Written Answers Nos 59-78
59. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the National Parks and Wildlife Service is using Larsen traps, which have been banned in many EU countries and banned here under the Wildlife Act 1976. [40694/17]
View answerA significant number of native Irish breeding birds, particularly ground-nesting birds, are of priority conservation concern due to steep declines in their breeding population. This includes the Curlew, which has declined by 97% in Ireland since the late 1980s and needs substantial effort if it is to be saved from extinction as a breeding species here. Research has shown that one of the key reasons for the declines of Curlew and other ground-nesting birds is excessive predation rates, including by members of the crow family, in particular Grey Crows and Magpies. It is estimated that there are more than half a million of both species in Ireland, and that their population is artificially high. They are both difficult species to control effectively.
Magpies and Grey Crows are controlled, in a managed and localised way, by professional operatives on contract to the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to help rare and threatened species rear their young. Larsen traps are used as part of this effort.
The use of Larsen traps is permitted in Ireland subject to compliance with the Wildlife Acts (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003, and Section 35(5) of the Wildlife Acts.
The Wild Bird Declarations which I signed in April of this year and which run to May of 2018 makes it lawful to hunt Grey Crows and Magpies with cage traps (including Larsen traps) once the conditions set out in the declarations are met during the periods and for the reasons set out in the declarations.
60. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the assistance her Department is providing to rural counties such as Sligo and Leitrim in order to increase participation in arts and culture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40716/17]
View answerFunding 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) across the country.
The Creative Ireland Programme – Clár Éire Ildánach 2017 – 2022 was launched 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 well-being. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the goodwill and engagement generated by the 2016 commemorative programme.
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, with the support of my Department, 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'.
In terms of capital investment, in February this year I announced details of more than €9 million in funding for existing dedicated arts and culture centres across the country. The Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 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 Streams 1 & 2 of this 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.
In August I announced further capital funding of almost €750,000 for more than 60 arts organisations around the country under Stream 3 of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme. This scheme is geared towards providing capital grants of up to €20,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit. Under this stream Anaglyph Ltd (Leitrim Sculpture Centre) in Leitrim was awarded €20,000, while the Michael Coleman Heritage Centre CCE and Teach Morrison Outreach Centre CCE, both in Sligo, were awarded €20,000 and €7,550 respectively.
A full list of successful projects under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 (Streams 1, 2 & 3) is available on the Department’s website at: http://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/creative-arts/grants-and-funding/
61. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to hold a further round of the arts and culture capital scheme in 2018 to support local arts centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40715/17]
View answerIn February this year I announced details of more than €9 million in capital funding for existing dedicated arts and culture centres across the country under Stream 1 and 2 of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018. This is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and is targeting investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces.
In August I announced further capital funding of almost €750,000 for 60 arts organisations around the country under Stream 3 of the Scheme for minor capital improvements and equipment upgrades.
The Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is flexible to ensure that a diverse number of arts organisations can benefit. As a result of the latest round of funding, more than 120 organisations in total have benefitted from all 3 Streams of the Scheme.
As part of the Creative Ireland Programme, I want to enable creativity in every community. In that regard, this investment is an important way of supporting the arts in the regions and ensuring that people right across the country can access quality cultural facilities.
A full list of all successful projects under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/creative-arts/grants-and-funding/.
I hope to run a further round of the scheme in the future, subject to available resources.
62. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which she and her Department continue to support, maintain, preserve and promote heritage sites throughout the country with particular reference to the need to ensure that nothing is lost that can be preserved for future generations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40723/17]
View answerMy role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role 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 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.
Financial support is provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings. These schemes are administered via the local authorities and include the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Structures at Risk Fund.
Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014, 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.
As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the National Monuments Acts 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.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department manages an extensive conservation and recreational property portfolio of some 79,000 hectares. Our 6 National Parks account for circa 60,000 hectares with another almost 20,000 hectares of nature reserves and other heritage sites.
While the existing National Parks are managed from a conservation perspective, it is also recognised that they are ‘core assets’ which play a very important role in Ireland’s tourism industry. As part of my Department’s continuing commitment and contribution to improving our tourism product, we have been exploring ways to optimise the sustainable tourism potential of heritage sites under our control in a way that is compatible with conservation objectives.
In this context, it should be noted that in late 2016 my Department negotiated the extension of Wicklow Mountains National Park by purchasing almost 4,900 acres of Dublin Uplands at Glenasmole at a cost of €800,000. The purchase underpins the Government’s on-going commitment to the preservation of our natural heritage for future generations of citizens and visitors alike to enjoy. In addition, my Department, in conjunction with Fáílte Ireland, launched a strategic investment partnership earlier this year with the aim of developing tourism projects and improving visitor experience at our National Parks.
63. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the actions she will take in the coming year to increase children's access to music, art and drama; and the funding she will dedicate to same. [40728/17]
View answerThe Creative Ireland Programme, which I launched in December 2016, places a special focus on “Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child”. Building on the Arts in Education Charter, this will involve the development of an integrated plan – Creative Children – to enable every child in Ireland to access tuition in music, drama, art and coding by 2022. My Department officials continue to work with relevant Departments and other stakeholders to develop this plan. The plan will be a primary driver of actions in this area in 2018.
I am pleased to say that continuing professional development through teacher - artist partnerships is ongoing and in July 2017 there was a significant increase in the number of courses taking place across twenty one Education Centres throughout the country.
In addition, the Arts Council commissioned report Arts and Cultural Participation among Children and Young People: Insights from the Growing Up in Ireland Study, which was published in September 2016, concluded that arts and cultural participation leads to a range of positive outcomes for children, both in terms of their cognitive development and their well-being. This study found that schools are important arenas for access to arts/culture and school emphasis on culture has a positive impact on student engagement in these activities.
This year the Arts Council increased funding in this area from €3.1m in 2016 to €3.7m in 2017 on foot of the significant increase of support of €5m which I secured for the Arts Council as part of Budget 2017. I also provided an additional €70,000 to the Arts Council to assist in the expansion of the Teacher Artist Partnership this year.
In terms of next steps, my Department is working closely with the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Youth and Children Affairs and the Arts Council in preparing the Creative Children plan to deliver the objectives of Pillar 1 of the Creative Ireland Programme. This plan will be launched later in the year.
64. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she expects to announce successful applicants under stream 3 of the arts and culture capital scheme which is targeted at small voluntary arts centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40529/17]
View answerStream 3 of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is geared towards providing capital grants of up to €20,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit. I opened this scheme for applications in May 2017 with a closing date was 16 June 2017.
Grants under this scheme will make a significant difference to individual arts and culture organisations which include small arts centres, theatres, galleries, museums, heritage centres, archives as well as artist studios and creative and performance spaces.
I am happy to inform the Deputy that on 4 August this year I announced funding for 60 projects under the scheme. Funding of more than €745,000 will be made available to these projects over the coming year. A wide variety of projects will benefit including IT related projects, new lighting and sound systems, seating, staging and storage and the improvement of digital facilities.
In addition to this funding which I announced last month, I also provided funding of over €9 million under Stream 1 and 2 of the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme earlier this year. This is benefitting a further 62 organisations. This investment is an important way of supporting the arts in the regions and ensuring that people right across the country can access quality cultural facilities.
Details of all grants are available on my Department's website
65. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a new commemorations committee will be set up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40525/17]
View answerI am committed to re-establishing the Oireachtas All Party Consultation Committee on Commemorations. I have written to the Ceann Comhairle to arrange for the nomination of members and also to the Leader of the SDLP to invite representation from that party to the committee. I expect that the practical arrangements to reconstitute the group will be completed shortly.
In the period leading up to the 1916 centenary commemorations, the All Party Consultation Committee on commemorations was instrumental in promoting an open, consensus-based and honest approach, which allowed all narratives to be heard and ensured that the State reflected appropriately on all of the major historical events as they unfolded. The work of the Committee complemented the work of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations which also advised the Government on its approach based on the authentic history of the period.
The Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the second half of the Decade of Centenaries. I believe that both the All Party Committee and the Expert Advisory Group have a significant contribution to make in relation to the second half of the Decade of Centenaries and I am looking forward to continued positive engagement and consultation with both groups over the coming period.
66. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to develop the runway on Inishbofin; and her further plans in respect of the use of both the Inishbofin and Cleggan runway. [40713/17]
View answerEarlier this year, my Department undertook a public consultation process whereby it sought submissions from interested parties in relation to the future use of airstrips and surrounding sites in the ownership of the Department on Inishbofin and at Cleggan, County Galway. A large number of submissions were received and these are currently being reviewed by my Department. The submissions received will inform my Department in its deliberations about the future of the facilities.
67. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the Creative Ireland programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40528/17]
View answerOn 8 December 2016, the Creative Ireland programme was launched 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/Éire Ildánach.
The Creative Ireland Programme is a high level, high ambition, 5-year initiative, from 2017 to 2022 (building up to the centenary of the foundation of the State) which aims to place creativity at the centre of public policy. The programme is being led by my Department in partnership with other Government Departments and Agencies, local authorities, the third level sector, arts and culture organisations (including the National Cultural Institutions) and relevant NGOs. The launch document for the programme identified ten actions for 2017, under five specific pillars:
- Enabling the Creative Potential of Every Child
- Enabling Creativity in Every Community
- Investing in our Creative and Cultural Infrastructure
- Ireland as a centre of Excellence in Media Production
- Unifying our Global reputation
There has been significant progress in relation to the delivery of the ten actions identified for 2017 as follows:
1. a national plan to enable every child in Ireland to access tuition in music, drama, art and coding.
My Department is in the process of drawing up a five year plan for the period 2018 to 2022 in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Arts Council. This will be launched later this year.
2. A Culture and Creativity plan in every county
Each of the 31 local authorities has produced a 2017 Creative Ireland Plan and is in the process of drawing up a more detailed 2018 Creative Plan setting out a five year plan for local creativity.
3. A Culture Team, Director-led, configured to local needs in each county.
Culture teams based on local needs have been established in all 31 local authorities.
4. Cruinniú na Casca programme
The first Cruinniú na Cásca - Irelands new national culture day - was launched on Easter Monday with the theme "Inclusion and Diversity". Consideration is now being given for approach to the Cruinniú in 2018.
5. The Departments of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Social Protection will work together to devise a mechanism to assist self-employed artists who have applied for Jobseekers allowance
A pilot scheme in relation to this measure was launched in May by both Departments.
6. A plan for the development of each National Cultural Institution to 2022
These plans are currently being finalised.
7.A five year capital investment programme for the culture and heritage sector .
Work is progressing on the preparation of this plan.
8. An industry wide, long term plan, for Ireland as a global hub for the production of Film, TV Drama, and Animation.
Work is progressing on the preparation of this plan in the context of an economic study of the industry commissioned by my Department, the Irish Film Board, the Department of Communications, Environment and Climate Action and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Employment.
9. A unified international identity and communications programme for Ireland .
This programme is underway. On 17th March the then Taoiseach launched a new portal website for Ireland - Ireland.ie - which has since been liked/viewed/shared more than 2m times around the world.
10. A new Creative Ireland Forum conference to showcase the best national and international thinking will have taken place.
This forum is planned to take place in December
My Department, together with its other partners, is now in the process of drawing up plans for 2018 and beyond in respect of the five pillars of the programme
69. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on whether the State investment in a centre (details supplied) is value for money. [40521/17]
View answerIn February 2016, my Department approved a grant to the local authority in question towards the cost of construction of the project referred to by the Deputy, subject to the standard conditions that apply to all such capital grants.
I understand that the options for developing the proposed project are now under review. My Department is liaising with the local authority on the matter and will consider any new proposals which may emerge from the review, when submitted by the local authority.
The onus to ensure compliance with the Public Spending Code, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform falls in the first instance on the project sponsor, which in this case is the local authority concerned. My Department will be satisfying itself that the project is in compliance with the relevant requirements of the Code before releasing any funding to the local authority in question.
70. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the capacity in which National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, officers are using Larsen traps; the time of year in which they are being used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40526/17]
View answerI replied to a similar question from the Deputy last week, which provided a substantive answer to the issues raised in relation to the regulated use of Larsen traps as part of my Department's work to protect rare and threatened ground nesting birds from predator species such as the Grey Crow.
A number of native Irish breeding birds, particularly ground-nesting birds, are of priority conservation concern due to steep declines in their breeding population. This includes the Curlew, which has declined by 97% in Ireland since the late 1980s and needs substantial effort if it is to be saved from extinction as a breeding species here. One of the main reasons for the declines of Curlew and other ground-nesting birds is excessive predation rates, including by members of the crow family, in particular Grey Crows and Magpies. It is estimated that there are more than half a million of both species in Ireland, and that their population is artificially high.
As part of the conservation work carried out by my Department’s National Parks and Wildlife Service, Magpies and Grey Crows are legally and humanely controlled, in a managed and localised way, to help protect rare and threatened species and to help them to rear their young. Larsen traps are used as part of this effort for Curlew, Red-throated Diver, Red Grouse, Lapwing, Redshank, Snipe, Corncrake and other species where predation is judged to be a significant factor in their decline. Traps can be used throughout the year, as appropriate, in response to threats to vulnerable ground-nesting species.
The use of Larsen Traps complies with the provisions of the Wildlife Act 1976 (Approved Traps, Snares and Nets) Regulations 2003 (SI No. 620/2003).
71. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will support the Arts Council to move to a longer term funding model for smaller arts organisations as recently discussed in the media. [40729/17]
View answerI understand that the Deputy may be referring to the new funding framework(Making Great Art Work Funding Framework)as recently announced by the Arts Council. The Arts Council is statutorily independent in relation to its funding and executive decisions.
The strategic context for the Arts Council’s support of arts participation and all other artforms and areas of arts practice is set out in Making Great Art Work: Arts Council Strategy (2016 –2025). A key commitment in the Council's Three-Year Plan 2017–2019 was to review its funding programmes, schemes and initiatives under its Making Great Art Work priorities. Such a review would assist the Council in how it invests in art and arts practice in a more effective way. It would also help streamline the supports available to artists and to arts organisations, and simplify and clarify the application, assessment and decision-making processes operated by the Council. The Making Great Art Work Funding Framework was the outcome of this review. Further details of the funding framework can be accessed on the Arts Council's website.
I will continue to support the Arts Council, as set out in the Programme for a Partnership Government, which contained a commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. To this effect in Budget 2017, I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council. The increase in the Arts Council's allocation in 2017 is €5 million, or 8%. This will assist the Council greatly in implementing its 10-year strategy Making Great Art Work (2016-2025) including under its new funding framework .
72. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the way in which Waterways Ireland can support recreational opportunities in rural counties through the development of blueways and greenways; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40717/17]
View answerWaterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of 1,000 km of the inland navigable waterway system throughout the island, principally for recreational purposes. This is a significant recreational resource and Waterways Ireland has been proactive in the development of Blueways and Greenways as a means to attract new visitors and in response to the growth for recreational activities such as walking, canoeing and cycling.
Waterways Ireland with partners in Monaghan County Council, Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council and East Border Region Ltd. are currently in the development phase of constructing a 22km greenway between Smithborough in Co. Monaghan and Middletown in Co. Armagh along the route of the Ulster Canal. The project is funded by the INTERREG VA programme and will be one of the first cross-border Greenways in Ireland.
Blueways have been successfully in operation on the Shannon since October 2014 linking Drumshanbo with Carrick-on-Shannon. Waterways Ireland recently opened an iconic Blueways Boardwalk on Acres Lake at Drumshanbo which is already attracting large volumes of users. The Shannon-Erne Blueway was opened in May 2016 linking Leitrim Village with Belturbet, Co Cavan, providing 70km of paddling journeys, 25km of walking trails and 8 km of cycling. Waterways Ireland, in conjunction with Local Authorities and other partners, are continuing to extend the Blueways offering on the Shannon and Shannon-Erne.
On the Barrow navigation, Waterways Ireland have submitted planning proposals to upgrade the Barrow towpath. This will provide a 112km trail from Lowtown in Co. Kildare to St Mullins in Co Carlow.
Work on developing the Royal Canal towpath as a walking and cycling destination is expected to be completed by December 2018 when the 145km route can be marketed as one of the largest Greenways/Blueways in Europe.
On the Grand Canal 21km of towpath has been upgraded with a further 110km yet to be completed. Waterways Ireland are again working with Local Authorities, Leader Groups, the National Transport Authority and the National Trails Office to ensure planning and funding are progressed to upgrade all of the Grand Canal towpath.
Clearly, the development of greenways and blueways presents valuable opportunities for rural communities to attract more visitors. Their value lies not only in the recreational opportunities that they offer but also in their potential to stimulate local businesses and regenerate local areas. Greenways and blueways also provide an effective model for partnership between the private, community and voluntary sectors and relevant State bodies.
73. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the process to instate a new director of Creative Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40725/17]
View answerI intend to fill the position of Director of the Creative Ireland programme through an open competition, managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). I am advised that applications for the position will be sought shortly.
74. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the issuing of hare coursing licences for the coming season. [40719/17]
View answerThe control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My responsibility relates to the conservation status of the hare.
Last month, my Department issued licences under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, covering some 87 affiliated coursing clubs, to capture and tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings for the 2017/18 season, which extends from the end of September 2017 to the end of February 2018.
There are a total of 22 conditions which are associated with the licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club which have been developed and refined over the year. These conditions cover such items as not coursing hares more than once a day, not coursing sick or injured hares and releasing hares in daylight hours after meetings.
Hare coursing meetings are monitored, as resources allow, by conservation rangers of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department in order to ensure compliance with the conditions of the licences.
75. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will withdraw from the appeal to the High Court Moore street decision to allow the development of the Moore Street battle field site into a high quality historic and heritage area. [40520/17]
View answerThe decision to appeal the High Court decision was taken by Government. As the High Court judgments give rise to much wider concerns for my own Department about the administration of the National Monuments Acts and for other Departments and official bodies in relation to public and social infrastructure provision, the orders of the High Court in all three sets of proceedings have been appealed. The appeals have been lodged on the advice of those other Departments and bodies and in accordance with clear and unambiguous advice from the Attorney General. The High Court proceedings in no way interfere with the ability of the Moore Street Advisory Group to work towards a consensus-based plan for the future of the site and its surrounding area.
The appeals are being processed through the Courts and, as such, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter at this juncture.
77. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available from her Department to local heritage groups to support the conservation of protected structures and buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40714/17]
View answerMy role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our built 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.
Financial support is delivered by my Department for the protection of heritage buildings under structured schemes which are administered via the local authorities.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures (i.e. structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures). This year the allocation is €3.5 million and the scheme is supporting in the region of 500 projects across the country, creating 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 has an allocation of €1.324 million in 2017 and is supporting 67 projects nationally. 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 Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually, having regard to competing priorities for limited resources. Grant schemes for 2017 are advertised by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie.
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 throughout the country.
78. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the commemorations that are planned or being co-ordinated in her Department for 2018; and her plans to commemorate the Good Friday Agreement's 20th anniversary. [40541/17]
View answerThe Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the Decade of Centenaries based on the inclusive, open and consultative approach that has become the hallmark of the Decade of Centenaries commemorative programme. The Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations will continue to advise and support the Government in its plans.
A number of significant historical events took place in 1918, which will be marked by the State next year, including but not limited to:
- The death of John Redmond on 6 March 1918;
- The great loss of life which resulted from the sinking of the RMS Leinster on 10 October 1918;
- The ending of World War I; and
- The outbreak of the Spanish Flu pandemic
Next year, the State will also mark the centenary of the introduction of universal suffrage, when, for the first time, women were allowed to vote in the General Election of 1918. 2018 also marks 100 years of women in Irish political life and Sinéad McCoole, who previously curated the Women of 1916 Exhibition, is working with my Department to develop a special exhibition to mark this occasion.
I can advise the Deputy that appropriate plans to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement will be developed, in consultation with my Government colleagues, key officials and the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations.
