Written Answers Nos. 634 to 649
634. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps which he will take to try to secure direct flights from China to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18514/15]
View answerI would very much welcome direct air services to China and have no doubt that such a service would be of benefit to trade, tourism and other relations between both countries. The establishment of such a service, however, would be a commercial decision for the airlines.
Ireland has a bilateral air transport agreement with China since 1998. The agreement provides the legal framework for scheduled air services between the two countries. Enhanced air access to key tourism and business markets such as China has always been a key element of Ireland's aviation policy.
The Irish airports and Tourism Ireland have attractive incentive and marketing programmes available to help support new services. I am aware there have been regular discussions with Chinese airlines about the possibility of a service.
At a Government level, the regular contacts between the two countries are also used to promote the value of establishing a direct route.
635. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the safeguards in place in relation to the outstanding pension dispute with regard to the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme part of the resolution, which involves the winding up of the supplementary pension No. 2 scheme, which has not yet been finalised; and to ensure that this matter is resolved, prior to any potential sale of the airline. [18598/15]
View answerI would once again like to make it clear that resolution of the funding difficulties in the IASS and implementation of the agreed solution are primarily a matter for the Trustees, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the Pensions Authority.
I understand that the question relates to an Aer Lingus supplementary pension fund. I have no function in relation to that scheme.
636. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the recent resignations from the board of the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company; if his attention has been drawn to any legal proceedings being taken against the harbour company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18620/15]
View answerI am aware of the recent resignations from the Board of Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company. The filling of these vacancies along with vacancies that will arise on the boards of other port companies will be considered in the coming months.
Any legal proceedings taken against any port company is an operational matter for that company.
637. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding grant aid assistance in respect of a rowing club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18638/15]
View answerI can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2015 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted.
I expect to announce allocations later this year.
638. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding an application for a sports grant in respect of a sportsfield development (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18648/15]
View answerThe organisation referred to by the Deputy applied for a grant under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme.
All applicants were informed of the outcome of the assessment of their application, including details of why applications were deemed to be invalid. In this instance the club was emailed on the 19 July 2014 with the exact details of the documentation that was missing from their application. The email was very clear in this regard. If the club requires any further information, the designated club contact should email or telephone the Department.
639. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the instruction he has provided to Iarnród Éireann to protect the land it holds along disused railway lines, and in particular if he has issued an instruction to preserve the integrity of the disused railway lines from Athenry in County Galway to Colooney in County Sligo, from Rathkeale in County Limerick to Tralee in County Kerry, and from Navan in County Meath to Kingscourt in County Cavan, and to prevent encroachment onto State lands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18668/15]
View answerWhile I have not given any instruction to Irish Rail to protect the lands it holds along disused railway lines, I understand that Irish Rail is actively identifying encroachments on closed lines with a view to taking appropriate action, where necessary. For example, on the Athenry to Collooney line, clearance works have been programmed in order to identify definitive encroachments and then to establish a mechanism to ensure compliance.
640. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in view of the internationally recognised importance of Bull Island as a nature reserve and that it has the most designations for any site in the Republic, including as a United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organisation-designated biosphere reserve, as a national nature reserve, as a special protection area under the European Union birds directive, and as a special area of conservation under the European Union habitats directive, and in view of the ongoing threat to its wildlife from persons and unleashed dogs, if she will arrange for funds to be made available for the employment of a wildlife ranger and dog warden, exclusively for the island. [18139/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my earlier replies in this matter.
Bull Island is monitored regularly by officers from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. There are no plans currently to deploy additional staff resources to the site. My officials will, of course, continue to support the main landowner, Dublin City Council, which is working to raise awareness and address management issues generally at the site.
641. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding a judicial review decision that was granted against the National Parks and Wildlife Service in relation to a matter (details supplied); if her Department has made efforts to resolve outstanding issues; the implications for the other boating operator; if her Department will now resolve the other boating operator's outstanding concerns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18105/15]
View answerAs the matter is subject to legal proceedings, I am not in a position to comment.
642. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of agencies, quangos or other bodies within her Department, 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. [18428/15]
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 human resources services by my Department to the National Museum of Ireland, thus eliminating 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 in turn 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. In addition, legislation is being prepared to update corporate governance in the Galleries, to reduce the numbers on their boards and provide for pro bono service and gender equality on each board.
I am satisfied that this programme of change has made a significant contribution to achieving the overall €20 million savings target set out in the Public Service Reform Plan, while at the same time enhancing the operations of the bodies concerned.
643. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to introduce the portable antiquities scheme in order for constructive metal detecting to complement regular archaeological work, reduce the heritage budget and increase archaeological knowledge, in view of the fact that archaeologists concede that items left in the soil will, over time, degrade and in the case of plough soil will be completely fragmented and destroyed. [18456/15]
View answerMeasures to regulate the use of metal detectors were introduced in the National Monuments Act (Amendment) 1987 to protect our archaeological heritage from the irreparable damage and loss which results from indiscriminate use of metal detectors to search for archaeological objects. The 1987 Act sets out the statutory provisions in relation to the general use of metal detectors to search for archaeological objects on any lands and the particular requirements applying to their use or possession on protected monuments and archaeological sites.
My Department, in co-operation with the National Museum of Ireland, has published guidelines setting out advice to the public on use of detection devices and their impact on our archaeological heritage. The guidelines are available on my Department’s website and are also available in museums, libraries, local authority offices, etc. The guidelines explain both the provisions of the relevant legislation and the reasons why it was enacted in 1987. The 1987 Act does not prohibit the use of metal detectors for archaeological purposes, rather it ensures that such use takes place in a regulated manner, subject to appropriate safeguards.
I am satisfied that the current legislation is both reasonable and proportionate and I have no proposals to introduce the type of scheme envisaged by the Deputy.
644. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the State boards, bodies or committees on which vacancies currently exist, or on which vacancies are anticipated to arise, up to and including 1 January 2016; the number of vacancies in each case; when the vacancy arose or will arise; if the vacancy relates to a chair or a member; if she will provide details of the appointment process in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18473/15]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the table below.
Appointments to State boards under the aegis of my Department are carried out using the procedures outlined in the Revised Model for Ministerial Appointments, announced last September by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. It should be noted, however, that appointments to the boards of Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency are made by the North-South Ministerial Council arising from nominations on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction and therefore they are not subject to the above process.
|
State Board/Body |
Number of current vacancies |
Vacancies to arise before end 2015 |
Date expected future vacancy will occur |
Type of Vacancy (Chair or Ordinary Member) |
|
National Library of Ireland |
1 |
9 |
5 in August 2015 4 in September 2015 |
Current vacancy = Chairman Future vacancies = 9 Ordinary Members |
|
National Gallery of Ireland |
4 |
0 |
N/A |
4 Ordinary Members |
|
Heritage Council |
0 |
4 |
October 2015 |
4 Ordinary Members |
|
IMMA |
0 |
1 |
July 2015 |
1 Chairman |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
0 |
9 |
October 2015 |
1 Chairman 8 Ordinary Members |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
1 |
0 |
N/A |
1 Ordinary Member |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
1 |
15 |
December 2015 |
Current vacancy = Ordinary Member Future vacancies = 1 Chair 1 Vice Chair 13 Ordinary Members |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
0 |
8 |
December 2015 |
1 Chair 1 Vice Chair 6 Ordinary Members |
645. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will review funding for island development offices (details supplied). [18496/15]
View answerI am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that agreement has been reached between my Department and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that will ensure that the island organisations concerned will be funded at the same level in 2015 as they were in 2014.
646. Deputy Anne Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the recent announcement that the Alfred Beit Foundation is to auction valuable artwork; if this artwork is part of the works left by the Beits, in trust for the cultural benefit of the Irish State; if other measures have been explored by her Department to fund necessary works at Russborough House in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18653/15]
View answerThe sale of the artwork referred to in the Question is a matter for the Beit Foundation, which owns and operates Russborough House, and my Department has no role in approving such a sale. The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, has provided just over €2.1 million since 2002 for works to Russborough House. In 2005, the Heritage Council published the Conservation Plan for Russborough House as a first step in providing a framework and vision for the estate into the future. My Department, through the Local Authority Conservation Grants Scheme, also provided €8,000 to fund conservation works at Russborough House in 2010.
As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Nonetheless, I keep the competing priorities regarding the preservation and enhancement of the national heritage under on-going review, having regard to the resources available to my Department.
647. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding an alleged breach of the Wildlife Acts in February 2014 (details supplied) in Donabate in County Dublin; and if she will instruct the National Parks and Wildlife Service to report on the status of the complaint made. [18699/15]
View answer648. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the transformer which was damaged, allegedly by a person (details supplied) in Donabate in County Dublin, in February 2015; and if she will instruct the Electricity Supply Board to report on the repair works required, including costs. [18700/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.
All birds, including the species referred to by the Deputy, are protected under the Wildlife Acts and the EU Birds Directive. However, the hunting of certain game birds, such as the species in question, is allowed at certain times of the year under the Open Seasons Order for Wild Birds. In addition, the shooting of that species is allowed under an annual Declaration made under the European Communities (Wildlife Act, 1976) (Amendment) Regulations 1986 (SI No 254 of 1986), which permits the capture or killing of certain birds to prevent serious damage to arable crops or to public health.
My Department is aware of allegations of illegal hunting last year in the area referred to by the Deputy. I understand that Final County Council, An Garda Síochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department have had discussions to consider this matter. I have no information regarding alleged damage to a transformer.
649. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will instruct the National Parks and Wildlife Service to report on the status of the request to remove an area of the Broadmeadow Estuary in Donabate in County Dublin from the Annual Foreshore Licence issued under the Wildlife Acts. [18701/15]
View answerUnder Section 30 of the Wildlife Act 1976 as amended, I may grant permission to "hunt protected wild animals and wild birds on or over foreshore belonging to the State or on or over land belonging to the State and which is either covered by any inland waters or comprised in the lakeshore accretion from any lake, or accretion from the sea where such land is owned by the State". My Department has received a request from a number of local hunting organisations to exclude hunting of wildfowl in an area of the Broadmeadow Estuary under Foreshore Licences. A decision will be made on the application as soon as possible.
