Written Answers Nos. 58-64
59. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when Richmond Barracks will open for tours to the public; her views on the potential tourism benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13262/16]
View answerThe refurbishment and restoration of Richmond Barracks is one of the flag-ship capital projects of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and was supported with capital funds from my Department. The project was officially opened on 2 May 2016 and I understand that it will open to the public in June. This is a Dublin City Council/community partnership project and the City Council will be responsible for the day to day management of the building.
As with all of our flagship capital projects, the refurbishment and restoration of Richmond Barracks will greatly enhance the surrounding area and will provide significant potential for tourism in the area, including through its connections with the nearby Kilmainham Gaol and Courthouse complex and the Royal Hospital Kilmainham.
60. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the increased development of Blueway trails such as the Shannon-Erne Blueway; her views on how these trails could be utilised to help attract visitors to rural counties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13110/16]
View answerWaterways Ireland has been actively progressing the development of Blueways as a means to attract new visitors to use the waterways and in response to the growth in demand for recreational activities such as walking, canoeing, cycling and stand up paddle boarding.
The first Blueway was launched in October 2014 on the Shannon and it has been very successful. It links Drumshanbo with Carrick-on-Shannon and comprises a 16.5km paddling trail, a 10km walking trail and a 5km cycle trail. The 10km Camlin River paddling loop is also in operation.
The Shannon-Erne Blueway, which I had the privilege of officially opening on Saturday 28 May 2016, links Leitrim Village with Belturbet, Co Cavan and provides a 70km series of paddling journeys, 25kms of walking trails and 8kms of cycling trails. There are also plans to upgrade a further 8kms later in 2016. Based on existing monitoring of visitor usage, Waterways Ireland expects that 100,000 people will use the Shannon-Erne Blueway over the next year.
Further development on the Shannon during 2016 will include:
- A 20km trail from Carrick-on-Shannon to Boyle;
- A 50km trail from Carrick-on-Shannon to Lanesborough, and
- A 30km looped trail around Lough Allen.
On the Barrow Navigation, Waterways Ireland plans to submit proposals to upgrade the Barrow towpath to relevant planning authorities in summer 2016. This will enhance the 112kms of off-road trackway from Lowtown in Co. Kildare to St Mullins in Co Carlow. Waterways Ireland is working with the relevant local authorities and Leader groups to establish the necessary funding for this development.
On the Royal Canal and Grand Canals, 45kms and 21kms of towpath trails have been developed respectively. Plans for upgrading the remaining towpaths on these canals are at varying stages and Waterways Ireland is working with local authorities, Leader groups, the National Transport Authority and the National Trails Office to progress these developments.
Clearly, the development of Blueways presents valuable opportunities for rural communities to attract more visitors. Their value lies not only in the recreational opportunities that they offer but also in their potential to stimulate local businesses and regenerate local areas. Blueways also provide an effective model for partnership between the private, community and voluntary sectors and relevant State bodies.
61. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht an bhféadfadh sí léiriú a thabhairt ar roinnt an bhuiséid atá geallta d’Údarás na Gaeltachta sa Chlár don Rialtas. [13192/16]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, tá spriocanna sonracha leagtha síos sa Chlár Rialtais maidir leis an nGaeilge agus an Ghaeltacht, lena n-áirítear cruthú fostaíochta sa Ghaeltacht trí Údarás na Gaeltachta agus infheistíocht sa Ghaeilge a mhéadú.
Ar ndóigh, is tríd an phróiseas meastacháin agus cáinaisnéise a dhéantar leithdháileadh ar an soláthar airgid a chuirtear ar fáil ar bhonn bliantúil do mo Roinnse agus, go deimhin, do na Ranna Rialtais go léir. Sa chomhthéacs sin, tuigfidh an Teachta go ndéanfar soláthar airgid an Údaráis ón Státchiste don bhliain 2017 a mheas i gcomhthéacs an phróisis sin níos déanaí i mbliana.
62. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to provide much needed support for regional arts centres; her further plans to address a pressing need for capital injection in these buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13264/16]
View answerLast January, I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focussed on upgrading the existing stock of arts and cultural centres around the country. The funding is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021.
The scheme will target investment at a range of different facilities and will be broken down into three streams as follows:
- The refurbishment and enhancement of existing purpose-built arts and cultural facilities, with maximum grants of €300,000. Eligible facilities would include arts centres, theatres, galleries, museums, artists’ studios and creative spaces (Stream 1).
- Significant improvements to a smaller number of key facilities. Ideally, projects seeking this stream of funding would have financial support from the relevant local authority. Grants of up to €2 million may be offered under this stream (Stream 2).
- Smaller grants of up to €20,000 for community or voluntary organisations operating in facilities, which have not been purpose-built (Stream 3).
It is my priority to target investment at existing facilities in order to enhance the current stock of arts centres around the country.
My Department is finalising the guidelines and application forms in relation to the scheme, which I intend to open for applications very shortly.
63. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will restore funding for the arts to pre-2011 levels; if she is satisfied with her Department's role in supporting the arts and in particular the allocation of funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13259/16]
View answerFunding across the public service was severely impacted by the economic crisis, including the funding which could be provided to bodies such as the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board.
Since my initial appointment as Minister with responsibility for the arts, however, I have succeeded in securing increased funding for the arts sector year on year. For example, the allocation to the Arts Council in 2016 is €60.1m, an increase of 6% over the past 2 years.
The 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.
64. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht cén uair atá an Roinn chun stiúrthóir na Gaeilge a cheapadh. [13194/16]
View answerTáthar ag breathnú ar na roghanna sa chás seo faoi láthair agus déanfar cinneadh i gcomhairle leis an Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe. San idirlinn, tá cúramaí an phoist á mbainistiú, mar is cuí, ag Ard-Rúnaí na Roinne.
