Written Answers Nos. 246-256
246. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grants are available for a person wishing to provide traditional music lessons in that person's home within the Gaeltacht area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18907/15]
View answerMy Department has no scheme which provides assistance for persons wishing to provide traditional music lessons in their home.
247. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Irish-based science and Irish scientific egg-laying data used to inform the changes made to the burning dates as per section 40 of the Wildlife Amendment Act 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18922/15]
View answerSection 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 prohibited the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 15 April to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. The start of the closed period was extended under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 to 1 March in recognition of the generally accepted nesting and breeding season in order to afford further protection to wild birds. The change in dates would have been informed by scientific advice at the time but unfortunately there is no record in my Department of the data requested by the Deputy. 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 of 9 January 2015 for the receipt of submissions.
I have established a Working Group, consisting of officials from my Department, to consider all submissions received by the deadline and to report back to me with a range of proposals.
Any changes to the closed period for cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation as provided for in section 40 of the Wildlife Acts would require amending legislation.
248. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide the number of management plans for Natura 2000 sites listing blanket bog, dry heath, wet heath and hen harriers as qualifying interests that have been published for Irish uplands and have been submitted to and approved by the European Union Commission; if she will state which plan has been in draft form for the longest period of time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18923/15]
View answerMy Department’s focus in recent years has been on the production of detailed, site-specific conservation objectives for the Natura 2000 network and, to date, 72 have been published for Special Areas of Conservation and 37 for Special Protection Areas. These are available on http://www.npws.ie/protectedsites/. In addition, my Department is currently preparing a Threat Response Plan for the Hen Harrier, a species for which there are 6 Special Protection Areas, which include heathland and bog habitats.
249. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her obligations to protect structures of architectural heritage from falling into a state of endangerment in contravention of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2010; the steps her Department will take to ensure that the owner occupier operates in compliance with the Planning and Development Acts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18948/15]
View answerMy role, as Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural 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. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including relevant structures on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
There are also a number of ways in which my Department is made aware of possible risk to protected structures, sites or monuments, one of these being the receipt of applications for funding for their repair, conservation, preservation or safeguarding.
In that regard, funding for the protection of heritage sites and buildings continues to be provided by my Department, from within available resources, through schemes that are either directly administered, or delivered through local authorities or through the Heritage Council. I recently announced the awarding of €624,000 in funding under the Structures at Risk Fund 2015, to enable conservation works to 28 heritage structures throughout the country, in both private and public ownership, deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration and which are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended.
250. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expenditure on consultancy by her Department; the number of consultants engaged by her Department in the years 2011 to 2014; the names of the consultancy companies awarded contracts; and the steps which have been taken to reduce expenditure and reliance on consultants by her Department in these years and for the future. [18959/15]
View answerThe Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was established on 2 June 2011. The following table lists the consultants engaged by my Department from that date in 2011 to 2014, together with the associated payments made from my Department's Administrative Budget. Spending on consultants is kept to a minimum and fell over the period 2012 to 2014. Where consultants are engaged, value for money is a key consideration in deciding where contracts are awarded. For completeness, I should add that contracts for the provision of services are not included. My Department also commissions engineering or environmental experts from time to time to provide technical reports on specific issues as required. While the providers of these services are consultant engineers, environmental consultants or may describe themselves in other such terms, their work is not classified as "consultancy services and policy reviews" and is not funded from my Department's Administrative Budget.
|
Company |
Amount paid |
|
2011 |
|
|
Dr Evelyn Moorkens |
€1,929 |
|
Avia Solutions |
€6,300 |
|
2012 |
|
|
Bonnar Keenlyside |
€10,959 |
|
University of Birmingham |
€28,378 |
|
2013 |
|
|
Dorgan Associates |
€28,783 |
|
Northpoint Aviation Services Ltd |
€1,393 |
|
2014 |
|
|
Dorgan Associates |
€3,382 |
|
Rits Group |
€2,460 |
251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position and timeframe regarding the completion of works, the opening to the public and the recruitment of staff at Killarney House in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19015/15]
View answerThe final phase of works to the House began in early January 2014 and the works, including the new extension, are now substantially complete. Work is also continuing apace with the landscaping to the grounds and ornamental gardens. The contract for the interpretation phase is advancing. Staffing requirements for both Killarney National Park and Killarney House remain the subject of consideration in light of my Department’s overall business needs and the approved pay framework for 2015. As the final phase of restoration, refurbishment and new works at Killarney House is currently ongoing, the nature and extent of posts required, including their budgetary implications, have yet to be finally determined. I can confirm, however, that funding has been made available to appoint a horticultural assistant to assist with landscape works to the grounds and ornamental gardens of Killarney House.
I expect that the various elements of works will be completed at different stages during the year and it is intended that these amenities will be open to the public as soon as possible thereafter.
252. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the dates for gorse burning will be changed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19016/15]
View answerSection 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 of 9 January 2015 for the receipt of submissions.
I have established a Working Group, consisting of officials from my Department, to consider all submissions received by the deadline and to report back to me with a range of proposals.
Any changes to the closed period for cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation as provided for in section 40 of the Wildlife Acts would require amending legislation.
253. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to minimise the risk to Killarney National Park in County Kerry from the threat of wild fires; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19017/15]
View answerSignificant environmental damage is caused by illegal burning. This issue has become more acute in recent years, as evidenced by the recent spate of fires in various parts of the country, including those in Co. Kerry. Even planned and/or "controlled" burning can get out of hand very quickly, so it is critically important that every member of society realises the damage that can be caused to property and, indeed, the health and welfare of family, neighbours and the wider community, and the responding emergency services. 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. Burning of vegetation on uncultivated land is prohibited during these dates. My Department will continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture and the Garda Síochána, as appropriate, to investigate the cause(s) of recent wild fires which have affected Killarney National Park and, where evidence is forthcoming, to pursue appropriate enforcement under the Wildlife Act or other legislation.
My Department is one of a number of agencies represented on the Inter-Agency Gorse Fire Group that explores issues surrounding wild fires. An Garda Síochána is also represented on the Group and has responsibility in leading any potential criminal investigations into wild fires. My Department cooperates fully with any Garda investigations and any other investigations that may be initiated by other statutory bodies.
My Department is exploring how best to utilise natural features within the landscape of Killarney National Park– such as streams, rivers, tracks and trails – to act as “natural fire breaks” in helping to minimise the risk of wild fires within the Park. Targeted and minimal on-site work – including the cutting back of combustible material, (furze, heathers, over-grown grassland areas) – to create these “natural fire breaks” should help to control the spread of wild fires, without impacting significantly on habitats (including “qualifying interests” in the Special Area of Conservation). A balance will have to be achieved between works necessary/desirable to assist in the control of wild fires within designated areas (such as SACs, SPAs and NHAs.) on the one hand, and the sustainable conservation and protection of the qualifying interests within such designated sites.
I would appeal to all members of the public to be more responsible about actions they take and to be mindful of the potential damage to life, private property and public property that can be caused by carelessly setting fires.
254. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will confirm that in advance of the recent heavy rains all the gates and boards at Meelick weir in County Offaly were opened to maximise the flow of water over the weir wall; when these actions were taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19043/15]
View answerI have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the sluices and weir boards at Meelick Weir were opened by Waterways Ireland to maximise the flow of water over the weir wall in accordance with the operating procedure as set out in the “Jacob's Review of the Shannon Catchment Based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study.” I have also been informed by Waterways Ireland that the final three sluices at Meelick Weir were opened at 9:55 am on Sunday 3rd May 2015.
255. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason Sherkin Island in County Cork was not designated as chough habitat; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19101/15]
View answer256. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason Dursey Island in County Cork was not designated as chough habitat; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19102/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.
Much of Dursey Island, Co. Cork, was designated as part of the Beara Peninsula Special Protection Area (SPA), under the EU Birds Directive. The Chough was one of the species for which the site was chosen. Sherkin Island was not designated as an SPA.
The Chough SPA network includes breeding cliffs and adjacent cliff top feeding areas; roosts; and other key feeding areas, such as sand dunes and other areas regularly used by high numbers of Chough. The identification of the most suitable sites and their boundaries for SPA designation purposes was largely based on the last national breeding Chough survey in 2002-03 and a 3-year research project. The Chough SPA network accounted then for approximately 63% of the national population and was considered fully adequate to meet Ireland’s obligations under the Birds Directive.
The number of choughs recorded on Sherkin during the survey was very low and, for that reason, designation was not considered necessary.
