Written Answers Nos. 142-148
142. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of a number of reports commissioned on flooding in County Donegal following the completion of the public consultations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13936/16]
View answerThe draft Flood Risk Management Plans being produced under the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme will be published from mid-2016 for public consultation. The Preliminary Options reports are currently in draft format and are under review following the most recent round of public consultation events. The Final Preliminary Options Reports will be published at the same time as the draft Plans as reference documents.
In relation to assessment of flood risk in Raphoe AFA (Area for Further Assessment), this is being undertaken independently from the CFRAM Programme. The flood risk management options report for Raphoe is currently being finalised.
143. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the timeframe for implementing a catchment flood risk assessment and management report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13939/16]
View answerGood progress is being made on the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme, which is being undertaken by engineering consultants on behalf of the Office of Public Works (OPW) working in partnership with the local authorities. The Programme involves the production of predictive flood mapping for each Area for Further Assessment (AFA), the development of preliminary flood risk management options and the production of flood risk management plans.
The draft flood mapping is now being finalised following completion of the national statutory public consultation on 23 December, 2015. Work on the development of preliminary options to address flood risk is underway. Following finalisation of the mapping and the identification of flood risk management options, the final output from this important project will be integrated Flood Risk Management Plans containing specific measures to address in a comprehensive and sustainable way the significant flood risks identified. The draft Plans are scheduled to be made available for public consultation from mid-2016. Following the public consultation process the finalised Plans will include a prioritised list of measures, both structural and non-structural, to address flood risk in an environmentally sustainable and cost effective manner.
The Government announced increased levels of investment in the area of flood relief, as part of the overall Capital Investment Plan 2016-2021, which will allow for consideration of measures arising from the Flood Risk Management Plans.
144. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the case of a person (details supplied) who is experiencing flooding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13959/16]
View answerThe channel in question is part of the River Feale Catchment Drainage Scheme which was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945. The OPW continues to have a statutory responsibility for the maintenance of this scheme.
Each year the OPW carries out work to approximately 2,000 km of channels and some 200 structures around the country as part of its ongoing and rolling arterial drainage maintenance programme. The timing of work on individual projects is determined having regard to the needs of regular maintenance and the prioritisation of urgent jobs. As already indicated to the individual concerned by OPW staff, the replacement of this sluice is included on the 2016 work programme for the River Feale CDS.
145. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to provide a map of the special areas of conservation in County Tipperary; the restrictions on land designated as such and the compensation available to landowners whose land is designated as such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13857/16]
View answer146. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the restrictions on agricultural land in County Tipperary, other than restrictions under special areas of conservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13858/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together.
Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation. My Department works with farmers, other landowners and users, and national and local authorities, trying to achieve the best balance possible between farming and land-use on the one hand, and requirements for conserving nature in these selected areas, on the other.
There are 37 areas in County Tipperary selected for designation as special areas of conservation, special protection areas or natural heritage areas, as set out in the following table:
|
Site Code |
Site Name |
|
000216 |
River Shannon Callows SAC |
|
000585 |
Sharavogue Bog SAC |
|
000641 |
Ballyduff/Clonfinane Bog SAC |
|
000646 |
Galtee Mountains SAC |
|
000647 |
Kilcarren-Firville Bog SAC |
|
000930 |
Clare Glen SAC |
|
000934 |
Kilduff, Devilsbit Mountain SAC |
|
000939 |
Silvermine Mountains SAC |
|
001197 |
Keeper Hill SAC |
|
001683 |
Liskeenan Fen SAC |
|
001847 |
Philipston Marsh SAC |
|
002124 |
Bolingbrook Hill SAC |
|
002125 |
Anglesey Road SAC |
|
002137 |
Lower River Suir SAC |
|
002162 |
River Barrow and River Nore SAC |
|
002165 |
Lower River Shannon SAC |
|
002170 |
Blackwater River (Cork/Waterford) SAC |
|
002241 |
Lough Derg, North-east Shore SAC |
|
002257 |
Moanour Mountain SAC |
|
002258 |
Silvermines Mountains West SAC |
|
002353 |
Redwood Bog SAC |
|
004058 |
Lough Derg (Shannon) SPA |
|
004086 |
River Little Brosna Callows SPA |
|
004096 |
Middle Shannon Callows SPA |
|
004165 |
Slievefelim to Silvermines Mountains SPA |
|
000564 |
River Little Brosna Callows NHA |
|
000640 |
Arragh More Bog NHA |
|
000642 |
Ballymacegan Bog NHA |
|
000648 |
Killeen Bog NHA |
|
000652 |
Monaincha Bog/Ballaghmore Bog NHA |
|
000890 |
Cangort Bog NHA |
|
000937 |
Scohaboy Bog NHA |
|
001684 |
Lorrha Bog NHA |
|
001853 |
Nore Valley Bogs NHA |
|
002385 |
Mauherslieve Bog NHA |
|
002388 |
Slievenamon Bog NHA |
|
002450 |
Bleanbeg Bog NHA |
Areas selected for designation can overlap and many cross county boundaries. Further information on all these sites is available on the website www.npws.ie/protectedsites and the boundaries of each site can be viewed on the website also.
However, if the Deputy wishes, I can arrange for a site pack for each site (or any specific sites identified) to be sent to him. These site packs include a map of each site, the particular requirements for each site and details on compensation provisions.
In order to protect the ecology of such sites, certain activities within protected sites may only be undertaken with my prior consent, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, or with the consent of another appropriate public authority. There is no blanket prohibition on undertaking these activities but carrying out any such activity without obtaining prior consent is an offence. The activities can vary from site to site as they relate to the particular species or habitat for which the site has been selected.
However, there is no requirement to obtain my consent as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if:
(a) the activity is licensed by or subject to the permission of another public authority; or
(b) the activity is specified as permitted in a farm or land management plan (subject to compliance with any conditions set out therein).
In practice, anyone wishing to carry out any of the activities listed should contact my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service prior to carrying out such work to establish what requirements may apply.
147. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is satisfied that Ireland’s investment in the arts is at the bottom of the European table; and the steps she will take to resolve this problem. [13904/16]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the forthcoming estimates and budgetary processes.
The issue referred to in the Deputy's question arises from a Council of Europe research project called Compendium - Cultural Policies and Trends in Europe which includes figures on expenditure on culture across Europe. I understand that many European counties are not included in the figures, including ten EU member states. The data for the Compendium project are provided by independent researchers and it is not a standardised system for collection of statistics.
I further understand that the Compendium itself warns that data provided by the researchers are not comparable across countries because each researcher includes different elements in the definition of culture and these elements are reflected in the figures for public expenditure. Figures can also include some, or all, of national, regional or local expenditure.
The issue of a definition of culture and of capturing public expenditure on culture is one which was discussed in the public consultation process that was held for the purpose of developing Ireland's first national cultural policy, Culture 2025. This will be reflected in the draft policy document which I intend to submit to Government for consideration in the coming weeks.
Expenditure on the arts in Ireland comes from multiple sources, both public and private. I understand that the CSO does not produce national statistics that capture the totality of this expenditure as a percentage of GDP. I do consider, however, that further research on this issue is warranted in the context of Culture 2025.
148. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to increase employment in the arts and culture sectors. [13905/16]
View answer152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she encourages the development and promotion of the arts, in particular the maximisation of employment opportunities arising therefrom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14003/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 152 together.
Employment in the arts and cultural sectors encompasses a wide range of activities, from theatre and music to tourism. It may also embody the industrial creative sectors, including audio-visual production. My primary role is to support artists and the creative industries in Ireland using the mechanisms available to me across Government on common initiatives such as the Action Plan for Jobs.
In relation to assisting young people finding employment in the Arts, I believe the most appropriate way to do this is to encourage the expansion of arts and cultural activity. Increased Government funding will assist, such as the supports provided by the Arts Council and my Department through Culture Ireland, as well as increased investment by other public bodies such as local authorities, in addition to the increased investment generally which arises from a healthy sustainable economy. Furthermore, the commitment to deliver Ireland's first national cultural policy Culture 2025 offers an opportunity to consider how arts and culture can be embedded right across Government.
