Peadar Tóibín
Question:1847. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the spending by her Department by county for the past five years. [54358/17]
View answerDepartmental Expenditure
Questions (1847)
Written answers
Details of the annual funding allocation to my Department at subhead level are published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume. Through these subheads, my Department administers and delivers a wide range of programmes and measures, descriptions of which are available on its website at http://www.chg.gov.ie/
Expenditure under these programme areas is recorded and accounted for on a national basis and it is not possible to give a regional or county-by-county breakdown of that expenditure for the Department as a whole. For example, a number of my Department’s programmes are delivered through agencies and other intermediary bodies that operate across county boundaries and in respect of which there is no detailed breakdown on a county basis held by my Department. Groups and organisations that receive grants directly from my Department are not typically constituted on a single-county basis.
In view of this and because of the wide range of my Department’s schemes and programmes, and the large volumes of payments and grants involved, it is not possible to provide the information sought. However, if the Deputy has specific queries relating to a particular programme or grant, I will endeavour to provide him with relevant information in that regard.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1848)
Thomas Pringle
Question:1848. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding is available for a group (details supplied) in County Donegal to enable it to renew old equipment and to travel to a prestigious competition abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54386/17]
View answerWritten answers
While my Department does not have a fund for community groups to travel abroad for competitions my Department does fund the Music Capital Scheme which allocates grants each year to groups and individuals for the purchase of musical instruments. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on Tuesday 9 January last, I launched the new Music Capital Scheme with an increased allocation of €245,000 for 2018. Music Network manages the Scheme on behalf of my Department. All details are available at www.musicnetwork.ie.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1849)
Thomas Pringle
Question:1849. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding is available for a group (details supplied) in County Donegal to enable it to renew old equipment and to travel to a prestigious competition abroad; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54387/17]
View answerWritten answers
The issue of whether funding can be provided under my Department’s Community and Language Supports Programme (Clár Tacaíochtaí Pobail agus Teanga) in respect of the case to which the Deputy refers will be carefully considered in the context of the criteria and conditions which govern the scheme. However, no such application has been received to date.
National Monuments
Questions (1850)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1850. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to intervene to protect and preserve all 1916 buildings threatened with demolition; if preservation orders for all 1916 buildings in the Moore Street area will be issued to ensure their protection and preservation in view of a company (details supplied) refusing to engage with her consultative group; and if consideration has been given to proceeding with compulsory purchase orders on the entire site to secure it. [54415/17]
View answerWritten answers
All known archaeological monuments, of which there are in excess of 130,000, are entitled to protection under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2014. Protection may be extended to previously unrecorded monuments by entering them in the Register of Historic Monuments or the Record of Monuments and Places.
The Acts allow the Minister to make a Preservation Order where a national monument is considered to be at risk. In certain circumstances, the Minister may also acquire a national monument by agreement or compulsorily. These powers are exercised as and when appropriate.
As the Deputy is aware, the applicability of the provisions of the National Monuments Acts to particular buildings, structures and lands in the Moore Street area of Dublin is the subject of proceedings in the Court of Appeal on which a decision is awaited. It would be entirely inappropriate for me to speculate on the outcome of those proceedings or to comment in any way on related matters.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1851)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:1851. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding options available to purchase equipment for a newly formed brass band; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54546/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Music Capital Scheme allocates grants each year to groups and individuals for the purchase of musical instruments. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on Tuesday 9 January last, I launched the new Music Capital Scheme with an increased allocation of €245,000 for 2018. Music Network manages the Scheme on behalf of my Department. All details are available at www.musicnetwork.ie.
Commemorative Events
Questions (1852)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:1852. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the next meeting of the Famine commemoration committee is due to take place; if a decision will be made at that meeting on the international dimension of the famine commemoration in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54574/17]
View answerWritten answers
The official term of office of the National Famine Commemoration Committee expired at the end of 2017. Arrangements are being made for the appointment of a new National Famine Commemoration Committee and the first meeting of the new Committee will be arranged shortly.
Officials of my Department and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are continuing to develop proposals in relation to the 2018 International Famine Commemoration and these will be submitted to the Committee in due course.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1853)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1853. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if annual funding for a community centre (details supplied) will be provided. [54663/17]
View answerWritten answers
While my Department does not provide current funding for organisations such as that referred to by the Deputy it does fund the Music Capital Scheme which provides grants to groups and individuals for the purchase of musical instruments. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that on 9 January last, I launched the new Music Capital Scheme with an increased allocation of €245,000 for 2018. Music Network manages the Scheme on behalf of my Department and the organisation referred to by the Deputy can apply for funding under the scheme. All details are available at http://www.musicnetwork.ie/musicians/award1-info.
The Deputy may be also interested to learn that Creative Youth – a Plan to enable the Creativity of Every Child and Young Person was launched in December 2017 – a key element of the Creative Ireland Programme. The Creative Ireland Programme is an all of Government five-year initiative which places creativity at the centre of public policy. A key commitment of this plan is to ensure that every child in Ireland has practical access to tuition, experience and participation in music, drama, art and coding by 2022. There may be scope for groups such as that referred to by the Deputy to get involved in the Creative Youth Programme as the plan is rolled out.
Deontais Ranna
Questions (1854)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1854. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an gcuirfidh sí i bhfoirm tábla gach deontas a bhronn an Roinn ar gach aon ghrúpa, eagras nó duine aonair ón uair a bhí an tOlltoghchán deireanach ann; an léireoidh sí cén cineál deontais a bhí i gceist; cathain a fuair na grúpaí, na heagrais agus na daoine aonair na deontais seo; an ndéanfaidh sí an t-eolas maidir le cárbh as dóibh a bhriseadh síos ó thaobh contae de; agus cé méid airgid a bhí i gceist i gcás gach ceann acu. [54672/17]
View answerWritten answers
Déantar sonraí an chistiúcháin a leithdháiltear gach bliain ar mo Roinn ag leibhéal fo-mhírchinn a fhoilsiú sna Meastacháin Athbhreithnithe bhliantúla. Trí na fo-mhírchinn sin, déanann mo Roinn raon leathan clár agus beart a riar agus a chur i gcrích, agus tá cur síos orthu sin le fáil ar shuíomh na Roinne ag http://www.chg.gov.ie/
Foilsítear sonraí tháirgeacht iarbhír mo Roinne ag leibhéal fo-mhírchinn do 2016 sa Chuntas Leithreasa Bliantúil, atá ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste http://www.audgen.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=2623&CatID=3&StartDate=01+January+2017
Tá an obair le figiúirí caiteachais 2017 a thabhairt chun críche ar bun faoi láthair lena chinntiú go bhfuil cuntas ar an gcaiteachas i gcomhréir le polasaithe, prionsabail agus nósanna imeachta cuntasaíochta an Rialtais agus beidh sonraí chaiteachas 2017 ar fáil ar an suíomh gréasáin céanna níos faide anonn i mbliana.
Tugtar taifead agus cuntas ar chaiteachas faoi réimsí cláir ar bhonn náisiúnta agus ní feidir miondealú ar chaiteachas na Roinne ar fad a thabhairt de réir réigiúin ná ar bhonn contae. De ghnáth, ní bhíonn na grúpaí agus na heagraíochtaí a fhaigheann deontais go díreach ó mo Roinn déanta suas ar bhonn contae aonair.
Ina theannta sin, ní mór dom a lua go ndéantar cuid de chláir mo Roinne a chur ar fáil trí ghníomhaireachtaí.
Ag féachaint don méid thuas, agus mar gheall ar raon leathan scéimeanna agus clár mo Roinne, agus líon mór na n-íocaíochtaí agus na ndeontas atá i gceist, ní féidir an t-eolas atá á lorg a chur ar fáil. Má bhíonn ceisteanna sonracha ag an Teachta, áfach, a bhaineann le clár nó deontas áirithe, déanfaidh mé mo dhícheall an t-eolas ábhartha a thabhairt do.
Creative Ireland Programme
Questions (1855, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1859)
Niamh Smyth
Question:1855. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the research that was carried out that informed the policy decision to invest €0.9 million in citizen engagement under the Creative Ireland programme budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54695/17]
View answerNiamh Smyth
Question:1856. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the research that was carried out that informed the way in which the €0.9 million allocated to citizen engagement under the Creative Ireland programme budget would be spent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54696/17]
View answerNiamh Smyth
Question:1857. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a tendering process was undertaken in the relation to the €0.9 million spend on citizen engagement under the Creative Ireland programme budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54697/17]
View answerNiamh Smyth
Question:1858. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps her Department took to ensure that the expenditure of €0.9 million on citizen engagement under the Creative Ireland programme budget represented the best value for money for her department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54698/17]
View answerNiamh Smyth
Question:1859. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount of the €0.9 million allocated to citizen engagement under the Creative Ireland programme budget that was spent on social media advertising; the breakdown of the expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54699/17]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1855 to 1859, inclusive, together.
As part of the 2017 Creative Ireland Programme my Department undertook a comprehensive citizen engagement programme to showcase the range and depth of Ireland's cultural and creative offering and to encourage participation in arts and creative activities as a means of individual, collective and societal well-being. One of the objectives was to build awareness of the Creative Ireland Programme, particularly in its first year. The vision of the Creative Ireland Programme is that every person in Ireland should have the opportunity to realise their full creative potential. This represents a new approach to creativity and cultural policy and therefore required a substantial and sustained communications programme in 2017. A combination of approaches and platforms were used to maximise impact, taking account of the diversity of the target audiences.
The development of the citizen engagement programme was very much informed by the positive experience of previous programmes particularly the approach taken in the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. In addition, statistics relating to readership of national and regional newspapers, listenership to local radio and increased use of social media, particularly by younger people, all informed the choices made. The Programme was also designed to have as wide a reach as possible, including in rural areas.
Pending the tendering for services in relation to media management, my Department continued to use the services of a company which had been engaged during the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. This was short-term only for the provision of these services and my Department has since held a new tender competition for the provision of similar services should they be required in 2018 and has awarded a contract in this regard.
As part of the contract requirements the media management company produced reports and statistics in relation to all elements of the engagement programme including digital platforms. The high-quality content across all platforms including print and digital has been well received across the country. My Department is satisfied that in the initial year of the Creative Ireland Programme, such a widespread communications strategy was warranted and presented value for money.
Most recent figures show the following numbers:
Creative.ireland.ie(website) – 130,272 page views
Ireland.ie (website) – 138,388 page views
Creative Ireland facebook – 17,261 followers
Creative Ireland Twitter – 15,800 followers
A full expenditure breakdown of the €0.9m, including social media is provided on the Creative Ireland Programme website: www.creative.ireland.ie
Departmental Bodies
Questions (1860)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1860. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason there is currently no chairperson of the high level implementation group for the arts in education charter; and when this position will be filled. [54746/17]
View answerWritten answers
In April 2017, the Chairperson of the High Level Implementation Group on the Arts in Education Charter, tendered his resignation to my predecessor for personal reasons. On 7 December 2017 last the Creative Youth plan was launched. The plan sets out a suite of measures to deliver on Pillar 1 of the Creative Ireland Programme: to ensure that every child in Ireland has practical access to tuition, experience and participation in music, drama, art and coding by 2022. Creative Youth is a hugely ambitious five year Plan with 7 key actions which will build on policies and programmes that are already in place including the Arts in Education Charter.
Consideration is being given to the appropriate oversight mechanism for the Creative Youth Programme having regard to the existing structures developed for the Arts in Education Charter and the appointment of a new Chair of the High Level Group will be considered in this context.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1861, 1864, 1923, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941)
Seán Sherlock
Question:1861. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the change of use supplied by a company for a planned event centre in Cork; if the decision will impact on further funding of the project; and when funds will be allocated. [54752/17]
View answer
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:1864. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has received a request for additional funding for a centre (details supplied); if a decision has been taken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54799/17]
View answerSeán Sherlock
Question:1923. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a decision will issue on funding for the event centre in Cork; and the number of times she has met with other Ministers on the matter. [1257/18]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:1938. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the Cork events centre. [1746/18]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:1939. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has received a request for additional funding from Cork City Council towards the Cork events centre; if so, the sum involved; and the details of the request. [1747/18]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:1940. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has had discussions or contact with the developer for the Cork events centre in recent months. [1748/18]
View answerDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:1941. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a decision will be made on the request for additional funding for the Cork events centre. [1749/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1861, 1864, 1923, and 1938 to 1941, inclusive, together.
The Cork Event Centre is a project being developed and managed by Cork City Council and the Council is responsible for the delivery of the project.
My Department has allocated €12 million to the City Council towards the cost of the Centre. This allocation is subject to a Service Level Agreement with the City Council to ensure compliance with all relevant requirements in relation to major capital projects.
On 27 September 2017, Cork City Council made an application to my Department for a further grant of €10 million to assist in the development of the project. My Department is now assessing the application. There are complex legal, state aid and match funding issues which are being considered in relation to this application and the Department is engaging with the City Council in relation to these.
I have not met with other Ministers in relation to this project since my appointment on 30 November 2017. My Department has not been informed of any change of use for the proposed centre in Cork. As is usual with capital grants, my Department has not engaged in discussions with the developer as this is a role for the project promoter Cork City Council.
Natural Heritage Areas Designation
Questions (1862)
Michael McGrath
Question:1862. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of a proposed natural heritage area (details supplied); when it will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54753/17]
View answerWritten answers
There are 630 proposed natural heritage areas in Ireland, including the area to which the Deputy refers. While a review of these sites is foreseen, the current focus of my Department is on fulfilling Ireland’s obligations under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives and the designation of Natura 2000 sites, i.e. special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
Although proposed natural heritage area sites are not subject to designation under the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000, they may be recognised in local authority development plans.
Departmental Funding
Questions (1863)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:1863. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the name and number of organisations here that are in receipt of funding from her Department that have expended resources seeking the repeal of the eighth amendment; the amount of funding these organisations have received from the State in the past five years; the amount of money they have spent on this particular campaign during that time; the number of organisations here that are in receipt of funding from her Department that have expended resources seeking the retention of the eighth amendment; the amount of funding these organisations have received from the State in the past five years; and the amount of money they have spent on this particular campaign during that time. [54762/17]
View answerWritten answers
While my Department does not provide funding to organisations for the purposes described by the Deputy I am advised that, in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 5th December last, it was confirmed that my Department provided funding of €32,866 to the National Women's Council in relation to International Womens Day and FemFest for the years 2016 and 2017.
Question No. 1864 answered with Question No. 1861.