Written Answers Nos. 675-691
675. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide details of employment within her Department including the number of persons that are employed in each office or sector in tabular form. [13674/17]
View answerI am advised that, as of 16 March 2017, there were 620.54 staff (Whole Time Equivalent) employed in my Department. The staff numbers are broken down as follows:
|
Division |
Whole Time Equivalent |
Headcount |
|
Secretary General |
1 |
1 |
|
Corporate |
94.02 |
98 |
|
Arts |
87.60 |
90 |
|
Heritage |
332.48 |
345 |
|
Regional & Rural |
48.31 |
49 |
|
Gaeltacht |
57.13 |
59 |
|
Total |
620.54 |
642 |
676. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of staff employed by the Arts Council. [13675/17]
View answerThe Arts Council has a current staff of 42.5 full-time equivalents. A list of contact details for Arts Council staff and advisers can be accessed on its website at the following link:
http://www.artscouncil.ie/Contact-us/Staff-and-adviser-lists/.
677. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount her Department has spent on external consultant reports since 1 January 2011 in tabular form. [13676/17]
View answerThe Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs was established under that title on 7th July 2016. It has responsibility for all the matters that previously came within the remit of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which was itself established on 2nd June 2011, and in addition is also responsible for certain functions transferred from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Accordingly, the information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table and provided in respect of the period from 2nd June 2011.
|
Year |
Expenditure (€) |
|
2011 |
34,678 |
|
2012 |
10,959 |
|
2013 |
28,782 |
|
2014 |
60,368 |
|
2015 |
24,747 |
|
2016 |
1,833 |
|
2017 |
0 |
|
Total |
161,367 |
678. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the application to the Heritage Council by a person (details supplied) for part funding for the re-thatching of a listed thatched building at the same address; if there are other schemes managed by her Department from which funding could be sourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13977/17]
View answerWhile the Heritage Council is funded by my Department, it is a statutorily independent body and as such, I have no role in respect to the matter referred to. My Department has two schemes which are operated through the local authorities to assist in the conservation of our built heritage and which could include thatched structures. However, the final date for receipt of applications for both schemes by the local authorities has now closed for this year.
I launched a €2 million scheme - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme - for the repair and conservation of protected structures in October 2015. This scheme operated in 2016 and is being operated again in 2017, on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014.
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. 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.
My Department does not administer a funding scheme specifically for thatched structures. However, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government administers a grant scheme for the renewal or repair of thatched roofs of owner occupied houses. Full details are available from their website or by contacting the Thatching Grants Section of that Department.
679. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total amount spent externally by her Department on legal advice for each year since 2015; the solicitors firms involved; the barristers, junior and senior, who provided services to her Department for each such year; the amounts paid to each firm or person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14126/17]
View answerI am advised that no expenditure was incurred from my Department's Administrative Budget in respect of external legal services since 2015. For completeness, I would bring to the Deputy's attention that, from time to time, my Department makes payments to the Chief State Solicitor's Office in respect of legal services provided to my Department by that Office.
680. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 1 March 2017, if her Department's observations dated 13 May 2016 requested by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on an application (details supplied) are based on a thorough examination and robust scientific assessment of the application and its supporting documentation as a whole; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14151/17]
View answer681. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 1 March 2017, if she is satisfied that her Department has properly advised the public and the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on an application (details supplied) when officially consulted in March and April 2016 by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, in view of the concerns raised by 555 public submissions and an organisation's observations on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14152/17]
View answer682. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 1 March 2017, if her views on whether her Department's observations remain appropriate in view of the 555 submissions which include a submission from an organisation (details supplied) as stated in her reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14153/17]
View answer683. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will provide a list of all the in combination issues that were considered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in its observations dated 13 May 2016 requested by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government on an application (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14154/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 680 to 683, inclusive, together.
As previously outlined to the Deputy, my Department, through its National Parks and Wildlife Service, provided observations on the application in question, and I am satisfied that they were appropriate.
My Department noted that the development is unlikely to have a negative interaction with Natura 2000 nature conservation sites due to the nature and location of the works, but set out a number of mitigation measures that should be required to avoid any negative interaction with protected marine mammals, including provision for further consideration of devices which might be deployed in the future.
My Department’s role here is to provide advice in relation the conservation of habitats and species as a Statutory Consultee and it has done so. The decision in this matter resides with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and he will have sight of all relevant submissions when making the decision. My Department will provide any further assistance or advice if so requested by him.
684. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in discussions between Irish Rail, Fingal County Council and her Department on the provision of a pedestrian and cyclist route along the railway across the Broadmeadow Estuary (details supplied). [14171/17]
View answerThe progression of any proposals in relation to the development of such a pedestrian and cyclist route is a matter, in the first instance, for consideration by Irish Rail and Fingal County Council.
685. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason a decision was made to appoint a director of the National Gallery of Ireland on a permanent basis rather than a contractual basis; and her views on whether this was an appropriate decision. [14175/17]
View answerIn accordance with the Government's policy for appointments at CEO/Director level in State agencies, the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland was given sanction to appoint a Director, on a fixed term basis, for five years. I am advised that the position has been advertised as such.
686. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the Public Appointments Service was not used when appointing a director of the National Gallery of Ireland and the director of Creative Ireland. [14176/17]
View answerI am advised that due to the level of recruitment currently underway, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) did not have the capacity to manage the recruitment campaign for the position of Director of the National Gallery of Ireland within the timeframe required. To assist in reaching the widest possible audience, PAS did, however, advertise the post on their website. The post of Director of Creative Ireland was filled through lateral mobility by an existing public servant and, therefore, the involvement of the Public Appointments Service did not arise.
687. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her Department has received any application under the built heritage investment scheme or the built heritage jobs leverage scheme from Cork County Council to support work at a location. (details supplied). [14192/17]
View answer688. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if there have been on-site inspections of a site (details supplied) since the fire in 2016 in order to ascertain its structural safety; if so, the conclusion; and if not, her views on whether that would be positive and useful. [14193/17]
View answer689. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received an application under the structures at risk fund to enable conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts, for a location (details supplied). [14194/17]
View answer690. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has provided any financial assistance to Cork County Council in support of protecting a site (details supplied) since the significant fire in 2016. [14195/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 687 to 690, inclusive, 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.
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.
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 under the Planning & Development and Sanitary Services Acts.
The structure referred to here is listed on the Record of Protected Structures for County Cork. The destruction of the house, which I understand is the subject of a Garda investigation as a criminal matter, is deeply regrettable. Officials of my Department met the local authority in the week following the fire and have been in contact with it again recently.
In relation to financial support for conservation and protection of heritage buildings, this is provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes.
The Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) enables conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. The closing date for receipt of applications from members of the public for the 2017 Structures at Risk Scheme was 28 February 2017. My Department has not received an application from Cork County Council for assistance under the fund in respect of the structure mentioned.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is also for the repair and conservation of protected structures. The closing date for local authorities to receive applications from members of the public was 28 February 2017. Applications are currently being assessed in local authorities and my Department does not as yet have details of the projects proposed, so I cannot say whether the structure mentioned has been the subject of an application for assistance under BHIS 2017.
My Department has not received any request for financial assistance from Cork County Council in respect of the structure mentioned since the fire in 2016.
691. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will confirm that no Minister or Minister of State under her remit since 2011 has claimed overnight expenses for staying in Dublin. [14561/17]
View answerI am advised that, prior to clarification in recent weeks from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, there were 4 claims for overnight expenses for staying in Dublin, outside of Dáil sitting days, from the current Ministers of State in my Department. Overnight expenses have not been paid since the position was recently clarified with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
