Written Answers Nos. 1935-1947
1935. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the projects undertaken to consolidate or amalgamate existing legislation, including the cost, the duration, the number of staff required and if this process was carried out by her Department or outsourced in each of the years 2007 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [1561/18]
View answerThe consolidation and modernisation of the national monuments legislative code as contained in the National Monuments Acts 1930 - 2014 is a legislative priority for my Department. This work was commenced before the establishment of this Department in June 2011 and is ongoing. One Assistant Principal Officer and one Senior Archaeologist are currently assigned to this task in conjunction with other duties. Additional input is provided by other Departmental staff as required. I am advised that no part of this process has been outsourced.
1936. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the turf cutting compensation scheme; the way in which persons can apply to this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1602/18]
View answerThe cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500. In 2014, the scheme was extended to active turf cutters from 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.
The qualifying criteria for the scheme are that:
- The applicant must have had a legal interest (ownership or a turbary right (right to cut turf)) in one of these raised bog sites on 25 May 2010 and must have had the right to cut and remove turf from the property on that date;
- The applicant must have been cutting turf on the land in question during the relevant five year period (up to 25 May 2010 in respect of the 29 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation between 1997 and 1999, up to 31 December 2011 in respect of the 24 raised bog special areas of conservation nominated for designation in 2002 and up to 14 January 2014 for the 36 raised bog natural heritage areas);
- The turf resource on the site has not been exhausted; and
- No turf cutting or associated activity is ongoing on the property.
An individual may apply under the scheme by completing an application form and returning it to my Department. Application forms for completion may be obtained by contacting the Site Protection Unit of my Department in Newtown Road, Wexford Y35 AP90 (telephone Lo-Call 1890 253147 or (053) 9117310, email designated.bogs@chg.gov.ie.)
1937. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when section 36 of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 will be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1646/18]
View answerSection 36 provides for licensing of certain hunting activities on the part of commercial shoot operators. There are no immediate plans to commence this section but the matter is kept under on-going review.
1942. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the proportion of employees in her Department or in organisations under its remit registered-disabled. [1853/18]
View answerI am informed that 3.15% of my Department's employees have a disability according to the definition provided in the Disability Act, 2005. This figure exceeds the current target of 3% set out in the legislation. The Act defines disability as:
“Disability in relation to a person, means a substantial restriction in the capability of the person to carry on a profession, business or occupation in the State or to participate in social or cultural life in the State by reason of an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment.”
I am further informed that the aggregate proportion of employees who have a disability, as per the definition, in the State Agencies under my remit is 4.8%. The figure in each individual Agency varies, with not all reaching the 3% target. The National Disability Authority has, however, acknowledged the difficulty of organisations with low staffing levels to meet this target.
These figures were reported to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in March 2017 in fulfilment of the Department's obligations under Part 5 of the Disability Act, and are the latest figures available.
1944. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the rate agreed for liquidated and ascertained damages in the building contract for 14 to 17 Moore Street, Dublin 1; if the contractor (details supplied) is entitled to liquidated and ascertained damages; and the estimated amount this will cost. [2012/18]
View answerThe contractor has no entitlement to be paid liquidated and ascertained damages under this contract.
1945. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an ndéanfaidh sí cur síos ar na pleananna atá aici maidir le Scéim na mBóithre Áise a chur ar bun in athuair do bhóithre nach bóithre contae iad, bóithre áise a fhad le tithe agus feirmeacha i gceantar na Gaeltachta amháin. [2064/18]
View answerNíl aon chiste ag an Roinn seo faoina ndéantar maoiniú ar bhóithre. Mar a thuigfidh an Teachta, is faoi na húdaráis ábhartha áitiúla le ceantair Ghaeltachta faoina gcúram atá sé cúram a dhéanamh de na cineálacha bóithre atá luaite sa Cheist. Is tríd an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail a chuirtear maoiniú ón státchiste ar fáil chun na críche sin.
1946. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department uses anti-profanity software on its email systems and online contact forms; if so, the level of human oversight that is applied to the monitoring of this software and its effectiveness; her views on whether persons' legitimate right to petition Government may be blocked unintentionally by errors in the use of such software in determining that which qualifies as profanity being communicated in email and-or online contact forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2082/18]
View answerI am informed that my Department does not use anti profanity software on its incoming email systems and online contact forms.
1947. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Government's initiatives in her Department in 2017 that promoted State services or welfare payments, public awareness of regulatory changes and public consultations that involved advertising and promotion on television, radio, newspapers and online, in tabular form; and the level of expenditure for each such initiative. [2258/18]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Initiative |
Cost (€) |
|
Statutory Instruments Special Areas of Conservation Site Designation |
29,546 |
|
Cessation of Turf Cutting in raised bog Natural Heritage Areas |
10,554 |
|
Advertisements in relation to submissions regarding the future use of airstrips and surrounding sites at Cloon and Laghtanabba near Cleggan, and on Inishbofin |
2,174 |
|
Planning permission in relation to a storage unit planned for Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin Airports. |
58 |
|
Advertisement for Section 482 public consultations in relation to the Built Heritage |
2,596 |
|
Public call for submissions to assist the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations in relation to the commemoration of significant historical events that took place between 1918 and 1923. |
Nil |
|
Total |
44,928 |
