Brendan Griffin
Question:390. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set down the status of the schedule of works for a location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19539/16]
View answerDrainage Schemes Status
Questions (390)
Written answers
The location mentioned by the Deputy is part of the tidal reaches of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme. This scheme was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 and the OPW continues to have a statutory responsibility for its maintenance.
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. While the average cycle of maintenance is generally in the range of 4 to 7 years, the OPW does routinely inspect all channels and structures for which it has maintenance responsibility. The timing of work on individual projects is determined having regard to the needs of regular maintenance and the prioritisation of urgent jobs.
In the case of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme, maintenance resources are currently engaged on works to damaged defences in the Callinafercy area. Appropriate assessments are currently being completed for proposed works at Garrane and Douglas, and it is intended to commence these works on completion of the works at Callinafercy. It is hoped that the works at Garrane and Douglas can begin before the end of the year.
Drainage Schemes Status
Questions (391)
Brendan Griffin
Question:391. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set down the status of the schedule of works for a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19543/16]
View answerWritten answers
The location mentioned by the Deputy is part of the tidal reaches of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme. This scheme was carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Act, 1945 and the OPW continues to have a statutory responsibility for its maintenance.
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. While the average cycle of maintenance is generally in the range of 4 to 7 years, the OPW does routinely inspect all channels and structures for which it has maintenance responsibility. The timing of work on individual projects is determined having regard to the needs of regular maintenance and the prioritisation of urgent jobs.
In the case of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme, maintenance resources are currently engaged on works to damaged defences in the townland of Callinafercy East. An Appropriate assessment for proposed works at Callinafercy West has been completed and submitted to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). Subject to the NPWS being satisfied with the Appropriate Assessment, OPW plans to commence works at Callinafercy West on completion of the works at Callinafercy East. It is hoped that the works at Callinafercy West can commence during the month of August.
Drainage Schemes Status
Questions (392)
Brendan Griffin
Question:392. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set down the status of the schedule of works for a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19544/16]
View answerWritten answers
As outlined to the Deputy in previous replies to Parliamentary Questions on this subject, the channel in question is part of the River Maine 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. While the average cycle of maintenance is generally in the range of 4 to 7 years, the OPW does routinely inspect all channels and structures for which it has maintenance responsibility. The timing of work on individual projects is determined having regard to the needs of regular maintenance and the prioritisation of urgent jobs.
In the case of the River Maine Catchment Drainage Scheme, maintenance resources are currently concentrated on works to damaged defences in tidal reaches and it is not possible at this stage to provide a specific timeframe when work will proceed at the location mentioned by the Deputy.
Departmental Records
Questions (393)
Niamh Smyth
Question:393. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set out in tabular form the number of staff employed in his Department's archive unit in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; his plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archive Acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19621/16]
View answerWritten answers
In response to the Deputy's question, my Department does not employ any archiving staff. File management and archiving is a shared service provided by the Department of Finance to my Department and I understand the Department of Finance are replying directly to you on this matter.
Flood Risk Insurance Cover Provision
Questions (394)
Billy Kelleher
Question:394. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 360 of 8 June 2016 whether he will reconsider the case for these persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19633/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no role or function in relation to the oversight or regulation of insurance matters. As I had indicated in my previous response to the Deputy, the Memorandum of Understanding between Insurance Ireland and the OPW provides that OPW will provide detailed background and technical information on its completed flood defence schemes to Insurance Ireland (II), and II members have committed to take all this information into account when assessing exposure to flood risk within these areas. The provision of insurance cover and the price at which it is offered is a commercial matter for insurance companies and is based on an assessment of the risks they are willing to accept and adequate provisioning to meet those risks.
Flood mitigation works carried out by local authorities are not generally designed to protect against a 1% AEP flood event, the desired standard set out in the Memorandum of Understanding. OPW generally would not have detailed technical and design information on projects carried out by the local authorities. For these reasons, there are no plans to include local authority flood mitigation works in the scope of the Memorandum of Understanding.
From the information now supplied, it is suggested that the works carried out by the Local Authority in this particular instance may provide the degree of flood protection generally required by the insurance industry. While it is open to any person or group seeking property insurance to supply insurance companies and/or brokers with any relevant information on flood defences which might influence a decision on the provision of cover, I have asked my officials to liaise with Cork County Council to explore the possibility of providing the relevant information, in the agreed format, to the Insurance Ireland in relation to this scheme.
Departmental Staff Retirements
Questions (395)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:395. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to set down the number of civil servants who retired at 65 years of age in 2015; the number of these who had full service; the number who had between 35 and 40 years service; the number who had between 30 and 35 years service; the number who had between 25 and 30 years service; and those with less than 25 years service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19710/16]
View answerWritten answers
On the basis of analysis of data held on the civil service human resources management system, two hundred and fifteen civil servants retired at 65 years of age in 2015.
The analysis by years of service requested by the Deputy is as follows: the number of these who had full service was 40; between 35 and 40 years service was 18; between 30 and 35 years service was 12; between 25 and 30 years service was 9; and with less than 25 years service was 136.
Departmental Staff Retirements
Questions (396)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:396. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform why civil servants with less than 40 years service at 65 years of age are not allowed to keep working until they reach either 40 years service or 70 years of age with the obligation to retire when whichever of these occurs first; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19712/16]
View answerWritten answers
Both the compulsory retirement age and the minimum pension age provisions to which a civil servant may be subject depend on the conditions of the pension scheme applicable at the date of their original recruitment and legislation, both of which are subject to change over time in response to such considerations as demography, labour market issues and employment policy.
The Civil Service Regulation Act, 1956 provides for a maximum retirement of age 65. Arising from the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, new entrants appointed after 2004 are not subject to a maximum retirement age and may accrue pension after age 65. The Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012 imposed a maximum retirement and pension accrual age of 70 for members of the Single Scheme.
Social Partnership Meetings
Questions (397, 398)
Brendan Howlin
Question:397. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline his plans to establish a process of dialogue with the social partners. [15847/16]
View answerBrendan Howlin
Question:398. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to outline his plans to establish a process of dialogue with the social partners. [17134/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 397 and 398 together.
The recently concluded National Economic Dialogue Conference which took place in Dublin Castle on the 27th and 28th June last was the second year of this event. This event provides a valuable forum with very significant Government participation for all interested parties on economic and wider issues and is open to all parties to the former social partnership model.
I have no plans to re-establish a formal process of social partnership. I do, however, intend to reflect upon the success of the NED in the coming weeks and consider how best to build upon that success.
Waterways Ireland
Questions (399)
Peter Burke
Question:399. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out the status of the restoration of the dry dock facilities at Mullingar Harbour (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19240/16]
View answerWritten answers
Waterways Ireland has informed me that substantial upgrading and investment would be required to carry out restoration works on the dry docks facility at Mullingar Harbour. Unfortunately in view of available resources, there are no plans for such works at present.
Waterways Ireland
Questions (400)
Peter Burke
Question:400. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to consider the restoration of the Longford branch of the Royal Canal considering the wider economic, social and community benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19245/16]
View answerWritten answers
A feasibility study by Waterways Ireland regarding restoration of the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal was published on its website in October 2014 and may be accessed at the following link: http://www.waterwaysireland.org/SiteAssets/Corporate/Longford%20Branch%20Feasibility%20Study/Feasibility%20Study%20into%20the%20Restoration%20of%20the%20Longford%20Branch%20of%20the%20Royal%20Canal.pdf.
The recommendation from the feasibility study was as follows: “Given the current financial climate and because of the associated costs, environmental issues and uncertainty regarding planning approval, it is not recommended to pursue this project any further at this time." Waterways Ireland has advised me that, in light of this recommendation, the restoration of the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal is not under consideration at this time.
I am also advised that in 2014 Waterways Ireland, in partnership with Longford County Council, developed the towpath to provide a shared walkway/cycleway along the route of the Longford Branch.
Arts Centres
Questions (401)
Niall Collins
Question:401. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out the funding she will provide to assist the development and operations of a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19230/16]
View answerWritten answers
I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focused on enhancing the existing stock of such centres around the country. The funding is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021. It should be noted, however, that the focus of this scheme will be primarily be on arts and cultural centres, rather than local heritage centres.
My Department’s 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 the enhancement of existing cultural facilities. My Department is finalising the guidelines and application forms in relation to the scheme, which I intend to open for applications shortly.
Wildlife Protection
Questions (402, 403)
Brian Stanley
Question:402. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out the status of the two sets of regulations referred to in sections 8(1) and 8(2) of the Heritage Bill 2016 relating to burning and hedgerows; whether these regulations are complete given the Government has now re-initiated this Bill; if they are completed, to identify the persons who have been consulted; when they will be available for review to the Oireachtas and consultation with the public concerned; if they are not ready, when they will be ready, who will be consulted on them and when; the basis on which she considers the Oireachtas can advance this Bill in the absence of any sight of the regulations, given what they provide for; when the next stage of the Bill will be and when it will come before Seanad Éireann; her views on the concern of the wider public, as evidenced by a petition of some 18,000 persons opposed to the changes she is introducing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19285/16]
View answer
Catherine Murphy
Question:403. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out the status of the two sets of regulations referred to in sections 8(1) and 8(2) of the Heritage Bill 2016 relating to burning and hedgerows; whether these regulations are complete given the Government has now re-initiated this Bill; if they are completed, to identify the persons who have been consulted; when they will be available for review to the Oireachtas and consultation with the public concerned; if they are not ready, when they will be ready, who will be consulted on them and when; when the next stage of the Bill will be and when it will come before Seanad Éireann; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19303/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together.
Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August.
Following a review of Section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties, I announced proposals in December 2015 to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge cutting and burning at certain times within the existing closed period on a pilot two year basis. The legislation required to allow for these pilot measures was included in the Heritage Bill 2016, which was published in January 2016 and subsequently completed Second Stage in Seanad Éireann.
Steps are in hand to reintroduce the Heritage Bill into Seanad Éireann at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, the existing provisions relating to Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts are still in operation.
The Regulations specified in Sections 8(1) and 8(2) of the Bill will be finalised following the enactment of the Heritage Bill by the Oireachtas and taking account of consultations with relevant stakeholders in due course.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme
Questions (404)
Jackie Cahill
Question:404. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the committee for a centre (details supplied) can apply for funding as the building is in disrepair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19393/16]
View answerWritten answers
There may be scope for the committee referred to by the Deputy to apply for funding under a variety of schemes operated by my Department but, in the main, this would have to be done via the relevant local authority or relevant Local Action Group in the case of LEADER. Four schemes operated by my Department could potentially be of benefit - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Structures at Risk Fund, the Town and Village Regeneration Scheme, and the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme.
I launched a new €2 million scheme - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme - for the repair and conservation of protected structures on 21 October 2015. This scheme will operate in 2016, via the local authorities, on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014. It is expected to support in excess of 330 projects across the country and to create employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas. The scheme for this year is now fully allocated.
The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund, which has an allocation of over €900,000 and will support 57 projects nationally in 2016, is administered through the local authorities and seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost. Funding for 2016 has now been fully allocated.
No decision has been made on the allocation of funding to these schemes for 2017, which will be subject to the normal budgetary processes. The Conservation or Heritage Officer in the relevant local authority will be able to advise regarding funding available for conservation works to structures on the Record of Protected Structures and it is advisable for interested parties to remain in contact with their local authority on an ongoing basis.
It should be noted that the Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually having regard to competing priorities for limited resources. The Council recently awarded funding of over €880,000 to 171 heritage projects nationwide under its 2016 Heritage Management Grant Scheme. Further details of grant schemes available from the Heritage Council can be found at www.heritagecouncil.ie.
My Department is also charged with the delivery of a Town and Village Regeneration scheme, with a commitment to provide €30 million over a six-year period. I hope to be in a position to announce the call for proposals for the 2016 scheme shortly. The central aim of the scheme is to support the revitalisation of towns and villages in order to improve the living and working environment of their communities and increase their potential to support increased economic activity into the future. The type of projects to be funded under this initiative is primarily a matter for the local authorities to identify in partnership with their communities. However, the overall intention of the funding would be to focus on public spaces, thereby increasing the attractiveness of the town or village as a local commercial and social centre and, as a result, increasing its sustainability as a place in which to live and work. Proposed initiatives could also look at ways to enhance its environment and amenity in the interests of residents, businesses, visitors and the promotion of tourism; and also as a centre for culture and local heritage, thereby enhancing the sense of identity - physically and socially. In this context, it may be possible for the committee referred to by the Deputy to access funding under this scheme. I would suggest the community group get in touch with their local authority as they will be made aware when the scheme is launched.
It may be also possible to access funding from the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme and I would urge the group to get in contact with the Local Action Group in their area. LEADER aims to support the sustainable development of rural communities using a community-led local development approach to the delivery of funding. All decisions on project funding are made at a local level, based on the aims and objectives set out in a local development strategy. I expect to be signing a contract later this week with the relevant LCDC for the delivery of LEADER in the county in question.
Leader Programmes Funding
Questions (405)
Pat Buckley
Question:405. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to outline her views on the 70% cut to funding for Leader Cork county scheme; if she will commit to restoring funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19605/16]
View answerWritten answers
The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Under the programme, funding will be distributed by Local Action Groups to rural communities in line with the local development strategies that have been developed within each sub-regional area in Ireland.
In determining the county allocations for the 2014-2020 LEADER programme, three objective criteria were used, namely, minimum allocation, population density and a Resource Allocation Model (RAM). Each county was given a minimum allocation of €3 million to ensure that each received a viable level of funding. However, county Cork was allocated €6 million as a minimum in order to ensure a viable allocation to each of the three administrative districts within the county, as the overall population outside of the city is almost twice that of any other county.
The methodology used to calculate the allocations was designed to ensure that the available funding was weighted towards the most rural populations and those experiencing most rural disadvantage. Using this methodology, which I am satisfied is fair and consistent, each county was allocated a proportionate share of the funding available through the LEADER elements of the RDP 2014-2020. Under these criteria, county Cork was awarded funding of some €13.9 million.
The allocation of additional funding to LEADER groups throughout Ireland, which is referred to in the new Programme for Government, will be considered in due course.
Departmental Records
Questions (406, 408)
Niamh Smyth
Question:406. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out in tabular form the number of staff employed in her Department's archive unit in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; her plans to expand this number; if there are protocol changes arising from changes to the National Archive Acts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19610/16]
View answerNiamh Smyth
Question:408. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out in tabular form the number of staff employed in the National Archives in each of the years 2010 to 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19626/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 408 together.
The following table outlines the staffing figures for the National Archives since the establishment of my Department in June 2011. I intend to bring an implementation plan to Cabinet regarding a change to the 30-year rule for the making public of Departmental Records in the National Archives. Until that implementation plan has been finalised, however, it will not be possible to say what impact any changes might have on Departmental resources.
|
Year End |
Headcount |
WTE |
|
2011 |
47 |
45.5 |
|
2012 |
48 |
46.3 |
|
2013 |
48 |
46.3 |
|
2014 |
46 |
44.2 |
|
2015 |
44 |
42.4 |
|
2016 (end May ) |
47 |
45.8 |
National Archives
Questions (407)
Niamh Smyth
Question:407. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to set out the status of the implementation of changes to the National Archive Act 1986 to reduce the 30 year holding period to 20 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19625/16]
View answerWritten answers
In October 2015, the then Government decided that the National Archives Act 1986 should be amended to reduce the period after which Departmental records must be made available to the public in the National Archives from 30 years to 20 years. This will be done on a phased basis.
My Department is preparing the Heads of Bill to give effect to this decision, which I will bring to Government shortly.
Question No. 408 answered with Question No. 406.
Wildlife Protection
Questions (409)
Catherine Murphy
Question:409. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to detail all occasions since the introduction of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 when section 40(3) of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended, has been invoked and to what effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19667/16]
View answerWritten answers
Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are authorised officers, along with An Garda Síochána, in relation to ensuring that the provisions of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts are enforced. While information is not available to me as to the number of occasions Section 40(3) of the Wildlife Acts has been invoked, I understand that this provision has been used from time to time by regional staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Leader Programmes Funding
Questions (410)
Peter Burke
Question:410. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when he will finalise the local development strategy for County Longford in order that Leader 2020 funding can be provided to many deserving projects in the county; and if he will expedite this process. [19780/16]
View answerWritten answers
I am pleased to note that I will launch the LEADER programme later this week. My Department has issued funding agreements to local action groups in 21 of the 28 sub-regional areas designated under the LEADER programme, and I expect that most, if not all, of these local action groups will be in a position to finalise their respective agreements at this event.
The delivery of LEADER will commence immediately in these areas and the local action groups can begin receiving applications starting from Monday morning. I am also confident that Funding Agreements will issue in the remaining 7 LEADER sub-regional areas, which includes Longford, in the coming weeks as the local action groups provide the additional information and clarifications requested by the Independent Selection Committee established to review and select the strategies submitted in each area. Indeed, the Independent Selection Committee is meeting today to review progress and will meet again in early August to facilitate the finalisation of strategies.
Heritage Sites
Questions (411)
Willie Penrose
Question:411. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to outline the status of progress concerning the designation of The Hill of Uisneach in Killare, County Westmeath as a United Nations educational scientific and cultural organisation world heritage Site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19785/16]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland’s current World Heritage Tentative List has come about from a very comprehensive, thorough and inclusive process undertaken by a panel of Irish and international heritage experts specifically appointed for that purpose. The process included full public consultation and an in-depth review of all proposed candidate sites.
In the meantime, my Department has engaged with local authorities and local groups from the areas with proposals on the Tentative List to gauge the extent of the support available to advance the proposals and to clarify the work and resources required for that purpose. The fundamental requirement is that each site must be capable of demonstrating Outstanding Universal Value to UNESCO.
Technical evaluations have been produced for each of the six sites forming part of the Royal Sites serial nomination which are currently being reviewed by experts. My Department is examining a draft of the Burren evaluation document which will be completed as quickly as possible to allow the evaluation itself to proceed. In the case of the Historic City of Dublin proposal, this is being advanced by Dublin City Council and my Department is represented on the Steering Committee.
The next steps will involve developing Management Plans for each site (a UNESCO requirement) and the designation of core and buffer zones in each case. At each stage local consultation is required. This process will also have to take into account the fact that some sites will be managed by the Office of Public Works, others by local authorities and that two monuments on the Royal Sites list are privately owned. Another - Eamhain Macha in Armagh - is in Northern Ireland. The culmination of these steps will be the creation of the full nomination documents for each site for submission to UNESCO.
I am committed to supporting the current proposals in every way that I can but the process is a lengthy one and all of the work at every stage must be supported and developed from the local level up with stakeholder buy-in and commitment at each and every stage. While this adds to the timescale, it is infinitely preferable than a top down approach that fails to engage with local communities. It also ensures a far better chance of best care and support for the protection and preservation of these sites into the future.
Arts Funding
Questions (412)
Joan Burton
Question:412. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will commit to the long-term goal of increasing arts funding to the European average of 0.6 % of gross domestic product. [19816/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts 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 figures quoted from the Council of Europe are from a project called Compendium - Cultural Policies and Trends in 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. For example, local authority expenditure on the arts, artists, exemption tax relief, expenditure on public service broadcasting and the Irish language are all examples of elements not included in the Council of Europe figures for Ireland but included in the figures for some other countries.
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. My Department is continuing to consider inputs on the draft policy document from the Steering and Expert Groups which I established and I expect to forward a draft for consideration to the relevant Oireachtas Committee shortly.
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. However, I do consider that further research on this issue is warranted in the context of Culture 2025.
Gaeltacht Policy
Questions (413)
Joan Burton
Question:413. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide extra funding to Irish-speaking Gaeltacht areas to encourage greater use of the language and better economic prospects for those living in Gaeltacht areas. [19819/16]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Deputy to the answer given to Parliamentary Question No. 612 on Tuesday, 31st May, 2016 in relation to this matter. As I mentioned in that answer, by way of supporting the maintenance and development of the Irish language as a community and household language in the Gaeltacht, the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 is recognised as a key priority in the Programme for a Partnership Government. Other measures outlined in the Programme include:
- A focus on job creation in the Gaeltacht, through Údarás na Gaeltachta;
- Encouraging the attendance by children in Irish-medium pre-schools or naíonraí in Gaeltacht areas;
- Recognising the importance of the status of Irish as a full working language of the EU institutions and working towards ending the derogation, as circumstances allow; and
- Increasing the investment in the Irish language.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department, together with Údarás na Gaeltachta, administers a wide range of schemes, programmes and initiatives targeting language and economic development in Gaeltacht areas. Further details are available on the Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie and on the Údarás na Gaeltachta website at www.udaras.ie.
The Deputy may also be aware that in order to further underpin the implementation of the Strategy and the language planning process, as set out in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, a specific allocation of €1 m has also been provided in the current year. This allocation will further enable my Department, acting in concert with Údarás na Gaeltachta and relevant stakeholders at community level, to implement a range of specific and practical measures aimed at both supporting the implementation of the Strategy, as well as the language planning process in Gaeltacht areas.
In relation to the economic development of the Gaeltacht, as Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, I very much appreciate the importance of job creation in helping to retain sustainable communities in Gaeltacht areas. In that context, I wish to acknowledge the very important enterprise and employment function of Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional economic agency for the Gaeltacht. In its regional enterprise role in the Gaeltacht, Údarás na Gaeltachta, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland and the IDA, will continue to work towards attracting investment to the Gaeltacht, in addition to supporting micro-enterprises and developing the skills base in the Gaeltacht. In order to enable Údarás na Gaeltachta to fulfil its job creation and job retention role in the Gaeltacht, capital funding of €6.687 m has been provided by the Exchequer to Údarás in 2016, in addition to its own resources from the sale of assets and investments.
The issue of funding in respect of 2017 will be addressed in due course in the context of the estimates and budgetary processes.