Written Answers Nos. 263-272
263. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that a lake (details supplied) in County Kerry will be stocked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24320/15]
View answerThe South Western River Basin (SWRB) managed community Rainbow Trout fisheries programme is a day to day operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland and I have no direct role in this. I am advised by (IFI) that the programme was reviewed and revised in line with the need to optimise efficiencies in terms of costs and management resources.
I understand that the permit sales from these fisheries do not cover the operational costs and IFI subsidises the entire programme for broad community benefit. In that context, IFI have had to prioritise focussing available resources on keeping four lakes (Barfinnihy, Shepperton, Bofinne, and Fada) in the SWRB open in 2015.
I would be happy to arrange for IFI to provide a more detailed briefing for the Deputy.
264. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he or his predecessor met a person (details supplied) concerning media mergers; if the meeting was requested by this person, or instigated by his Department; the issues discussed at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24368/15]
View answer265. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he or his predecessor met a person (details supplied) concerning media mergers; if the meeting was requested by this person, or instigated by his Department; the issues discussed at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24369/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 264 and 265 together.
As is already on the record of the Dáil, my predecessor Deputy Pat Rabbitte T.D. met with Mr. Denis O'Brien in the Department on 27 April 2012. Also present at the meeting were Minister Rabbitte's special advisor and the then Secretary General. The meeting was requested by Communicorp to discuss the media merger provisions of the Consumer Protection and Competition Bill. I have not met with Mr. O’Brien. Neither myself nor my predecessor met with Mr. Leslie Buckley.
266. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views that the induction test for hackney drivers is too strict, noting that the number of active licences has fallen by 50% since 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24230/15]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including responsibility for administering the SPSV Entry Test, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
267. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 who operated a small public service vehicle licence up until 2012 when the vehicle was written off in an accident, and who has been driving a rental taxi since 2014, is unable to reactivate the former taxi plate which the person has used for four years without any problems now that the person has raised the money to replace the former vehicle. [24238/15]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the issue of SPSV licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
268. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware that the management of the National University of Ireland has decided to close the swimming pool on the south campus in Maynooth University on 31 August 2015; that the north Kildare area is already critically under-served with regard to public swimming pool access; if the imminent closure of the university pool would have a bearing on the decision to fund a new public pool in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24346/15]
View answerUnder the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. My priority now is the completion of the projects in the existing Programme. No decision has been taken on any new round of the Programme. If the Programme re-opens it would be open to each Local Authority, including Kildare County Council, to submit an application under the terms that would apply at that time.
269. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will share the results of the review of the export licensing system for artworks; if she is considering proposals to amend the licensing system to afford the National Gallery greater powers to intervene, when it is proposed that artworks of significant National importance be disposed of abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24086/15]
View answer278. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which her Department monitors the sale, or potential sale, of paintings or objets d’art which may be deemed to be important in the context of our National heritage; if any plans have been put in place to retain such works here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24443/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 278 together.
Licences to export cultural goods/objects from Ireland to destinations within the European Union are issued by the relevant National Cultural Institution and/or my Department, depending on the nature of the cultural object, document or painting involved. Applications for licences to export paintings and drawings within the European Union are considered having regard to the provisions of the Documents and Pictures (Regulations of Export) Act, 1945. My Department is the competent authority under European Union legislation for the issue of licences to export cultural goods /objects to destinations outside the European Union.
My Department had commenced an examination of the issues involved in the commencement of certain provisions in the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 in relation to the export licensing system. I propose to bring this examination to a conclusion shortly.
270. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide, in tabular form, a list of all the commercial operators who have been provided with monetary compensation and-or an alternative relocation bog out of public funds, as a result of the cessation of commercial operations on bogland sites designated under European and Irish legislation; if he will include, in each individual case, the site code of the designated site; the year the site was designated; the designation type; the year commercial operations ceased; the year payment was made; the amount of bog being surrendered on the site; the total figure for monetary compensation paid; the figure for compensation paid per acre; the area of alternative relocation bog provided; the total cost to the State of each individual agreement, plus the overall cost to the State for the cessation of all commercial operations on designated bogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24292/15]
View answer271. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will state for the record of Dáil Éireann that all persons, individual or corporate, who were cutting turf or extracting peat commercially on those bogs that are designated as sites of community importance, have received full compensation and-or relocation to another bog in respect of the losses imposed upon them and their enterprises by the designation of the bogs on which they were operating as being of special community importance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24313/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together.
In February 1999, compensation arrangements for industrial and commercial operators affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bogs, which were proposed as special areas of conservation, were announced. These compensation arrangements become applicable to additional sites over time.
Since then, applications for compensation from affected industrial and commercial operators have been made to and assessed by my Department. Compensation has been paid by my Department on the basis of proven actual losses incurred as a result of the cessation of industrial and commercial turf extraction on protected sites.
There is no standard per acre rate of payment of compensation in respect of these applications. Compensation is paid on the basis of the assessment in each individual case.
My Department holds no records of any industrial and commercial operators being compensated by relocation to a non-designated bog.
The table below sets out the details of payments made, including legal fees, on foot of applications for compensation from industrial and commercial operators affected by the cessation of turf cutting on protected sites. The total amount paid in compensation amounts to €7,613,807.
Officials from my Department will need to examine each individual file with a view to ascertaining the year each applicant ceased operations. The information derived from this exercise will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
|
- |
Candidate SAC or NHA |
SITE CODE |
SITE NAME |
Year site nominated for designation as an SAC or NHA |
Year in which compensation was paid |
Area of land covered by the application for compensation (Ha) |
Amount of compensation paid |
|
Case 1 |
Raised Bog cSAC |
000248 |
Cloonmoylan Bog cSAC |
1997 |
2011 |
16.9334 |
€157,532 |
|
Case 2 |
Blanket Bog cSAC |
002006 |
Ox Mountains Bog cSAC |
1997 |
2004 |
32.37 |
€143,787 |
|
Case 3 |
Raised Bog cSAC |
001818 |
Lough Forbes Complex cSAC |
1997 |
2006 |
18.6122 |
€442,466 |
|
Case 4 |
Raised Bog cSAC |
000641 |
Ballyduff/Clonfinane Bog cSAC |
1997 |
2003 |
15.7327 |
€447,666 |
|
Case 5 |
Raised Bog NHA |
001448 |
Forthill Bog NHA |
2002 |
2004 |
7.4364 |
€188,289 |
|
Case 6 |
Raised Bog NHA |
000677 |
Cloncrow Bog (New Forest) NHA |
2002 |
2004 |
37.2324 |
€443,462 |
|
Case 7 |
Raised Bog NHA |
000640 |
Arragh More Bog NHA |
2002 |
2011 |
35.6136 |
€720,327 |
|
Case 8 |
Raised Bog cSAC NHA |
002331 & 001725 |
Mouds Bog cSAC & Nure Bog NHA |
2002 |
2012 |
142 |
€2,687,236 |
|
Case 9 |
Raised Bog NHA |
000937 |
Scohaboy Bog NHA |
2002 |
2009 |
5.57 |
€418,705 |
|
Case 10 |
Raised Bog NHA |
000937 |
Scohaboy Bog NHA |
2002 |
2013 |
46.3 |
€855,000 |
|
Case 11 |
Raised Bog cSAC |
002331 |
Mouds Bog cSAC |
2002 |
2010 |
16.3 |
€605,270 |
|
Case 12 |
Raised Bog cSAC |
002331 |
Mouds Bog cSAC |
2002 |
2007 |
10.2134 |
€140,234 |
|
Case 13 |
Raised Bog cSAC |
000391 |
Ballynafagh Bog cSAC |
1997 |
2008 |
1.8490 |
€26,200 |
|
Case 14 |
Raised Bog NHA |
000642 |
Ballymacegan Bog NHA |
2002 |
2010 |
22.337 |
€337,633 |
|
€7,613,807 |
272. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she or her predecessors received a request from the Beit Foundation for assistance in the upkeep of Russborough House in Blessington in County Wicklow; if so, the details of same; and the action that was taken. [24355/15]
View answerI am aware that the Beit Foundation met with my predecessor, where the financial challenges facing the Foundation were outlined.
In terms of financial supports, the Heritage Council, which my Department funds, has provided since 2002 just over €2.1 million 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 funded conservation works at Russborough House with €8,000 in 2010.
