Written Answers Nos. 1694-1706
1694. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to advertise publicly for the position of chairman of the Irish Film Board; if so, when she intends to do this; the qualifications required for the position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31444/15]
View answer1701. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she intends to advertise the position for chairman of the Irish Film Board on Stateboards.ie; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31651/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1694 and 1701 together.
In accordance with Government policy, my Department, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), advertises board vacancies on www.stateboards.ie.
My Department is currently working with PAS to commence the process to identify suitable candidates for an appointment of an ordinary member to the board of the Irish Film Board. Under the Irish Film Board Acts, the board can consist of a maximum of 7 members, including the Chair, and the Minister may appoint a member of the board to be Chair. Once a new ordinary member of the board has been appointed, I intend to appoint a Chair from among the full complement of 7 members. The appointment process, including the identification of relevant criteria for appointment to the board, will be in line with the Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards, which can be viewed on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website at www.per.gov.ie.
1695. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the Access 11 funding granted for Tullamore Arts Centre in 2007 is still available to the project; if a commitment to increase this sum was given to Tullamore Arts Centre or Offaly County Council in recent months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31447/15]
View answerIn 2007, a capital grant of €2 million was approved in principle for Tullamore Arts Centre. My Department continues to maintain contact with Offaly County Council in relation to this project, having regard to the conditions of the approval.
1696. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of reports of breaches of licences for hare coursing in the previous hare coursing season. [31482/15]
View answer1697. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on investigations into breaches of hare coursing licences in the previous hare coursing season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31483/15]
View answer1711. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a club (details supplied) was not prosecuted for breaching the 2014-2015 hare netting licence conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32241/15]
View answer1712. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a club (details supplied) was not prosecuted in respect of hare licences and certification requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32242/15]
View answer1713. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason a club (details supplied) was not prosecuted for lack of co-operation with National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation rangers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32243/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1696, 1697 and 1711 to 1713, inclusive, together.
Under the terms of the Wildlife Acts, licences are required by the Irish Coursing Club, covering their affiliated coursing clubs, if they wish to capture or tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings. I recently gave approval to the granting of the annual licence to the Irish Coursing Club allowing its affiliated coursing clubs to net and tag hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2015/2016 coursing season. I should point out that I also decided to sanction two of the coursing clubs, which are the subject of two of Deputy O’Sullivan’s Questions, due to infringements of the conditions of the licences at coursing meetings held during the 2014/15 season. These sanctions, which were imposed on foot of reports from regional staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department, entail a reduction in the number of courses run by both clubs at their next meetings compared to the number of courses run at last year’s meetings.
Regional staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department will continue to attend coursing meetings during the 2015/16 season, as resources allow, to monitor compliance with the conditions of the licences.
1698. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the impact that the ending of airplane transport services to the Aran Islands will have on employment and the Gaeltacht community on the islands and on the mainland. [31484/15]
View answerMy position from the outset has been to ensure a continued air service to the Aran Islands, with significant financial support from the Government, in line with EU rules in regard to Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services. On behalf of my Department, the Office of Government Procurement undertook a procurement process to enable my Department to agree a contract for the air service to the Aran Islands for the next 4 years from 1 October 2015 to 30 September 2019. The process was undertaken in full compliance with EU Regulation 1008/2008 which governs PSO air services. The Request for Tenders was open to all types of aircraft as the EU Regulation does not define or limit the category of aircraft to be used to provide such services.
1699. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to reinstate the school bus run on a Friday and Sunday for schoolchildren from Inishbofin going and coming from Cleggan to Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31580/15]
View answerI am pleased to inform the Deputy that, having reviewed the situation with regard to the school bus service for Inishbofin pupils attending school on the mainland, my Department has agreed terms which allow a resumption of a twice weekly service which will transport pupils to Galway on Sunday and back to Cleggan on Friday. The service will remain in place up until the end of the present contract for the ferry service.
1700. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the review of the Wildlife Act with regard to vegetation cutting and burning dates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31627/15]
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. As a result, 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. The submissions received have been published on the website of my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service 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.
Question No. 1701 answered with Question No. 1694.
1702. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the Irish Film Board will officially change its name to Screen Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31652/15]
View answerA change in the name of the Irish Film Board to Screen Ireland will require a legislative change. This will be considered as part of the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill, which is due to be considered at Report Stage in Dáil Éireann shortly. The change of name of the Irish Film Board to Screen Ireland reflects the broader remit of the agency as the promoter of Irish film, TV and the animation sector.
1703. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason for the delay in issuing a deer hunting licence to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; when it will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31818/15]
View answerA deer hunting licence was issued to the person concerned on 16 September 2015.
1704. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a letter will issue to a body (details supplied) relating to the management of a fishery in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32029/15]
View answer1705. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a letter will issue to a body (details supplied) relating to proposed works on a fishery in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32030/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1704 and 1705 together.
My Department is presently considering the management arrangements referred to by the Deputy. With regard to the proposed works on a fishery in County Kerry, this proposal was recently received and is currently being examined by officials of my Department. A response will issue once this examination is complete.
1706. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide detailed figures on the level of supports provided by Údarás na Gaeltachta to for-profit businesses and non-profit organisations respectively. [32161/15]
View answerI have been informed by Údarás na Gaeltachta that it does not differentiate supports for “for-profit business” and “non-profit organisations”. Funding eligibility and amounts are dependent on the type of business proposed, geographical location, skills level required and the potential employment level of the project. All business proposals, which are assessed on an individual basis, must demonstrate their viability, funding and market potential, and must show that the necessary management and technical expertise is available to establish the new industry or service on a stable foundation. A detailed business plan must also be submitted for assessment. The level of grant aid available for projects is governed by European Union State Aid Guidelines. The following is a list of incentives and supports available from An tÚdarás (subject to EU State Aid Guidelines and De Minimis Guidelines):
- Development of Microenterprises
- Capital Grant
- Employment Grant
- Training Grant
- Marketing Grant
- Consultancy Services Grant
- Research and Development Grant
- Feasibility Study Grant
- Funding Grant for R&D&I
- Rent Subsidy
Further details in respect of these initiatives are available at http://www.udaras.ie/enforbairt-fiontraiochta/cunamh-airgid/ or by contacting Údarás na Gaeltachta directly on 091-503100.
In the interest of completeness, I should also say that a number of Enterprise Ireland Schemes are available to Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies. These include:
- Supports Research & Development - In Company & Collaborative
- Innovation Partnership
- Innovation Vouchers
- Leadership and Management Development – Leadership for Growth
- International Selling Programme
- Innovation 4 Growth/I4G
- Graduates for International Growth/G4IG
- Investment Supports
- Competitive Start Fund-CSF
- Competitive Feasibility Fund
- Uncompetitive Programmes
- Mentoring
- International
- Market Access Grant
- Technical Feasibility
Further information on these schemes is available at: http://www.enterprise-ireland.com.
Finally, Údarás na Gaeltachta also promotes and supports community development initiatives and a wide range of language, cultural and educational schemes aimed at strengthening the place of Irish as the principal means of communication among all sections and sectors of the community. In 2014 up to thirty such companies were supported. The amount of support is dependent on their plan and level of activities. More detailed information is available at www.udaras.ie and in the annual reports of An tÚdarás.
