Written Answers Nos. 279-288
279. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department uses any system software for the auto deletion of e-mail messages; if so, her Department's guidelines on the use of such a system; and the length of time e-mails are stored before they are auto deleted. [25174/15]
View answerI am informed that my Department has not deployed software to auto-delete email messages other than in circumstances where viruses or other malicious code is detected in such messages.
280. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to bring forward to 1 August 2015 the start date to enable hedge cutting and burning of scrub to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25194/15]
View answer281. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if there is provision in the regulations determining the times for hedge cutting and burning of scrub to enable specific derogations for such work to be undertaken outside those specific periods, where farmers may need to carry out such preparatory work to enable drainage and land reclamation work to be undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25195/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together.
Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. There is provision in section 40(2) for some strict exemptions from the prohibition during the closed period.
Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. As a result, a review of section 40 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 and I announced, last year, a consultation process which provided that opportunity, with a deadline of 9 January 2015 for the receipt of submissions. The submissions received have been published on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department at http://www.npws.ie/legislation.
Following the end of the public consultation period, I established a Working Group, consisting of officials from my Department, to consider the submissions received and to report back to me with a range of proposals. I expect to announce the outcome of the review in the near future.
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.
282. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 3 of 18 June 2015, when she anticipates capital investment works in the National Archives, mentioned in her reply, to commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25214/15]
View answerI understand that the capital investment works in the National Archives, for which the Office of Public Works has lead responsibility, will commence later this year.
283. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will make the necessary investment in the National Library to ensure there is adequate fire prevention measures to protect the collections; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25215/15]
View answerThe National Library of Ireland is a statutorily independent body. While my Department provides funding to the national cultural institutions, the management and board of each institution are responsible for all operational matters, including storage, security and conservation, and I do not have a statutory function in respect of such day-to-day matters. It is the responsibility of the management and the board of each institution to determine the spending priorities for their individual institutions, based on the resources available to them and the need to ensure the appropriate conservation and protection of collections. I am, however, aware of the issues at the National Library regarding the collection.
In regard to resources, I was pleased, at the conclusion of the recent Estimates processes, not only to have ensured there would be no reduction in funding for the arts and culture areas of my Department for 2015, but also to have secured an additional €2 million in funding for the national cultural institutions. This included an increased allocation of €600,000 for the National Library in 2015. I was also pleased to recently approve a new post in the National Library for a security and facilities manager, which will be key to managing and planning the storage and security of the Library’s collection.
The overall funding secured for 2015 gives more certainty to the institutions and will allow them to continue to deliver on their core objectives, including the protection and conservation of their collections.
I will continue to keep the issue of investment in the Library and in other cultural institutions under review in the light of the resources available to my Department.
284. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht with regard to the cannons which were recently lifted from La Juliana, a ship of the Spanish Armada fleet, which sank in 1588 and which lies on the seabed off the coast of County Sligo, her views that they should be returned to County Sligo when they are in a safe condition to do so, in order to be put on public display in the county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25241/15]
View answerAt present, the State archaeological services are concentrating on delivering the highest standards of excavation and recording of the Armada wreck site of the Juliana at Streedagh, as well as arranging for the conservation of the cannons recently retrieved from the site. This work will take a considerable length of time to complete and the conservation of the cannons is the first priority for my Department and for the National Museum of Ireland.
The Director of the National Museum has indicated that he would be sympathetic to proposals to display objects from the site locally, provided that a Museum of the required standard is available to ensure the protection of the artefacts. For many decades, the National Museum has extended loans of objects of local significance, most often to county or city museums that are funded and managed by local authorities.
285. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware of the recent difficulties in relation to the cable car service to Dursey Island in County Cork; the details of any discussions her Department has had in relation to this matter; if she will provide details of proposed solutions to it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25247/15]
View answerResponsibility for operation and management of the cable car is entirely a matter for Cork County Council and I have no statutory function in the matter.
286. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding wild deer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25331/15]
View answerI am aware that deer species are increasing in range and numbers here. The Deputy will appreciate that control is normally a matter for the owner of the property on which the deer occur. On lands managed by my Department, controls may be carried out to ensure that deer populations do not reach levels that would have negative ecological consequences.
In addition, my Department, together with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, recently published a report entitled “Deer Management in Ireland – A Framework for Action”, which recommends a series of actions on deer management and conservation in a number of areas, including addressing the impact of deer in places where they are widespread.
An Irish Deer Management Forum had been established to implement the various actions listed in the report. The Forum itself comprises representatives from the main stakeholder areas, such as landowners, forestry, hunting and conservation organisations, as well as representatives from both Departments. The report can be downloaded at: http://www.npws.ie/sites/default/files/publications/pdf/Deer%20Management%20in%20Ireland%20March%202015.pdf.
287. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider setting up a Government committee to prevent the loss of national treasures, similar to a committee operating in the United Kingdom, that can place temporary export bans on the most culturally important works following auction, to allow local benefactors or museums to match the offers of foreign buyers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25339/15]
View answerMy Department has 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. My Department will also examine other alternatives for the longer term.
288. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the persons and bodies responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of archaeological monuments, the protection of which come within her remit under the various National Monuments Acts. [25430/15]
View answerResponsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of archaeological monuments that are subject to the protections of the National Monuments Acts generally rests with the monument owners. National monuments in my ownership, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, are maintained by the Office of Public Works.
