Written Answers Nos 462-476
462. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if protection will be provided to a heritage feature (details supplied) in the Laimbe area of the Rath Cairn Gaeltacht, County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37171/16]
View answerHeritage features of the nature referred to by the Deputy are protected by their inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS), which is the responsibility of the local authority to maintain. Inclusion on the RPS also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
My Department’s National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) records heritage features of the nature referred to. In the county in question, the NIAH recorded 42 such features.
The NIAH survey can be viewed on www.buildingsofireland.ie.
Those rated of regional significance or above are included in recommendations to planning authorities, made under section 53 of the Planning and Development Act, as amended, for inclusion on their RPS.
463. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there is a process whereby artists and sculptors here can be facilitated in having their work exhibited in places such as the UN building in New York and EU buildings in Brussels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37178/16]
View answerMy Department’s Culture Ireland programme promotes Irish arts worldwide by creating and supporting opportunities for Irish artists and companies to present and promote their work at strategic international festivals and venues. Culture Ireland has arranged exhibitions in the European Commission buildings, most notably when Ireland held the Presidency of the Council of the EU, and has also supported exhibitions in the European Parliament.
I understand that according to the rules governing cultural events and exhibitions on the premises of the European Parliament, art exhibitions are permitted but have to be sponsored by an MEP or, exceptionally, by the Institution itself - for example, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The sponsoring MEP would normally launch the request with the Parliament's Services and be responsible for the conduct of the exhibition. I understand that each MEP is entitled to host up to 2 (or 3 on request) exhibitions per parliamentary mandate.
Responsibility for exhibitions in European Commission buildings in Brussels rests with the Office for Infrastructure and Logistics in Brussels. In the Commission's political headquarters, the Berlaymont Building, only the Members of the European Commission are entitled to propose exhibitions.
I understand that in relation to proposals to exhibit in the UN building in New York, the decisions are made by the UN Exhibits Committee, a standing body established by the Secretary-General to review and approve exhibits proposed for display in publicly accessible areas at UN Headquarters. It is a condition that all exhibits must be compatible with the aims, purposes and principles of the United Nations, in both content and presentation. The themes of exhibits must be specific to the work and activities of the organisations of the United Nations system and must be international or universal in character. Exhibit proposals focusing only on a specific individual, country, non-UN entity or religion, or originating from a single artist are not permitted. The guidelines setting out the process and the criteria against which proposals are considered are available on http://unexhibitsny.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/UN-Exhibits-Committee-Guidelines-V2-2016-3-1.pdf.
464. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to re-establish the decades of centenaries all-party consultative committee; and her further plans regarding future commemorative events related to events 100 years ago falling during her term of office. [32802/16]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 371 of 22 November 2016.
465. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding that has been provided to County Louth over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37216/16]
View answer467. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding for projects in 2017 in County Louth to be funded by her Department by project name, location and funding amount in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37248/16]
View answer468. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding that has been provided to County Meath over the previous three years, 2014 to 2016, by project name, location and funding amount in tabular form. [37264/16]
View answer470. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding for projects in 2017 in County Meath to be funded by her Department by project name, location and funding amount in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37296/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 465, 467, 468 and 470 together.
Details of the annual funding allocation to my Department at subhead level are published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume. Through these subheads, my Department administers and delivers a wide range of programmes and measures, descriptions of which are available on its website at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/.
Expenditure under these programme areas is recorded and accounted for on a national basis and it is not possible to give a regional or county-by-county breakdown of that expenditure. For example, a number of my Department’s programmes are delivered through agencies and other intermediary bodies that operate across county boundaries and in respect of which there is no detailed breakdown on a county basis held by my Department. Groups and organisations that receive grants directly from my Department are not typically constituted on a single-county basis.
In view of this and because of the wide range of my Department’s schemes and programmes, and the large volumes of payments and grants involved, it is not possible to provide the information sought. However, if the Deputy has specific queries relating to a particular programme or grant, I will endeavour to provide him with relevant information in that regard
466. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the applications submitted for funding projects from Louth County Council in each of the years, 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; and if the applications were successful. [37232/16]
View answer469. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the applications submitted for funding and projects from Meath County Council in each of the years 2014 to 2016, in tabular form; if the applications where successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37280/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 469 together.
As it would not be possible to compile the requested information in the time available, I have asked that a response be prepared and forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Dáil Standing Orders.
471. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the potential of canals, not just for walking and cycling alongside the canals, but for boats and moving boats; if she will examine the relevant bye-laws to facilitate those wishing to live on boats; if she will consider ways to ease right of way to the Grand Canal basin; and her engagement with Waterways Ireland and Iarnród Éireann on their role in enhancing the use of the canals for both residents and tourists. [32671/16]
View answerWaterways Ireland, a North South Implementation Body under the remit of my Department, has responsibility for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of 1,000 km of the inland navigable waterway system throughout the island, including the Grand Canal, Royal Canal and the Barrow Navigation principally for recreational purposes. Waterways Ireland engages in promotion, including marketing and development of the tourism and commercial potential of the inland waterways for which it has responsibility. Iarnród Éireann has no statutory function in relation to the canals.
Waterways Ireland works strategically with Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, sports bodies and associations, and local authorities to actively develop the tourism and economic potential of the inland waterways. Waterways Ireland is currently working with these and other bodies in developing 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 Canals Act, 1986, (Bye-laws) 1988 provides for the management of canal and canal property and regulate the use of boats on the Royal Canal, the Grand Canal and the Barrow Navigation. There is no provision in these bye-laws for house boats or for allowing persons to live on board a vessel.
My Department is currently progressing, within the Heritage Bill 2016, amendments to the Canals Act 1986 so as to allow for the subsequent making of bye-laws to better regulate boating on the canals and to manage the use of the canals. The proposed changes to the Canals Act 1986 would introduce a provision for the regulation of the type or class of boats (including its dimensions) that may be used on the canals. The provisions would also provide for the regulation of berths and moorings on the canals. This would include house boats. The proposed changes would allow Waterways Ireland to make new bye-laws to proactively manage the Royal and Grand Canals, as well as the Barrow Navigation. Following enactment of the legislation, Waterways Ireland would intend to bring forward proposed new bye-laws for consideration.
In relation to the Grand Canal Basin area, Waterways Ireland, through the Action Plan for Grand Canal Dock and Spencer Dock, is considering opportunities to increase access to Grand Canal Dock and Spencer Dock to reflect their importance as the gateways to the inland waterways network of Ireland. One of the actions being considered is opening access into Grand Canal Dock from the Grand Canal Dock DART Station on Barrow Street. This would leave Grand Canal Dock directly accessible by rail, just one stop from Trinity College, which would significantly increase the Dock's potential to attract both residents and visitors from this central location in the city.
I can assure the Deputy that Waterways Ireland will continue to work through a partnership approach with stakeholders, including State bodies, local authorities, Fáilte Ireland and, most importantly, local communities to create opportunities to increase the use of these valuable public assets.
472. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to safeguard the position and operation of the post office network and especially rural post offices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32207/16]
View answerThe postal sector is undergoing significant change both nationally and internationally, with the increased use of electronic communications leading to a decline in core mail volume for An Post. In recent years, there has also been a decline in Department of Social Protection payments and a reduction in Billpay transactions at post offices.
The Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to find solutions to the sustainability of the post office network in this changed business environment. The Post Office Network Business Development Group was established in late 2014 to examine the potential for the delivery of additional Government services through the post offices and to identify new business opportunities for the network.
The Group published its report in January of this year and, amongst its conclusions, recommended that An Post should review and amend the five-year strategy for the post office network, following appropriate consultation with postmasters and other stakeholders.
Two further Working Groups were also established this year to progress the wider recommendations of the Business Development Group. The Post Office Network Implementation Group has been examining issues such as the number and spatial distribution of Post Offices, branch modernisation, the streamlining of products and services, postmaster payments and contracts, and training and qualifications for post office employees. The Implementation Group is nearing the conclusion of its work and its recommendations will be issued to the Board and management of An Post in the next few weeks. It will be a matter for An Post, as a commercial State company, to consider these recommendations and to bring their proposals to the appropriate Government Ministers for discussion.
Separately, I established the Post Office Hub Working Group to identify potential models under which the post offices could act as community hubs, especially in rural areas. This Group has recently concluded its deliberations and is finalising its report. In addition, my officials have also been examining the potential for the post offices to deliver other services, including motor tax and financial services.
I intend to report to Government on these matters in the coming weeks.
473. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of persons that have visited the National Archives in each of the past five years. [37420/16]
View answerThe table shows visitor numbers to the National Archives from 2011-2015. The figures are published in the Director’s Annual Reports on www.nationalarchives.ie.
It may be noted that the National Archives continues to see growth in online visitors to its archival resources and this far exceeds footfall to the Reading Room. For example, in 2015 over 6,000 people visited the National Archives websites every day, compared with an average of 50 physical visits per day.
|
Year |
Number of Visitors |
|
2011 |
12,800 |
|
2012 |
12,700 |
|
2013 |
12,300 |
|
2014 |
14,854 |
|
2015 |
12,365 |
474. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the footage of a coursing meeting (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37460/16]
View answerOfficials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department attended the coursing meeting referred to and are examining the video footage in question. This may result in discussions with local coursing clubs and the Irish Coursing Club. I will be happy to release any reports of these meetings following completion of this process.
In August this year, my Department issued licences under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, covering its affiliated coursing clubs, to capture and tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings for the 2016/17 coursing season, which extends from the end of September 2016 to the end of February 2017.
There are 26 conditions in total associated with the licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club. These conditions, which have been developed and refined over a number of years, cover a wide range of issues, including prohibition on coursing hares more than once a day or coursing sick or injured hares, the need for adequate escapes for hares during coursing and releasing hares in daylight hours after meetings.
The muzzling of greyhounds at coursing meetings is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is my understanding that the Irish Coursing Club has implemented mandatory muzzling of greyhounds at regulated coursing meetings since the early 1990s. The muzzling of greyhounds appears to have proven effective in reducing the number of hare injuries and deaths at coursing meetings. For example, the percentage of hares released back into the wild after coursing meetings last season was 99.33%.
475. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will confirm the presence of NPWS officers at the hare coursing meeting in Ardpatrick, County Limerick on 19 November 2016; and if they took any action after the severe mauling of a hare at that event. [37461/16]
View answerThis meeting was not attended by officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. Owing to the restriction in staff recruitment and deployment in recent years, my Department is not in a position to provide 100% attendance at coursing meetings. We endeavour, however, to attend as many meetings as possible having regard to the calls on our staffing complement.
476. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures she will take to ensure that Westport House and its contents remain open to the public; the discussions that have taken place with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to consider acquiring the estate and its contents for the benefit of the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37477/16]
View answerAs Minister, I am fully aware of the cultural and economic importance of the institution in County Mayo referred to by the Deputy and of the threat to its future. In the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for the county, the related building is rated of ‘national’ significance.
In recognition of that significance, conservation works have been undertaken in recent years to the building with public funding support in the region of €2m being channelled through the Heritage Council. This was directed at the vital re-roofing works necessary to secure the survival of the fabric of the asset.
I understand that the House in question has now been offered for sale by the owners and that negotiations are underway with interested parties. As Minister, I have no role in this as it is a commercial matter between the owners of the property and parties interested in the purchase.
I am also aware of the general risk to the sustainable future of the remaining stock of large Irish Historic Houses, where owners have consistently struggled throughout the last century to find sustainable alternative means of meeting the on-going costs of their maintenance.
I am prepared to work closely with the owners of such properties and to support them to the extent feasible to allow these properties to remain open to the public. In February 2015, I approved the establishment of an Irish Historic Houses Committee, with representatives from relevant Government Departments, the Irish Historic Houses Association (a representative body for Historic House owners), Fáilte Ireland, relevant non-governmental organisations and a number of individual house owners. My Department has now concluded and published an Action Plan in this regard, which is being implemented in co-operation with the Irish Historic Houses Association.
As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Nonetheless, funding for the protection of built heritage continues to be provided by my Department in 2016 via a number of schemes, which are either directly administered or delivered through local authorities or through the Heritage Council. The remainder of my Department’s built heritage capital budget for 2016 is focused on the conservation and presentation of the State's heritage portfolio, which is managed by the Office of Public Works.
