Written Answers Nos. 280-289
281. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aon obair dhreideála a dhéanamh ag céibh Inis Oírr de bharr an mhéid gainimh atá cruinnithe ann; an bhfuil sé i gceist aici a iarraidh ar Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe a chinntiú go bhfanfaidh an cead pleanála don síneadh ar an gcéibh in áit go dtí go dtiocfaidh an chéad rialtas eile isteach; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [9703/15]
View answerIs cúram do Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe Cé Inis Oírr agus aon dreideáil a bheadh le déanamh uirthi. Tuigtear do mo Roinnse ón gComhairle Contae nach bhfuil aon ghá le síneadh a lorg don chead pleanála ós rud é nach rachaidh an cead atá tugtha as feidhm ach amháin sa chás go dtagann athrú ar na coinníollacha timpeallachta.
282. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sí sásta leis an mbainistiú atá á dhéanamh ag Údarás na Gaeltachta ar na hoisrí agus ar na muiríní i gCuan Chill Chiaráin agus i gCuan na Beirtrí Buí; an bhfuil sé i gceist athnuachan a dhéanamh ar an léas atá ag an gcomharchumann áitiúil ar na hacmhainní sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [9704/15]
View answerTuigim ó Údarás na Gaeltachta gurb iad Comharchumann Sliogéisc Chonamara Teo. atá i mbun na mbeirtreach atá luaite ag an Teachta a bhainistiú agus a fhorbairt. Is togra pobail é seo a bunaíodh in 1984 agus atá comhdhéanta d’iascairí agus d’fheirmeoirí páirtaimseartha áitiúla. Mar thoradh ar an dea-bhainistíocht atá á déanamh ag an gComharchumann ar na beirtreacha seo, tuigim fosta go bhfuil na baill ag saothrú ioncaim ón acmhainn seo.
Tá curtha in iúl ag an Údarás go bhfuil tacaíocht shuntasach tugtha acu don Chomharchumann thar na blianta chun cuidiú leis na hiarrachtaí forbartha ar na beirtreacha seo. Sa bhreis air sin, tuigtear dom gur cheadaigh an tÚdarás ceadúnas nua don Chomharchumann sa bhliain 2013 agus go mairfidh an ceadúnas sin ar feadh tréimhse 9 mbliana agus 9 mí.
283. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad ionad atá in úsáid d’imeachtaí Coláiste Gaeilge atá scrúdaithe ag a Roinn le bliain anuas; cén líon díobh sin a gcaithfear obair riachtanach a dhéanamh orthu roimh an samhradh le bheith feiliúnach do na Coláistí Gaeilge; cén cúnamh atá i gceist ag a Roinn a chur ar fáil don obair riachtanach seo; cén srian a chuirfidh na cinntí atá déanta ag a Roinn ar líon na scoláirí a bheidh in ann freastal ar na Coláistí Gaeilge i mbliana; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [9705/15]
View answerFaoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge, tugann oifigigh mo Roinne cuairt ar gach coláiste Gaeilge, a mbíonn cúrsa aitheanta á reáchtáil acu sa Ghaeltacht, le linn na gcúrsaí sin a bheith ar siúl. Le linn na gcuairteanna sin, déantar scrúdú ar nithe éagsúla, lena n-áirítear caighdeán na cóiríochta. Tá an cleachtadh sin seanbhunaithe. Sa chás go bhfuil coláiste nua ag lorg aitheantais nó go bhfuil coláiste ag iarraidh cead mo Roinne chun ionad eile a úsáid, déantar na hionaid sin a scrúdú sula dtugtar aitheantas don choláiste.
Bhí 52 coláiste Gaeilge, a raibh aitheantas mo Roinne acu faoin scéim, ag feidhmiú in 2014. Ag deireadh na bliana sin, iarradh ar na coláistí sa Ghaeltacht eolas a chur ar fáil faoi na hionaid a bheadh in úsáid acu do chúrsaí 2015. Ó thús na bliana seo, tá cuairteanna tugtha ag innealtóir mo Roinne ar 46 de na hionaid sin agus tá sé beartaithe go dtabharfar cuairt ar na hionaid eile chomh luath agus is féidir. Cé go bhfuil ceisteanna ann faoi roinnt ionaid, meastar gur féidir a bhformhór a réiteach. Ní miste a nótáil go raibh an cur chuige seo aontaithe ag mo Roinn le Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh (CONCOS) roimh ré.
Sa chás go bhfuil oibreacha riachtanacha le déanamh ar ionaid atá in úsáid ag na coláistí le cinntiú go bhfuil siad sábháilte, is féidir iarratas a dhéanamh chuig mo Roinn faoin Scéim Áiseanna Pobail agus Teanga. Sa chás go meastar go bhfuil ionad neamhoiriúnach ar fad in úsáid ag coláiste Gaeilge, déanfaidh mo Roinn gach iarracht teacht ar shocrú eile leis an gcoláiste, más féidir. É sin ráite, tá mé dóchasach go mbeidh mo Roinn ábalta na hionaid a bhí in úsáid ag na coláistí anuraidh a cheadú arís i mbliana. Tá mé ag súil go mbeidh aon oibreacha riachtanacha déanta roimh thús na gcúrsaí in 2015 le comhoibriú na gcoláistí Gaeilge agus na gcoistí áitiúla a chuireann ionaid ar fáil do na coláistí. Mar thoradh ar an gcur chuige seo, tá súil agam nach mbeidh aon srian curtha ar líon na scoláirí a bheidh in ann freastal ar na coláistí Gaeilge i mbliana.
284. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants who have applied for relocation, and the number of applicants who have been successfully relocated, from Barroughter bog (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9706/15]
View answer99 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 and my Department is in discussions at present with a number of turf cutters who have expressed an interest in relocating to one of those.
285. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of plot owners who were paid money for turf plots in Barroughter bog (details supplied) in County Galway under schemes other than the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme; the amounts paid to each recipient in such instances categorised by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9715/15]
View answerCompensation has been paid under a number of schemes administered by my Department in respect of raised bog habitat nominated for designation as special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive, including Barroughter Bog.
In 1999, a voluntary bog purchase scheme was introduced under which domestic turf cutters could sell their plots at agreed rates. These rates were subsequently increased in 2004, following agreement with the farming organisations under the Partnership talks.
In May 2010, the then Government announced the closure of the voluntary bog purchase scheme to new applicants. However, my Department is continuing to process applications, in respect of special areas of conservation, received before this date.
A total of €441,223 was paid to 25 applicants from Barroughter Bog under this scheme between 2000 and 2014.
Details of the voluntary bog purchase scheme cases from Barroughter Bog by year are set out in the table below.
In May 2010, an interim compensation payment scheme was established. This provided interim funding to those who had been cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999. 13 applicants from Barroughter Bog each received a payment of €1,000 in respect of 2010 during that year under this scheme. One further applicant from Barroughter Bog received a payment of €1,000 in 2011 under this scheme in respect of 2010.
This scheme has been replaced by the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme established in 2011.
Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme
|
Applicant |
Total Paid |
Year |
Total Paid per year |
|
CASE 1 |
€4,158 |
2000 |
€11,492 |
|
CASE 2 |
€7,334 |
2000 |
|
|
CASE 3 |
€131,947 |
2005 |
€131,947 |
|
CASE 1* |
€7,355 |
2006 |
€16,687 |
|
CASE 2* |
€9,332 |
2006 |
|
|
CASE 4 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
€117,996 |
|
CASE 5 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 6 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 7 |
€14,815 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 8 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 9 |
€37,038 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 10 |
€17,058 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 11 |
€9,817 |
2007 |
|
|
CASE 12 |
€16,803 |
2008 |
€84,310 |
|
CASE 13 |
€13,037 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 14 |
€18,049 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 15 |
€15,418 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 16 |
€11,580 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 17 |
€9,423 |
2008 |
|
|
CASE 18 |
€1,267 |
2009 |
€23,095 |
|
CASE 19 |
€12,536 |
2009 |
|
|
CASE 20 |
€9,292 |
2009 |
|
|
CASE 21 |
€9,817 |
2010 |
€37,862 |
|
CASE 22 |
€12,377 |
2010 |
|
|
CASE 23 |
€15,668 |
2010 |
|
|
CASE 24 |
€9,817 |
2011 |
€9,817 |
|
CASE 25 |
€8,017 |
2014 |
€8,017 |
*Both Case 1 and 2 had been paid at the initial purchase rates under this scheme. Following discussions with the farming organisations in 2004 which led to higher purchase rates being introduced, it was agreed that applicants such as these would receive a top-up payment to bring their payments into line with payments being made at the new purchase rates.
286. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will convene a forum to deal with issues in Killarney National Park (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9791/15]
View answerI understand that a signatory to the document referred to by the Deputy has recently written to my Department. My officials are currently considering the matters raised within the context of my Department’s management of Killarney National Park and its amenities.
287. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applicants who did not meet the criteria of the turf cutting cessation scheme, that is, were not cutting turf on their plots in any of the five reference years, or where their plots are cut out and have no raised bog remaining, categorised by year from January 2011 to the end of December 2014, in an area (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9792/15]
View answerThe qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, administered by my Department, are that:
- The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the raised bog special areas of conservation – ownership or turbary right;
- The claimant must have been the owner or entitled to exercise turbary rights on the land in question on 25 May 2010;
- The turbary on the site must not be exhausted;
- The claimant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
I am advised that, at this stage, one applicant from the raised bog special area of conservation referred to in the Deputy’s Question has been informed by my Department in 2015 that she does not fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. This applicant has been provided with the opportunity to seek a Departmental review of this decision.
While it may be anticipated that there will be further instances where applicants will be informed that they do not fulfil the qualifying criteria, current priority is being given to providing compensation to those who clearly appear to fulfil the criteria on the basis of the information they have provided. In addition, establishing ownership rights is particularly complex and my Department is working with owners of land and turbary right holders to assist them in this regard.
A number of applicants seeking compensation in respect of the raised bog special area of conservation referred to in the Deputy’s Question are not qualified as the areas on which they have been cutting turf are not within the designated site.
288. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of turf plots on which multiple compensation payments were made and the specific amounts paid for each such multiple plot, categorised by year from January 2011 to the end of December 2014, in an area (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9793/15]
View answerIn ten cases relating to the raised bog special area of compensation referred to in the Deputy’s Question, compensation has been paid under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme to the land owner/turbary right holder and to another applicant who has been cutting turf on the same bog plot. One applicant has received turf deliveries and turf has also been delivered to 2 individuals who have been cutting turf on the same bog plot.
Details of the amounts paid and of the quantity of turf delivered in each case by year are set out in Table 1 below.
Table 1 Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme
Compensation made to Land Owner or Turbary Right Holder Applicants and to Other Applicants on the same bog plots from 2011 to 2014
|
Case Number |
Paid in 2011 |
Turf 2011 |
Paid in 2012 |
Turf 2012 |
Paid in 2013 |
Turf 2013 |
Paid in 2014 |
Turf 2014 |
Legal Agreement Payments to date |
|
Case 1 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
0 |
- |
0 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
€500 |
|
Case 2 (Cutting on Case 1's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
€500 |
|
Case 3 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
0 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 4 Cutting on Case 3's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
0 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 5 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 6 (Cutting on Case 5's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
€500 |
|
Case 7 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder |
0 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 8 (Cutting on Case 7's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 9 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 10 (Cutting on Case 9's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 11 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
€500 |
|
Case 12 (Cutting on Case 11's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 13 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
0 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
€500 |
|
Case 14 (Cutting on Case 13's plot) |
0 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
€500 |
|
Case 15 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 16 (Cutting on Case 15's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 17 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 18 (Cutting on Case 17's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 19 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 20 (Cutting on Case 19's plot) |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,500 |
- |
€1,518 |
- |
€1,521 |
- |
0 |
|
Case 21 (Owner/Turbary Right Holder) |
- |
0 |
- |
15 Tonnes |
- |
15 Tonnes |
- |
15 Tonnes |
0 |
|
Case 22 (Cutting on Case 21's plot) |
- |
0 |
- |
10 Tonnes |
- |
10 Tonnes |
- |
10 Tonnes |
0 |
|
Case 23 (Cutting on Case 21's plot) |
- |
0 |
- |
5 Tonnes |
- |
5 Tonnes |
- |
5 Tonnes |
0 |
289. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 258 of 26 February 2015, the total amount of national funding that has been committed to the project. [9819/15]
View answerAs set out in my reply to the Deputy's Question no. 1747 on 17th September 2014, a grant of €10 million to Cork City Council was approved in 2013 to assist in the provision of a Multifunctional Events Centre in Cork City.
