Written Answers Nos. 169 - 173
169. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she and her Department have examined the potential for Irish culture to be used as part of a continued economic development plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32462/15]
View answerMy Department provides significant funding towards numerous cultural events and bodies, which are of great economic and social benefit to the State. For example, my Department supports the annual Culture Night event, which has grown from a relatively small-scale cultural event, staged only in Dublin, in 2006 to the significant national cultural event it now is. Culture Night 2015 had over 3,000 events in 1,500 venues. Early feedback from the event has been overwhelmingly positive with many participating locations reporting larger turnouts than in previous years.
My Department also provides support to numerous other cultural events through the funding it provides to the Arts Council, the national cultural institutions and a range of other cultural organisations.
Over the course of 2015, more than €3 million per week will be invested by my Department in support of arts, culture and film in Ireland.
In addition, my Department is currently the process of developing a new National Cultural Policy. Culture 2025 will reflect the important role that culture plays in our daily lives and will help integrate cultural policy within broader social and economic goals. It will explore how culture can contribute to building an inclusive society, provide avenues for expression for our citizens, drive innovation and contribute to our societal growth and economic wellbeing.
The final policy document to emerge from this process will be submitted for the approval of Government and it is envisaged that the new policy will be published in early 2016.
170. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the reported destruction of a Bronze Age bog road at Mayne Bog, County Westmeath; the action that has been taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32360/15]
View answerMy Department, through the relevant development control frameworks and in co-operation with the landowner, is pursuing an archaeological response in this case that is based on preservation in-situ of those parts of the trackway where it is a realistic option and preservation by record where it is no longer viable. Most recently in that context, my Department submitted a set of archaeological observations, with three specific recommendations in relation to the trackway, to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in connection with an Integrated Pollution Control licence application to the Agency earlier this year for peat extraction at Mayne Bog. The form and extent of the archaeological excavation sought by my Department was directly comparable to the archaeological mitigation strategies adopted in relation to similar monuments on Bord na Móna peatlands.
The archaeological investigations recommended by my Department to the EPA have since been carried out by the landowner under a separate licence granted by me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, under section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930. The works were inspected and verified at the time by my Department’s National Monuments Service.
A report on the excavations has since been received and is being examined in my Department, which will liaise with the landowner in relation to any further archaeological work on the trackway that is determined from the report as being necessary and appropriate.
171. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware of the nationally important issue of Knockhouse trivallate ring fort which is one of only two trivallates in County Waterford and the first to be excavated here, where over 50% of this site has been removed for the construction of the West Pharmaceutical Services plant which is currently under way; her views that as part of the company's corporate social responsibility, the area should be conserved, since the fort does not interfere with the factory’s location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32373/15]
View answerAlthough the monument site referred to is listed in the 1995 Record of Monuments and Places established under the National Monuments Acts, it would be important to note that there were no surviving archaeological features above ground even at that time. The site was, until recently, in the ownership of the local authority. In line with its statutory obligations under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, and under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, the local authority consulted my Department during 2013 and 2014 regarding the archaeological implications of proposed works it was considering in the context of potential future development of the site.
In response, my Department advised the authority of its view that the appropriate course would be to secure the preservation of any archaeological remains, by record, through an appropriate level of archaeological excavation and recording. A programme of archaeological excavation, licensed by my Department under section 26 of the National Monuments Act 1930, was subsequently carried out. The report on the excavation works will be considered by my Department, on receipt and will inform any future deliberations in relation to this matter, including any potential future referral to my Department relating to development impacting directly on the monument site.
172. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding a club (details supplied) which was in breach of licence conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32411/15]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question Nos. 1696, 1697, 1711, 1712 and 1713 of 22 September 2015.
173. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason she has refused to meet groups opposed to hare coursing; and the reason she did not attend the opening of the Irish Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference but did attend a game fair in Birr, County Offaly which showcased, among other bloodsports, working terrier and lurcher dogs. [32412/15]
View answerI receive numerous invitations from groups and individuals for meetings, events and conferences in relation to various issues which are pertinent to my Department. It is not always possible for me to accept such invitations.
With regard to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Conference (dealing with wildlife crime), a senior official of my Department opened that event on 13th September last on my behalf. Officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department also made presentations at this conference.
