Written Answers Nos. 647-674
647. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the NPWS will make available the conservation rangers' reports, vet reports and hare capture reports for the 2016-17 hare coursing season. [12877/17]
View answerThe current 2016/17 coursing season finished at the end of February. It is intended to publish the various reports for the 2016/17 season compiled by the National Parks and Wildlife Service staff of my Department and the Irish Coursing Club on the NPWS website. There will be some 200 separate reports - including NPWS ranger reports, ICC Reports, ICC Veterinary Reports - ranging over 70 coursing meetings – and arrangements are underway to publish them as soon as possible.
The various reports for the 2015/16 coursing season have been published on the NPWS website.
648. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has considered the implications of increasing powers to Waterways Ireland, as proposed in the Heritage Bill 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12878/17]
View answerThe Heritage Bill 2016 includes provisions to amend the Canals Act 1986. The amendments to the Canals Act 1986 are primarily enabling provisions to allow for the making of bye-laws to regulate boating on the canals and to manage the use of the canals.
The 1988 Canal Bye-Laws have been in force for almost 30 years and need to be revised to reflect changes in the use of the canals over the intervening years. The proposed changes will allow Waterways Ireland to make new bye-laws to proactively manage the Royal and Grand Canals, as well as the Barrow Navigation.
The proposed amendments provide for the regulation of the canals; the issue of permits or licences to regulate the use of boats on the canals and on canal property; the regulation of the type or class of boat which may be used on the canals; the regulation of berths and moorings and the placing of buoys on the canals or other canal property; the regulation and care of animals on the canals and other canal property; the appointment and powers of authorised officers and the service of directions.
Our waterways make a vital contribution to tourism, attracting visitors from around Ireland and from abroad. With approximately 500 boats on the three systems, Waterways Ireland is seeking to encourage more visiting boats onto the waterways.
However, the existing bye-law regime is not conducive to advancing this objective. The proposed legislative changes are intended to encourage tourism and leisure craft users by supporting the investment already made by Waterways Ireland in new infrastructure and facilities along the canals and by enhancing Waterways Ireland’s ability to manage, maintain and develop the canals as a vibrant recreational and tourist amenity for all waterway users.
649. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the process by which an association (details supplied) can have the Ardagh Chalice put on display in the village of Ardagh as part of its itinerary of commemorative events being planned for 2018 to mark the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the Ardagh Chalice in Ardagh, County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12968/17]
View answerThe matter to which the Deputy refers is a day-to-day matter for the National Museum.
I understand that the National Museum of Ireland is working on plans for the anniversary of the discovery of the Ardagh Chalice in September 2018. The Museum has indicated that it will not be possible to display the chalice elsewhere as a consequence.
However, I understand that the Museum has been in contact directly with the association to discuss how the Museum could work with them on this important anniversary.
650. Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason for the delay in providing already approved compensation to a person (details supplied) and others in similar situations who have given a commitment to cease cutting of turf on sensitive sites; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13022/17]
View answerThe individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question applied to sell her interest in land in a raised bog natural heritage area under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, administered by my Department.
The 2014 Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. Arising from this review, 46 raised bog natural heritage areas (including parts of 7 sites) are scheduled for de-designation. The Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2016 provides for the de-designation of these sites.
The raised bog natural heritage area referred to in the Deputy’s Question is scheduled for de-designation. Domestic turf cutting may continue on this site, while large scale or commercial turf cutting will continue to be regulated through other consent systems.
The position of applications under the voluntary bog purchase scheme, with plots in the sites scheduled for de-designation, is being considered within my Department.
651. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she has taken to identify and ameliorate the primary issues hindering rural development, especially in regard to counties Sligo and Leitrim, with particular reference to the need to maintain a viable rural population and the recently announced action plan for rural development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13096/17]
View answerOn 23 January, I launched Realising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development. The Plan contains over 270 actions to be delivered by a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies to support the economic and social development of rural Ireland. The Plan was developed following an extensive consultation process with stakeholders to identify the key issues affecting rural communities today. The Action Plan contains measures across a range of policy areas which will help to maintain and revitalise rural communities across the whole country. For instance, a key component of the Plan is to support the creation of jobs throughout the regions to ensure that people who live in rural areas have increased opportunities for employment locally. The Plan aims to deliver 135,000 extra jobs outside of Dublin by 2020.
Our towns and villages are the heart of our rural communities, and it is important that we implement measures to help breath life back into these rural towns and villages. The rejuvenation of towns and villages will be supported under the Action Plan through schemes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the CLÁR Programme, both of which will be open to applications from counties Sligo and Leitrim. I also intend to launch a pilot scheme later in the year to encourage people to take up residential occupancy of premises in town centres.
The Action Plan also sets out a number of actions which will protect and enhance vital services in rural communities. For example, the Plan includes a commitment that no small school will close against the wishes of parents; it also sets out a number of actions in relation to access to healthcare, including an increase in the number of GPs in rural areas.
The actions in this Plan are the start of an on-going process which will be built on continuously to unlock the potential of rural Ireland and improve the lives of people who live and work in rural communities.
652. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she continues to encourage the promotion and development of the arts, with particular reference to the maximisation of employment opportunities arising therein, especially in regard to counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13098/17]
View answer655. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she continues to provide funding for the arts at local and community levels within counties Sligo and Leitrim, directly or indirectly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13101/17]
View answer657. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which her support for the arts sector continues to result in continued activity and employment, especially in regard to counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13103/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 652, 655 and 657 together.
Funding for the arts at all levels is primarily a matter for the Arts Council. I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council in Budget 2017. The increase in the Arts Council's allocation in 2017 is €5 million, or 8%, and will assist the Council greatly in implementing its 10-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025).
The Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme – Clár Éire Ildánach 2017 – 2022 on the 8 December 2016. Funding of €5m for the implementation of the programme was provided in Budget 2017.
This is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the 2016 commemorative programme.
The core proposition of this programme is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. The Creative Ireland Programme is the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach, the draft cultural policy which I published last year and which sees a vibrant cultural ecosystem as essential to society. The programme is based on five pillars:
- Enabling the creative potential of every child
- Enabling creativity in every community
- Investing in our creative and cultural infrastructure
- Establishing Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production
- Unifying our global reputation
Under the 2nd Pillar Enabling creativity in every community - each local authority is being asked to develop a Culture and Creativity Plan, reflecting the overall structure and aims of the national strategy for culture and creativity. Each local authority has now established a Culture Team bringing together arts officers, librarians, heritage officers, museum curators, archivists and other relevant personnel led by a Director of Services, with a nominated person as 'Creative Ireland Co-ordinator'.
‘Cruinniú na Cásca’, an annual programme of arts activities and cultural reflection to be held on Easter Monday, will be developed – across the island, locally, with our Diaspora, curated by the national broadcaster and delivered primarily by the local authorities. Beginning in 2018, there will also be an annual County of Culture award. The Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government will be a key partner in this pillar.
I also recently announced details of more than €9 million in capital funding for existing dedicated arts and culture centres across the country. The Arts and Culture Capital Scheme is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces. Under the scheme the Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo was awarded funding of €550,000. The Dock, in partnership with Leitrim County Council, was awarded funding of over €178,000 and North Leitrim Glens were awarded €50,000.
A full list of organisations to benefit from funding under Stream 1 and 2 of the Arts and Cultural Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is available on my Department's website.
Furthermore, I will be announcing a new small capital grants Scheme in the coming weeks which will be geared towards providing grants of up to €20,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit.
In addition to the increase in funding for the Arts Council, and for the Creative Ireland Programme, Budget 2017 also includes an additional €1 million to the Heritage Council. I also secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board, representing a 14% increase in its annual budget. My Department has commissioned an economic analysis of our screen based creative industries, in partnership with the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This study will examine the economic impact including employment and the potential of the Irish film, TV and animation sector. The commissioning of the study is a commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs 2016 and its recommendations will inform the development of policy in this area under the Creative Ireland Programme.
These kinds of investment are at the centre of what I am trying to achieve through Creative Ireland Programme and the Action Plan for Rural Development.
The Action Plan for Rural Development, which I launched with the Taoiseach in January, is the first whole-of-government strategy aimed at people living and working in rural Ireland. It aims to unlock the potential of rural Ireland through a framework of supports at national and local level which will ensure that people who live in rural areas have increased opportunities for employment locally, and access to public services and social networks that support a high quality of life.
The Action Plan is an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives right across Government which will benefit rural Ireland. It takes a cohesive and coordinated approach across the whole of Government to the implementation of both economic and social policies that impact on rural communities.
The Plan contains 276 actions which aim to improve both the economic and social fabric of rural Ireland spread across five pillars. Arts and Heritage are covered under the fourth pillar of the plan - Fostering Culture and Creativity in Rural Communities. The key objectives of this Pillar are to:
- Increase access to the arts and enhance cultural facilities in rural communities.
- Further develop and enhance culture and creativity in rural Ireland through the establishment of culture teams and creativity hubs as part of the Creative Ireland Programme.
- Promote the Irish language as a key resource in Gaeltacht and other rural communities.
These policy initiatives are supported by significant additional resources which are being directed towards the arts and culture sector.
All of this represents real and substantial funding increases across the arts and cultural area and has been welcomed across the sector. It reaffirms the commitment of this Government to progressively increase funding for the arts as the economy improves, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government and to ensure that all areas of the country benefit from the increased investment.
653. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which various at-risk heritage sites and buildings within counties Sligo and Leitrim continue to be protected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13099/17]
View answer654. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she is engaged in the restoration of major historical or cultural sites in counties Sligo and Leitrim at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13100/17]
View answer658. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will make an audit of all historical buildings, including those of architectural and cultural interest, especially in regard to counties Sligo and Leitrim; the degree to which alterations have been made in the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13104/17]
View answer667. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she is taking to preserve, support, maintain and promote heritage sites throughout counties Sligo and Leitrim and the country as a whole, with particular reference to the importance of ensuring that nothing is lost with regard to preservation for future generations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13349/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 653, 654, 658 and 667 together.
My role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets.
The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is a State initiative to identify, record, and evaluate the post-1700 built heritage of Ireland, uniformly and consistently as an aid to its protection and conservation. The NIAH building surveys provide the basis for my recommendations, as Minister for Arts, Heritage Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, to the planning authorities for the inclusion of particular structures in their Record of Protected Structures. The published surveys are a source of information on the selected structures for relevant planning authorities. They are also a research and educational resource.
The NIAH published surveys in 2007 for Sligo and in 2004 for Leitrim and issued ministerial recommendations to both councils for additions to their Record of Protected Structures. My Department has also published an introductory book to the built heritage of both counties.
Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including relevant structures on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
Under Section 54 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, a planning authority may add to or delete from its record of protected structures, a structure, a specified part of a structure or a specified feature of the attendant grounds of a structure. Such a structure, specified part of a structure, or specified feature remains on the record of protected structures until such time as the planning authority deletes it. Provision is made in the Act for the carrying out of works to protected structures either by way of planning permission or on the foot of a declaration received from a planning authority that certain works that would not materially affect the character of a structure are exempted development. There is a duty of owners and occupiers to protect structures from endangerment. Where structures become endangered or unauthorised development has been or is being carried out, the planning authority has the powers to take appropriate action.
I also have a role, as Minister, in terms of being a prescribed body under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001-2015, whereby development proposals that may impact on our built heritage are referred by planning authorities to my Department so that recommendations can be made as appropriate to avoid or mitigate any such impacts.
My Department has a number of measures at its disposal to facilitate the maintenance and restoration of major historical or cultural sites. As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014 of approximately 1,000 national monuments located at approximately 750 sites and in such cases there is a statutory duty to maintain the national monument. Such maintenance is undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Local authorities are responsible under the National Monuments Acts for maintaining the national monuments of which they are owners or guardians.
My Department is also providing €350,000 of funding to the OPW in 2017 to assist in the conservation and presentation of historic buildings and national monuments in State ownership. My Department’s National Monuments Service works in close collaboration with the OPW on survey, excavation and research work to optimise the protection, management, interpretation and presentation of national monuments in State care.
Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, my Department has established and maintains the Record of Monuments and Places, which affords legal protection to over 120,000 recorded archaeological sites and monuments in the State. Anyone proposing works to a monument that is included in the Record of Monument and Places must give my Department two months prior notice before works can start.
I launched a €2 million scheme - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme - for the repair and conservation of protected structures on 21 October 2015. This scheme operated in 2016, via the local authorities, on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014. The scheme provided funding for 278 projects nationally in 2016, including three projects in Leitrim and eight projects in Sligo. It is operating again this year and is expected to support in excess of 330 projects across the country in 2017 and to create employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas.
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, administered through the local authorities, supported 57 projects nationally in 2016, including one project in Leitrim and three projects in Sligo. It 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. The scheme is operating again in 2017.
Receipt of applications for both the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Structures at Risk is now closed, however on-going queries can be addressed to all respective local authorities who are implementing both schemes throughout 2017.
In view of the broad range of measures in place across the various areas of our built heritage which I have outlined above which involve my Department, Local Government and the OPW I do not consider that a further audit is required.
656. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which local community-based festivals within counties Sligo and Leitrim have benefited from EU grant aid, directly or indirectly, with particular reference to the specific grant aid for festivals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13102/17]
View answerThe LEADER Programme provides a wide range of supports to local community groups for a broad range of activities. Under the 2007 – 2013 LEADER Programme in excess of €150,000 was provided in LEADER grant aid for community based festivals in County Sligo while over €282,000 was provided in County Leitrim. Creative Europe 2014 - 2020 is the European Union’s funding programme to support the audiovisual, cultural and creative sectors. It consists of MEDIA and CULTURE sub-programmes as well as a Cross-sectoral strand.
The Creative Europe - Culture sub-programme has granted over €13 million in project funding to projects with Irish partners in its first three years. The majority of the funding available under the Culture sub-programme is via the co-operation projects strand.
While to date festivals based in Sligo or Leitrim have not been grant-aided under this Programme, there have been four Irish festivals involved as partners in projects with a total project grant allocation of just under €3 million. The Culture sub-programme also funds EU networks and platforms via operating grants for the lead organisations.
A complete list of funding results is published on the Education, Audio-Visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) website: http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/creative-europe/selection-results_en.
659. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the arts sector continues to attract philanthropic support; the extent to which this support occurs; if she will provide a breakdown on the destination of philanthropic funds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13105/17]
View answerPrivate support for the arts is an important funding source and the Government continues to support this through tax incentives and other initiatives. While my Department does not have a breakdown of the total flows of philanthropic funding to the sector, the Programme for a Partnership Government does contain a commitment to encourage strong, mutually beneficial links between the business community and the arts community to assist arts organisations to capitalise on sponsorship opportunities and to develop business partnerships and fundraising skills. In this regard, I recognise the important work carried out by Business to Arts for which my Department provides a small amount of assistance.
In addition, the Arts Council operates the RAISE programme, which seeks to enhance fund-raising skills in arts organisations with a view to diversifying the sector's sources of funding. It is designed to assist the sector in securing philanthropic contributions to the arts in Ireland.
In terms of other capital investment requiring co-funding, I have 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 such centres around the country. The funding, which is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021, is dependent on matching funding being secured by project promoters and therefore provides an opportunity for philanthropists to involve themselves in the arts.
The Deputy may also wish to know that, on December 8th last, the Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme/Clár Éire Ildánach as the Government’s Legacy Programme arising out of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025. The Creative Ireland Programme is a high-level, high-ambition, all-of-Government initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation.
My Department is now working to implement the Creative Ireland Programme with partners across Government and other key stakeholders. This includes delivery on an ambitious Year 1 Programme to deliver 10 initiatives by the end of 2017. Details of the Programme can be found on www.creative.ireland.ie.
It is hoped that this initiative will further stimulate private support for the arts.
660. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the 2017 town and village renewal scheme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13147/17]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23rd January, contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential. As part of Budget 2017, I have secured funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme this year. I intend to launch the first phase of this scheme in the coming weeks, with a focus on improving the economic development of our towns and villages. To ensure the maximum impact of the scheme, I am exploring how best we can align this scheme with other initiatives across Government which can also support the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages.
Further details will be made available when the scheme is launched.
I also intend to launch a second phase of the scheme later this year. This will be a pilot project to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot will be launched in the second half of the year, when details of the scheme have been finalised in consultation with relevant Departments.
661. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the action she is taking to support the Irish language; the initiatives she will enact to make the use of the Irish language more commonplace; the action she will take to further promote the use of the Irish language in the EU as Brexit approaches; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13213/17]
View answerMy Department is working in partnership with a broad range of organisations to support the Irish language and to support and encourage its use on a daily basis. This work incorporates a broad range of research, development and training in various sectors. Under my Department’s Irish Language Support Schemes, funding continues to be provided for Irish language courses in third-level institutions in Ireland and overseas and for terminology initiatives which support the status of Irish as an official and working language of the European Union. Funding is also provided for various organisations which promote the Irish language outside the Gaeltacht.
As technology advances and its use becomes more commonplace within society generally, it is expected that the use of Irish language technology will become more prevalent. To this end, my Department is continuing to support the provision of Irish language resources online and via the development of apps. In addition, funding is allocated to assist youth organisations and schools through the TechSpace as Gaeilge initiative to purchase digital media equipment. This new project was launched in 2015 and is aimed at young Irish language speakers interested in developing their digital media skills. TechSpace is a national network which helps young people to create digital and technological material as they engage in activities such as digital film, web design, mobile app development and robotics, among others. Techspace as Gaeilge was piloted in Connacht and it is currently being rolled out in the Munster region. It is proposed to roll out TechSpace as Gaeilge nationally, on phased basis over the coming years.
Also funded by my Department is the development by Fiontar, Dublin City University, of a database of EU terminology in the Irish language, an online database of place names and a joint project between the Department, UCD and DCU to digitise the Schools’ Collection of National Folklore Collection. Funding is also being provided to Trinity College Dublin for the development of the Irish language synthesiser project, abair.ie.
Funding in the region of €1m annually is provided through the Advanced Irish language Skills Initiative for a range of specialised third-level Irish language courses such as translation, interpretation, and law for the provision of suitably qualified persons to meet recruitment needs in the EU.
A total of €7.812m has been provided to my Department in 2017 for the promotion and maintenance of the Irish language in the Gaeltacht. This allocation consists of €1.422m in capital expenditure for the construction and refurbishment of language based facilities and the upgrade of summer colleges. The current funding allocation of €6.390m covers various language-centred programmes and schemes such as the Irish Language Summer Colleges, summer camps, language assistants in schools and other cultural activities directed primarily towards children and young people.
The work of Údarás na Gaeltachta is, of course, also vital in our efforts to maintain the Irish language as the community language of the Gaeltacht. An tÚdarás currently supports the creation of in the region of 500 Gaeltacht-based jobs annually and also funds community development structures, the Irish language arts and pre-school education in Gaeltacht areas.
Work is also ongoing in respect of the language planning process provided for in the Gaeltacht Act 2012. At present, 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas have been recognised for the purposes of the Act. Under the Act, Gaeltacht Service Towns are defined as those towns situated in or adjacent to Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas and which have a significant role in providing public services and recreational, social and commercial facilities for those areas. Late in 2016, notices were published under the Act in respect of Daingean Uí Chúis, Co. Kerry, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, and Galway City. This effectively starts the process to prepare and implement language plans for these Gaeltacht Service Towns. Foras na Gaeilge is responsible under the Act for supporting organisations with regard to the preparation and implementation of language plans in Irish Language Networks, those areas outside the Gaeltacht which have achieved a basic critical mass of community and State support for the Irish language. Foras na Gaeilge has selected Loughrea, Co. Galway, Ennis, Co. Clare, and Clondalkin, Dublin as Irish Language Networks and the process to prepare language plans in respect of these networks has now begun.
In addition, my Department provides co-funding, in co-operation with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, to Foras na Gaeilge to carry out its legislative mandate to promote the Irish language on an all-island basis. In that context, Foras na Gaeilge supports a wide range of initiatives which promote the use of Irish in everyday life. Foras supports the work of six lead organisations which focus on key strategic areas such as education, raising language awareness and creating opportunities to use the language, in addition to community and economic development.
The Deputy will be interested to learn that my Department recently held a Brexit consultation event with its stakeholders, which included Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta and Conradh na Gaeilge, for the purpose of gaining an insight into the difficulties these organisations potentially face as a result of Brexit. This exercise proved particularly fruitful, given the high level of engagement by all parties, and the insights gained by my Department will assist it in minimising the impact of Brexit on its stakeholders.
Further information about the work of the Department and organisations under its remit is available on its website at: www.ahrrga.gov.ie.
662. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to re-establish the all-party consultation group on the decade of commemorations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13268/17]
View answerThe Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the Decade of Centenaries based on the inclusive, open and consultative approach that has worked so well for last year’s 1916 Rising centenary commemorations. At all times, the Government has been supported in its plans by the guidance and advice of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations and the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations.
I am currently considering the steps necessary to re-establish the Oireachtas All-Party Consultation Group on Commemorations and I am committed to ensuring that we will be able to reflect appropriately and respectfully on all of the major historical events to be commemorated over the remainder of the Decade.
663. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the charge to the Exchequer of a 10% increase to the arts budget of her Department. [13278/17]
View answerThe 2017 Revised Estimates for Public Services was published in December by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and are available on that Department’s website at http://www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/.
As is shown in the published figures, the 2017 allocation to Arts, Culture and Film is €158.261m and most of this is allocated to the agencies under the aegis of the Department. Details of the expenditure outturns are published each year in the Appropriation Account and these are published by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General at www.audgen.gov.ie.
It should be noted that in Budget 2017 I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board. The increase in the Arts Council's allocation in 2017 is €5 million, or 8%, and will assist the Council greatly in implementing its 10-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025). I also secured an increase of €2 million for the Irish Film Board, representing a 14% increase in its annual budget.
Budget 2017 also includes:
- increased funding for all of the National Cultural Institutions;
- an increase of €1 million for Culture Ireland;
- an additional €1 million to the Heritage Council; and
- funding of €5m for the implementation of the Creative Ireland Programme.
664. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to pay compensation to any farmer who has designated land which they cannot sell; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13279/17]
View answerUnder the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulation and the Wildlife Acts, compensation may be payable where a person has been refused consent by me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, for a prescribed activity within a designated site that he or she had been undertaking in the five year period prior to the refusal. However, compensation schemes have generally been put in place, where required, without the need to undergo a formal process under the relevant legislation. Such schemes include a comprehensive compensation scheme for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog habitat.
665. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the National Museum of Ireland's Museum of Country Life in Castlebar has the necessary funding and resources to remain open to the public and provide a high-quality of service for the next five years. [13322/17]
View answerThe National Museum of Ireland is currently engaged in a master planning process for all its sites including the Museum of Country Life. This process has included consultations in recent months with staff as well as with local stakeholders on the future direction of the Museum of Country Life and how best to enhance and expand the Museum's presence there.
I will continue to be supportive of the Chair and the new board in implementing change in the museum, as well as preparing new plans to improve the museum's services to the public over the coming years.
Since 2015, I have obtained significant additional resources for our national cultural institutions including the National Museum. In the last Budget, I obtained an extra €2 million across the Cultural Institutions of which €650,000 was allocated to the National Museum. This confirms my commitment towards progressively increasing funding for the arts and culture as the economy improves.
666. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will confirm that in line with the one person one salary principle, no public servant that is a member of a State board or agency under the control of her Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees and if any such remuneration is being paid that such payment will be discontinued and payments that were wrongfully paid will be reclaimed. [13329/17]
View answerI am informed that, in line with the one person one salary principle, no public servant who is a member of a State board or agency under the aegis of my Department is currently in receipt of remuneration in the form of board fees.
668. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she encourages internationally the use of Ireland, particularly counties Sligo and Leitrim, as a film location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13350/17]
View answerMy Department will continue to promote economic development of Ireland across its full remit, including for example, under the recently published Action Plan for Rural Development and Creative Ireland Programme.
In this regard, the Irish Film Board continues to support the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, promotes the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming in Ireland. The Board liaises with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland to maximise joint opportunities for promotion of Ireland as a location for film productions.
The Creative Ireland Programme is a five-year all-of-government initiative, from 2017 to 2022, which places creativity at the centre of public policy and aims to improve access to cultural and creative activity in every county across the country.
Under Pillar 2 of the Programme - Enabling Culture and Creativity in Every Community - each local authority will be asked to develop a Culture and Creativity Plan, reflecting the overall structure and aims of the national strategy for culture and creativity. Each local authority has now established a Culture Team bringing together arts officers, librarians, heritage officers, museum curators, archivists and other relevant personnel led by a Director of Services, with a nominated person as 'Creative Ireland Co-ordinator'.
The overarching, long-term objective of Pillar 4 - Ireland: A Centre of Excellence in Media Production- is to elevate the creative industries (including media, architecture, design, digital technology, fashion, food and crafts) drawing together, on an all-of-government basis, State agencies, industry partners and those engaged in fostering innovation in enterprise. As an initial project, the key focus will be on Ireland’s potential to be a global leader in film production, TV drama, documentary, children’s storytelling, and animation for the screen.
In this regard, my Department has commissioned an economic analysis of our screen based creative industries, in partnership with the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. This study will examine the economic impact including employment and the potential of the Irish film, TV and animation sector. The commissioning of the study is a commitment in the Action Plan for Jobs 2016 and its recommendations will inform the development of policy in this area under the Creative Ireland Programme.
669. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide details on local authority contributions to the arts including their definition of arts funding and a breakdown of proportional expenditure; and the breakdown between capital and current expenditure by each local authority, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13400/17]
View answerMy Department does not collect statistics on local authority expenditure on the arts.
Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council works in partnership with local authorities in developing the arts at local level. The Council also has a similar long-term partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta under its Ealaín na Gaeltachta programme in Gaeltacht areas. Details of its funding to local authorities are routinely published on its website and in the Council's annual reports.
My Department provides capital funding for arts and cultural infrastructure. I recently announced details of more than €9 million in capital funding for existing dedicated arts and culture centres across the country. The Arts and Culture Capital Scheme is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces.
670. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of each artist funded by Culture Ireland in 2014, 2015 and 2016 either via grant or sponsorship, in tabular form; the amounts received in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13445/17]
View answerCulture Ireland, a division of my Department, was established in 2005 with a focussed remit to promote Irish arts worldwide. Culture Ireland operates a grant funding scheme designed to support the presentation and promotion of Irish arts internationally and raise the global awareness and appreciation of Irish arts, develop new audiences and generate career opportunities for Irish artists.
Details of the artists funded by Culture Ireland from 2014 to 2016 and the amount they were awarded can be found on the Culture Ireland website using the following link: http://applications.cultureireland.ie/index.php?r=reports/outcomeGrant&year=2016&program_id=1.
671. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason that €3.8 million of the capital carryover from 2016 into 2017 arising from an underspend on the decade of centenaries 1912-1922 has been allocated to other purposes in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13647/17]
View answer672. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the €500,000 of capital carryover from 2016 into 2017 arising from an underspend on the Gaeltacht support schemes has been allocated to other purposes in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13648/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 672 together.
Public Financial Procedures provide that a maximum of 10% of the capital envelope of a Vote may be carried over by way of deferred surrender to the following year for spending in that year on priority capital programmes subject to the approval of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The Procedures do not require that the savings are carried over into the programme area in which they arose.
Having regard to known pressures across programme areas in my Department for 2017, and having regard to the totality of expenditure across my Department's Vote in 2016, including the redistribution of savings in 2016 by means of virement sanctioned by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I am satisfied that the distribution of the capital carryover for spending on priority capital programmes in 2017 is appropriate.
673. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the criteria under the built heritage investment scheme; if an historical site (details supplied) would qualify for this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13672/17]
View answerThe Built Heritage Investment Scheme was developed to assist with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). The scheme is expected to support over three hundred projects across the country in 2017 and to create employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas. The categories of structures eligible for assistance under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme are as follows:
- Protected structures, i.e. those structures included in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) of each planning authority.
- Proposed Protected Structures, i.e., those structures that are proposed for inclusion in the RPS of each planning authority but have not yet been formally approved for inclusion. All proposed protected structures awarded funding under this scheme must be added to the RPS by 31 December 2017, or
- Structures in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs), or within the amenity of a National Monument, where exceptional circumstances are deemed by the Department to apply.
I understand that the structure in question is not on the RPS of the local authority and is not a National Monument. The Circular setting out the terms and conditions for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2017 is available on all local authority websites, and on my Department’s website. Any enquiries about the scheme should be directed to the relevant local authority.
Applications from members of the public for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2017 were accepted in local authorities throughout the month of February and have now closed. The applications will be assessed by each local authority and a final list of projects submitted to me for approval by the end of this month. Successful applicants will be notified by their local authority shortly thereafter.
674. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when local authorities will receive funding under the structures at risk fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13673/17]
View answerThe 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. Structures must be on the local authority Record of Protected Structures. The fund, administered through the local authorities, supported 57 projects nationally in 2016. It 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.
Applications from members of the public for the 2017 Structures at Risk Fund were accepted in local authorities throughout the month of February and have now closed. Each local authority can select up to three applications and submit to my Department for assessment by an expert panel. It is expected that the panel will meet before the end of this month and successful applicants will be notified by their local authority shortly thereafter.
The Circular setting out the terms and conditions for the Structures at Risk Fund 2017 is available on all local authority websites, and on my Department’s website. Any enquiries should be directed to the relevant local authority.
