questions (273)
Michael Ring
Question:273. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the advice and-or financial support available from her Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to address the growing problem with terrestrial invasive-alien species, such as Japanese knotweed and giant wild rhubarb, Gunnera, and their possible control in an area (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9624/15]
View answerWritten answers
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department worked with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) to fund and manage the Invasive Species Ireland Project since 2006. This initiative provides advice and guidance on the management of a range of invasive species, including the species referred to, which can negatively impact on the environment and on property on the island of Ireland.
Best Practice Management Guidelines for Japanese knotweed and giant/wild rhubarb have been published and can be accessed on the project website at www.invasivespeciesireland.com. These guidelines provide practical advice to persons and organisations, including local authorities, on the removal and disposal of these species.
Control of invasive species is primarily the responsibility of landowners. My Department is involved in control of rhododendron and other species within National Parks. In general, however, my Department does not have the resources to provide funding for such work elsewhere.
Wildlife Conservation
Questions (274)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:274. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if adequate measures were put in place on Sliabh Ban, Doughill Forest, County Roscommon, to protect wildlife populations prior to the commencement of works on the Sliabh Ban wind farm project (details supplied), in view of the fact the frog spawning season has commenced and spawning areas have been disturbed by works undertaken to date by the wind farm developer; if she will direct the National Parks and Wildlife Service to carry out an urgent survey of all protected species on this site prior to recommencement of these works in order that mitigation measures will be implemented to protect wildlife populations and the habitats they depend upon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9627/15]
View answerWritten answers
My Department is not responsible for the enforcement of the environmental/ecological conditions attached to the planning permission for this development and has no plans at present to carry out survey work at this location.
Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data
Questions (275, 276, 280)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Question:275. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants who applied for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme categorised by year from January 2011 to the end of December 2014 in Barroughter bog, (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9632/15]
View answerMichael Fitzmaurice
Question:276. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants who received monetary compensation and turf deliveries categorised by year from January 2011 to the end of December 2014 in Barroughter bog, (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9634/15]
View answerMichael Fitzmaurice
Question:280. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of compensation payments made to applicants which her Department has sought or is now seeking to have repaid to the Department categorised by year from January 2011 to the end of December 2014 in Barroughter bog, (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9702/15]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 275, 276 and 280 together.
Some 99 applications under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation have been received and acknowledged by my Department in respect of Barroughter Bog. A total of 316 payments and 13 turf deliveries have been made in respect of the applications received. In addition, 41 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made to applicants who have signed and returned legal agreements under the scheme to my Department.
This equates to some 81 individual applicants having received payments and 3 individual applicants having received turf deliveries under the scheme thus far. In addition, 2 individuals, who have been cutting turf on the plot of another land owner/turbary right holder, have received turf deliveries.
Table 1 below shows the number of applications received in respect of Barroughter Bog broken down by year.
Table 2 below shows the number of turf deliveries and payments made in respect of Barroughter Bog broken down by year.
My Department has not to date sought repayment of any compensation paid to applicants from this site.
Table 1 - Number of applications by year received under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme in respect of Barroughter Bog
|
- |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
Applications Received |
24 |
44 |
15 |
15 |
1 |
Table 2 - Number of turf deliveries and payments made to date under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme for Barroughter Bog
|
- |
Turf Deliveries (Total of 13) |
Payments (Total of 316) |
- |
||||||
|
Total Number of Applications Received |
Year 2012 |
Year 2013 |
Year 2014 |
Year 2011 |
Year 2012 |
Year 2013 |
Year 2014 |
Year 2015 to date |
Legal Agreement Payments to date |
|
99 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
68 |
76 |
76 |
69 |
27 |
41 |
Wildlife Conservation
Questions (277)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:277. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether the burning season will be extended by a month (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9641/15]
View answerWritten answers
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.
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 commenced on 1 March.
Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments
Questions (278)
Paul Connaughton
Question:278. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a payment under the turf cutting compensation scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9672/15]
View answerWritten answers
An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question has been received by my Department and has been acknowledged. This application is being assessed and once the assessment is completed my Department will be in contact with the applicant.
Heritage Sites
Questions (279)
Brendan Griffin
Question:279. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will consider the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9677/15]
View answerWritten answers
My role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our built and natural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets.
Given the many competing priorities for funding the national heritage, resources are not available from my Department at this time to consider the purchase of the estate and lands outlined.
I understand that situated on the lands in question are the ruins of a small castle of the 15th or 16th centuries, along with two other archaeological sites - an enclosure marked on 19th century mapping of which no surface trace now survives and a fulacht fiadh. All of these monuments are protected under the National Monuments Acts and, while the tower house is a monument of significant interest, the advice available to me indicates that it would not be appropriate for acquisition to form part of the portfolio of national monuments in State care.