Written Answers Nos. 446 - 460
446. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on increasing pensions of retired public servants in line with the pay rises being implemented for serving public servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18211/17]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question no. 10500/17 on 2 March 2017.
447. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount of money spent across Departments over the past five years on maintaining vacant or unused State-owned properties, including security arrangements. [18330/17]
View answerI am advised by the Commissioners of Public Works that the information sought by the Deputy is currently being collated. A detailed response will issue directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
448. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason members of the fire services were not awarded with 1916 commemorative medals along with other front-line emergency services in 2016; if she will review this and present members of the fire services with the 1916 commemorative medals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17497/17]
View answerThe presentation of medals for participation in the 1916 commemorations were a matter for the services concerned and/or their sponsoring Departments. My Department has no role in relation to the local authority fire services.
449. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status regarding implementing the numerous components of the 20-year strategy for Irish language report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17600/17]
View answerThe 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 represents the foundation stone of the Government's policy on the Irish language. In that context, 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 Strategy is recognised as a key priority in the Programme for a Partnership Government. Progress reports on the implementation of the Strategy between 2010 and 2015 were published in December 2015 by all 16 Government Departments. It is evident from these reports that a solid foundation exists on which to build during the five-year period from 2016 onwards. These can be found at http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/gaeltacht/20-year-strategy-for-the-irish-language-2010-2030/implementation-of-the-strategy/.
The reports were published during an open policy debate on the Strategy which was organised by my Department in light of the fact that the Strategy was five years in existence at the end of 2015. The primary purpose of the open policy debate was to facilitate feedback in relation to progress to date regarding the Strategy’s implementation and to identify priorities for the coming five years. As part of that process, a series of public meetings were convened, in addition to written submissions being sought from both the public and key stakeholders alike.
In order to assist in the process, the services of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUIG, were engaged by my Department to prepare a report summarising the key conclusions of the public consultation process and to identify key strategic priorities for the coming years. This draft report has been submitted to the Advisory Committee established to advise on the implementation of the Strategy for its consideration. Following receipt of the Advisory Committee’s recommendations, it is my intention to publish, by mid-2017, an action plan for the period 2017-2022 which will contain specified strategic priorities for the next five years along with a timeline for their implementation.
A copy of An tAcadamh’s report can be found at: http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/03/an-diospoireacht-oscailte-ar-pholasai-faoin-straiteis-fiche-bliain-don-ghaeilge-2010-2030-priomhthosaiochtai-straiteiseacha.pdf
450. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of unfilled permanent positions at Glenveagh National Park; the details of the permanent job positions currently vacant; when her Department will advertise to recruit for these permanent positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17628/17]
View answerThe staffing resources required to meet my Department's business needs are assessed through the Department’s workforce planning process, having regard to emerging business priorities, the availability of payroll resources and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform directives, guidelines and circulars on staffing.
My Department’s Workforce Plan does not identify vacancies across the different work sectors, whether arising from retirements or other factors, but seeks rather to identify gaps in service delivery that can be addressed on a priority basis in light of available resources. In that regard, I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is currently working to fill positions across the country through internal competitions and external recruitment, including one permanent position and sixteen seasonal positions at Glenveagh National Park.
451. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of permanent employees and the number of temporary employees in each of the past five years employed at Glenveagh National Park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17629/17]
View answerThe table outlines the number of permanent and temporary employees employed at Glenveagh National Park in each of the past five years.
The number of permanent and temporary employees employed at Glenveagh National Park in each of the past five years:
|
- |
Permanent |
Temporary |
Total |
|
2012 |
32 |
19 |
51 |
|
2013 |
28 |
19 |
47 |
|
2014 |
27 |
17 |
44 |
|
2015 |
26 |
18 |
44 |
|
2016 |
27 |
16 |
43 |
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department is currently in the process of a number of recruitment campaigns for seasonal staff, across a number of grades, to manage our National Parks including Glenveagh National Park.
452. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures persons can take in respect of the culling of deer that are trespassing on their land (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17688/17]
View answerWild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. There is an annual open season during which deer can be legally shot under licence. The open season for deer operates generally from 1 September to the last day of February, depending on the species and gender of deer.
Control of deer on private property is the responsibility of landowners who may apply to my Department for a permission under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts to cull deer where this is necessary outside the annual open seasons. These permissions offer a facility whereby a person can obtain a permit, on a case by case basis, to prevent serious damage caused by individual deer on specific lands. Permissions are only issued where there is evidence of such damage.
453. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount in unclaimed life insurance policies; and her plans to deal with these unclaimed policies. [17720/17]
View answerThe Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003 and the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Acts 2005-2012, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post), and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings. The Dormant Accounts Fund is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency.
Since its establishment in April 2003 to the end of December 2016, transfers to the Fund from unclaimed accounts have totalled some €889m, including €122m from insurance undertakings. Funds reclaimed in that period by account holders amounted to around €338m.
The Dormant Accounts legislation guarantees the right of account holders to reclaim funds at any time. This is a matter between the individual account holder and the relevant credit institution or undertaking. In addition, the legislation also provides for disbursements from the Fund for the purposes of programmes or projects to assist:
- the personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged;
- the educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or
- persons with a disability.
My Department's role in relation to the Dormant Accounts Fund is to prepare a Disbursement Scheme every three years, which sets out the objectives to be achieved by making disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund and the strategies for achieving those objectives. My Department also co-ordinates the preparation of annual Action Plans in accordance with the three-year Disbursement Scheme, which contain the details of specific programmes and projects for delivery across Government Departments.
Up to the end of December 2016, €321m of disbursements have been approved for projects and programmes that meet the objectives of the legislation, with €275m of those approvals having been drawn down by projects to the end of last year. Further data in relation to Dormant Accounts funding are available on my Department’s website at http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/04/31-12-2016.pdf
My Department is currently finalising a new Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursement Scheme, following a detailed consultation process across Government Departments. This Scheme will cover the period 2017-2019 and will be submitted to the Cabinet for approval shortly.
Following Government approval of the Disbursement Scheme, an Action Plan for 2017 will be drawn up in consultation with relevant Government Departments.
454. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the NPWS did not comment on the lack of an NIS and or an EIS in its observations advising on the protection of surrounding networks in relation to a foreshore lease application (details supplied) in view of the fact that the screening process identified likely significant effects on the integrity of sites (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17883/17]
View answer455. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the rationale behind agreeing with the conclusion that no pathway exists by which a proposed test site (details supplied) could impact upon any adjacent designated site when the birds protected in the SPA can fly the short distance to the test site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17884/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 455 together.
As previously outlined on a number of occasions to the Deputy, my Department, through its National Parks and Wildlife Service, provided observations on the application in question, noting that the development is unlikely to have a negative interaction with nature conservation sites referred to by the Deputy, due to the nature and location of the works, and I am satisfied that those observations were correct.
Almost all birds in a protected site could fly to other areas which contain developments but this of itself does not pose a threat to the protected site. The risks to species listed for the nearest sites were dealt with in the Appropriate Assessment Stage 1 Screening Report.
An NIS or EIS is not necessarily required for a project. The site proposed in the application is not within any currently designated Natura site. Under Regulation 42 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulation S.I. 411of 2011, any plan or project must be screened for Appropriate Assessment. The proposed development was screened out in the proponents’ report, which provided a scientific rationale to assert that there were no likely significant effects on listed species for nearby Natura sites.
The requirement for an Environmental Impact Statement is set out in the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulation S.I.349 of 1989 and amendments. In documentation supporting the application it was concluded that the proposed development of the test site does not conform to the definitions provided by Annex I of Council Directive 85/337/EEC and amendments. The decision related to the requirements for an NIS/EIS will be made by Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government as part of its statutory role.
456. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her Department provides rural proofing training to officials; the number of officials that have undertaken rural proofing training; the Departments from which officials have undertaken the training; the number of officials from each Department that have undertaken the training; the cost of providing such training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17907/17]
View answerIt should be noted that the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, Realising our Rural Potential, which was launched on 23 January 2017, contains an action which requires my Department to undertake the development of a new and effective rural-proofing model to support the policy-making processes of all Government Departments, State bodies and agencies. The model will be developed by the end of this year.
My Department continues to deliver relevant training to officers as required, and any requirement for rural proofing training for officials in my Department will be considered in the light of the model mentioned above, when developed.
457. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of vacant buildings in her Department’s ownership or control; the locations of same; and the time they have been unoccupied in each case. [17927/17]
View answer473. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount spent across her Department over the past five years on maintaining vacant or unused State-owned properties, including security arrangements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18722/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 457 and 473 together.
As I have advised the House in response to previous Questions, the management of properties occupied by staff of my Department is primarily a matter for the Office of Public Works.
However, my Department is the owner of significant lands across the country, including national parks, national monuments sites, nature reserves and other property acquired for purposes of heritage protection and conservation.
Wherever possible, all buildings on these lands owned by the Department, for example within the six National Parks, are maintained in active use either as office and research facilities, stores, visitor centres or in some cases as residential accommodation for staff.
Such buildings may become vacant from time to time pending refurbishment. Maintenance and security costs in respect of all properties are treated as an integral part of the management of these properties and I am advised that, while discrete costs in respect of individual properties are not readily identifiable from within operational budgets, no significant additional expenditure has been incurred in respect of vacant properties in the period in question.
458. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the specific areas of the electoral divisions in the Kells municipal district that are designated within the CLÁR area. [17959/17]
View answerThe CLÁR programme (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) was originally launched in October 2001 to provide for targeted investment in disadvantaged rural areas.
The areas originally selected for inclusion in the CLÁR programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996, with the exception of the Cooley Peninsula which was included on the basis of the serious difficulties caused in that area by Foot and Mouth disease. The average population loss in the original CLÁR regions over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.
In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by the National Institute for Regional and Spatial Analysis (NIRSA) at Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002.
Table 1 provides details of individual District Electoral Divisions (DEDs) in Co. Meath which are eligible for funding under CLÁR. A map showing the location of these areas in Co. Meath is available on my Department’s website at http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/04/meath.pdf. On the basis of the criteria set out above, the town of Kells is not an eligible area for CLÁR.
Table 1: County Meath CLÁR DEDs
|
DED ID |
DED NAME |
DED ID |
DED NAME |
|
11020 |
Ballinlough |
11061 |
Crossakeel |
|
11023 |
Burry |
11062 |
Crosskeys |
|
11025 |
Castlekeeran |
11063 |
Killallon |
|
11030 |
Kilskeer |
11064 |
Killeagh |
|
11034 |
Moybolgue |
11065 |
Knocklough |
|
11036 |
Newcastle |
11066 |
Moylagh |
|
11042 |
Trohanny |
11068 |
Stonefield |
459. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the board membership by gender of the national cultural institutions, the Irish Film Board, the Arts Council and Culture Ireland; her plans to address gender imbalance within these bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18013/17]
View answerIn accordance with the government's 2014 Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards, I am pleased to say that I have achieved the gender ratio target on the Boards of the Arts Council, the National Concert Hall, the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Library of Ireland, the Irish Museum of Modern Art and the Crawford Art Gallery.
The Public Appointments Service operates a dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, through which it advertises vacancies on State Boards. A breakdown by gender of membership of boards under the aegis of my Department is publicly available on the website at the following link: Boards under Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. It should be noted that Culture Ireland is a section of the Arts Division of my Department, and, as such, does not have a Board.
Following public advertisements, and rigorous assessment of candidates in cooperation with the Public Appointments Service, I have made appointments to the Boards of the National Concert Hall, the National Library of Ireland, the National Gallery of Ireland, the National Museum of Ireland, The Irish Museum of Modern Art, the Crawford Gallery and the Arts Council. I have announced appointments to the Irish Film Board and these are pending. The gender ratio of each of the Boards was given due regard when I made appointments, and I will continue to actively seek to meet the government's target of at least 40% for representation of each gender on all State Boards, within the constraints of available applicants and of statutory requirements for appointments to each Board.
460. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the gender balance of her Department’s staff by percentage, in tabular form; the gender balance of senior officials and management within her Department, by percentage, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18014/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
Staff Breakdown by Gender 31.03.2017 |
||
|
No |
% |
|
|
Male |
353 |
51 |
|
Female |
340 |
49 |
|
Total |
693 |
100 |
|
Senior Management Breakdown - AP, Equivalents and Above |
||
|
No |
% |
|
|
Female |
52 |
38 |
|
Male |
84 |
62 |
|
Total |
136 |
100 |
