Written Answers Nos. 671-690
671. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the names and relevant expertise of each member of the marine licence vetting committee involved in both the statutory appropriate assessment screening and the statutory environmental impact assessment screening on a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3430/18]
View answerThe following is a list of the members and their organisations of the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) that completed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) screening reports for the Marine Institute (MI) foreshore lease application in respect to the proposed development at Spiddal, Co. Galway (FS006566):
1. Mr Richard Cronin (Chair), Senior Adviser, Water and Marine Advisory Unit, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
2. Mr P J Shaw, Eng. Inspector Grade I, Water and Marine Advisory Unit, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government
3. Mr Eamonn Kelly, Planning Senior Advisor, Forward Planning, Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
4. Captain Nicolas Cantwell, Marine Safety Directorate, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (Marine Survey Office)
5. Mr Karl Brady, Archaeologist Grade III, National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht
6. Mr Declan MacGabhann, Sea Fisheries Protection Authority
7. Dr James J. King, Fisheries Biologist, Inland Fisheries Ireland
The Nature Conservation Unit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was also invited to participate in the MLVC. While they did not wish to participate, they did provide their views on the project by way of a submission as a prescribed body under the process.
Since participation in the MLVC is voluntary, members are invited to participate rather than being appointed. Members are representatives of their respective organisations and it is up to those organisations to ensure that their staff have the requisite knowledge and expertise to perform their duties including participating in technical evaluations of applications.
My Department’s internal advisers that participated in the MLVC assessment of this application have the appropriate professional qualifications and experience commensurate with my Department's role in foreshore consenting.
All aspects of the application were assessed including the application form and supporting documentation, environmental reports, submissions received through the prescribed bodies and public consultation process as well as the applicant’s responses. The assessment processes provide for determinations of how likely a project might be to have significant effects on the environment and whether there are likely to be any significant effects on the Conservation Objectives of the ten pertinent Natura 2000 sites.
672. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the research contained in Roma in Ireland: a needs assessment (details supplied) regarding the poor quality of the Roma community's housing; the action he will take following the publication of this research; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3461/18]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the provision of Traveller-specific accommodation which is designed to address the accommodation needs of indigenous Irish Travellers under the 1998 Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act. This Act provides a legislative framework to meet the needs of indigenous Irish Travellers. Other minority communities, such as Roma, are not covered by the 1998 Act. While there is no separate funding stream for Roma as there is for Travellers, members of the Roma community may be accommodated under general Social Housing.
The qualification criteria for social housing support are set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and the Social Housing Assessment Regulations made under the 2009 Act. These criteria are applied by housing authorities in assessing individual households for support. Applicants for social housing support are assessed in relation to income, residency and current and alternative accommodation. It is open to any person or household to apply to a housing authority for a social housing assessment for the purposes of qualifying for social housing support.
Social housing applicants who are not Irish or UK nationals must meet additional criteria in order to satisfy the residency requirement for social housing support. EEA nationals must demonstrate a record of employment in the State in order to be assessed. Non-EEA nationals who have been granted refugee, programme refugee or subsidiary protection status may be assessed for social housing support.
Households that qualify for social housing support on assessment are entered onto the housing authority’s waiting list and are considered for the allocation of suitable tenancies in accordance with the authority’s allocation scheme. The citizenship of members of qualified households is not an issue in the allocation of local authority housing.
673. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homes built directly by local authorities in 2017, by county, in tabular form; the percentage of each that have a BER or completion certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3466/18]
View answerThrough the supports made available from my Department under Rebuilding Ireland, funding is available to all local authorities to deliver additional social housing stock through new construction projects, through the acquisition of new and previously owned houses/apartments and through working with approved housing bodies under a range of delivery options.
Provisional details on social housing delivery in 2017 were published on Monday, 15 January 2018 and are available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/rebuilding-ireland/social-housing-delivery-2017-ministers-statement.
A breakdown of these numbers across all local authority areas for 2017 will be published on my Department's website following completion of the necessary validation process. In the meantime, details in respect of delivery up to the end of quarter 3 of 2017 are currently published and available at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordable/overall-social-housing-provision.
My Department does not collect BER or Completion Certificate data in relation to social housing homes.
675. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to address the lack of artists' studio spaces here. [2899/18]
View answerI am aware of the issue regarding the provision of affordable studio space, particularly as a result of the changing property market. My Department has had discussions with the Arts Council, Dublin City Council and the OPW to consider some possible short-term and longer-term approaches to the issue, both in relation to specific issues in Dublin and to wider national approaches.
Last year totalling €10.214 million were awarded to a total of 134 arts organisations around the country under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018. These allocations included over €900,000 in funding for projects involving artist's studios and creative spaces.
In addition, as part of the Government's initiative on the North East Inner City, a grant of €35,000 was awarded in 2015 to Fire Station Artists' Studios, Buckingham Street, to assist in providing additional studio space in conjunction with Dublin City Council.
The list of successful projects under the Arts and Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is available on my Department's website at the following link https://www.chg.gov.ie/arts/creative-arts/grants-and-funding/.
676. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expenditure by her Department on legal proceedings in each of the years 2012 to 2017, by case name and record number; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2911/18]
View answerExpenditure incurred by my Department in respect of legal fees and compensation is shown in the annual Appropriation Accounts published by my Department. A summary of this is expenditure is shown in the following table.
Details of expenditure of 2017 are currently being complied as part of the preparation of the 2017 the Appropriation Account which will published later in the year following audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
|
Year |
Legal fees €000 |
Compensation costs €000 |
Total €000 |
|
2012 |
109 |
57 |
166 |
|
2013 |
23 |
128 |
151 |
|
2014 |
22 |
34 |
56 |
|
2015 |
60 |
117 |
177 |
|
2016 |
97 |
98 |
195 |
I am advised that the information sought by the Deputy in respect of case name and record can not be released for reasons of legal and commercial sensitivity.
677. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the legal costs incurred to date in the legal proceedings relating to Moore Street; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2980/18]
View answerI have no function in relation to the determination or payment of legal costs in this case which are matters for the Chief State Solicitor.
678. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of vacancies in each State board under the aegis of her Department, in tabular form; the length of time each of the positions have been vacant; the reason for the failure to fill the vacancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3014/18]
View answerI am advised that current vacancies on State boards under the aegis of my Department are as set out in the following table. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) operates a dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, through which it advertises such vacancies. Since this website was set up in 2014 it has consistently been used by my Department to identify suitably qualified members of the public who are interested in serving on boards under my remit. In the majority of cases below the role profile and requirements are under consideration prior to engaging with PAS to advertise the positions.
|
State Agency |
No. of Vacancies |
Vacant From |
Reason Vacancy Remains Unfilled |
|
Arts Council |
2 |
10/10/2017 15/01/2018 |
Appointments under consideration |
|
Crawford Art Gallery |
1 |
16/05/2017 |
Appointment under consideration |
|
Heritage Council |
1 |
05/10/2017 |
Appointment under consideration |
|
Irish Museum of Modern Art |
2 |
10/09/2017 Dec 2017 |
Appointments under consideration |
|
National Museum of Ireland |
3 |
11/09/2017* 31/12/2017 17/01/2018 |
Appointments under consideration. *Vacancy which arose in September 2017 is for a staff representative; no nomination to fill this vacancy has yet been received. |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
3 |
|
Foras na Gaeilge is a North/South body and the filling of the 3 current vacancies requires Ministerial nomination in the North for subsequent North/South Ministerial Council approval. |
679. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to enhance and protect the site of the Battle of Vinegar Hill (details supplied); her further plans to increase the level of public awareness of the site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2351/18]
View answerThe ruined windmill at Vinegar Hill is in my guardianship as Minister and is managed by the Office of Public Works.
The Battle of Vinegar Hill itself was a very important event in Irish history and my Department recently authorised extensive archaeological investigations on the site to provide a better understanding of how the battle was conducted. The information gleaned from this this research will, in turn, add to and enhance the visitor understanding of the site and their experience.
I appreciate the ongoing involvement and investment by Wexford County Council in promoting the site and the facilities that have been put in place for visitors. My Department will continue to work with the Council and other stakeholders, including the tourism agencies, to increase public awareness and interest in the site.
The Office of Public Works, which is responsible for visitor services at State owned archaeological and historical sites, also offers practical assistance to voluntary groups engaged in heritage tourism initiatives through training and mentoring by its experienced professional guide staff.
680. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the future and funding of the crematorium chapel project in Glasnevin cemetery; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3104/18]
View answerAs part of the Government's Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme my Department allocated €2 million to assist with realising the proposed 1916 Citizen's Chapel development in St. Paul's section of Glasnevin Cemetery. A Memorandum of Understanding was put in place between my Department and Glasnevin Trust to this end.
While Dublin City Council decided to grant planning permission for the project in November 2017, this was subsequently appealed to An Bord Pleanála.
Notwithstanding the outcome of the appeal process the Board of Glasnevin Trust has decided not to proceed with development of the chapel as proposed. My officials subsequently met the Chief Executive and the Chairman of Glasnevin Trust on 11 January to discuss the implications of this decision and the Trust has undertaken to furnish my Department with a full report on the project to date as provided for in the Memorandum of Understanding. It is expected that the report will be submitted in the coming month and my Department will consider the matter further at that stage.
681. Deputy Joan Burton 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 in relation to the international dimension of the famine commemoration in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3105/18]
View answerAs advised to the House in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1852 of 16 January, 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.
682. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason there is no chairperson of the high-level implementation group for the arts in education charter; when this position will be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3106/18]
View answerIn 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 now 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.
683. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Creative Ireland culture and creativity plans for each local authority; the cost of each culture and creativity item in each of the culture and creativity plans, by county and city councils, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3107/18]
View answerPillar 2 of the Creative Ireland Programme - Enabling Creativity in every Community is a key element of the Programme and the 31 Local Authorities are important partners. In 2017, my Department allocated €1 million to local authorities from the Creative Ireland budget to enable them to develop their Culture and Creativity Action Plans and an associated programme of events and initiatives in each county. This was bolstered by an additional €1 million from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. This meant that each local authority received approximately €64,000 each to implement their Culture and Creativity Plans for 2017.
In total, the plans listed over 750 local cultural projects, events and initiatives taking place nationwide in 2017 of which approximately 250 were funded through the enabling budget provided under the Creative Ireland Programme.
A key principle underpinning the Creative Ireland Programme is community empowerment and therefore each local authority decided themselves what events/projects they wished to include in their respective plans. It is therefore not possible to provide an exact breakdown of costs for each activity for every local authority. However, this information -in accordance with normal departmental monitoring procedures and in line with the reporting requirements specific to this initiative - will be submitted by each local authority over the coming weeks.
A breakdown of the total allocation to the local authorities in tabular form is contained in the Creative Ireland Programme End Year Report 2017 which is available on the Creative Ireland website of my Department at https://creative.ireland.ie. All 31 local plans can be accessed at https://creative.ireland.ie/en/local-plans.
It should be noted that the allocation from my Department to each local authority will be doubled to €2 million for 2018 to enable them commence the implementation of their long-term Culture and Creative Strategies due to be launched early next year. As in 2017, this will be divided equally among each of the 31 Local Authorities.
684. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the sale of a studio (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3108/18]
View answerThe facility to which the Deputy refers is owned jointly by Enterprise Ireland in conjunction with other private entities. My colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation has responsibility for Enterprise Ireland.
I am aware of the issue and my Department has been in contact with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation in relation to the matter. That Department has indicated that, at the appropriate time, any proposal requiring a decision on the sale of Enterprise Ireland's shareholding would be reviewed by Enterprise Ireland from a commercial and legal perspective in consultation with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Innovation which, in turn, has confirmed that it will consult my Department on any decision regarding the ownership of the shareholding.
685. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the financial support her Department has provided for the digitalisation of the archives at the National Library; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3109/18]
View answerIn June 2017, my Department advertised a new scheme of funding support for the Digitisation of Collections by the National Cultural Institutions and collections of national significance. A total of €2.3 million was allocated to 14 projects in ten organisations including the National Cultural Institutions.
Under the scheme, funding was provided to the National Library of Ireland for three projects as follows:
1. Towards a Republic is a project to digitise the personal papers of the signatories of the Treaty. This is a significant project which will take several years to complete. A total of €320,000 is allocated to the project over the next three years and it is planned to complete digitisation of the papers in advance of the centenary of the foundation of the State.
2. The digitisation of the Band Aid archive is to transport, catalogue and digitise the papers which were recently donated to the State by Bob Geldof. An amount of €245,000 was allocated to this project.
3. €110,000 was allocated for the purchase of a Book Scanner which will enhance the capacity of the National Library to expand the type of digitised content it can make available to the public.
686. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding her Department is to provide to Waterways Ireland to maintain and enhance canals as a tourist amenity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3110/18]
View answerWaterways Ireland is responsible for the management, maintenance, development and restoration of some 1,000 km of navigable inland waterways principally for recreational purposes. It has responsibility for the Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Shannon Navigation, the Barrow Navigation, the Grand and Royal Canals, the Erne System and the Lower Bann Navigation.
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.
The amount of funding allocated to Waterways Ireland from my Department's Vote in 2018 is €24.106 million to undertake its statutory functions across its entire network.
Waterways Ireland is actively involved in the development of the towpaths along the canals to provide off-road, safe amenities for walkers and cyclists.
Waterways Ireland has worked with Local Authorities, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Fáilte Ireland and other partners to upgrade the Royal Canal towpath as part of the Dublin-Galway cycle route and it is hoped that this route will be largely completed, and indeed extended to the Shannon River, by the end of this current year.
The continued development of the Grand Canal towpath and the Barrow towpath are important off-road links to open up Southern and Western Ireland to tourists.
Waterways Ireland is also at the forefront of developing Blueways along the canals network. They offer opportunities for locals and tourists to enjoy outdoor recreational activities on and beside the water in a comfortable, safe environment. Infrastructure is in place and plans are underway to have an operational Blueway in place along the Royal Canal at Mullingar for Summer 2018.
687. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the Cork events centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3111/18]
View answerThe 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. There are complex legal, state aid and match-funding issues and engagement is ongoing with Cork City Council in relation to these.
688. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contracts her Department or agencies under her remit has with a company (details supplied); the status of these contracts; the contingency plans that may now be required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3142/18]
View answerI am advised that neither my Department nor any of the agencies under its remit has contracts in place with the company referenced by the Deputy.
689. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to prospective restructuring proposals in relation to an entity under her remit (details supplied). [3372/18]
View answerMy role as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, in relation to the protection and management of our architectural 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.
The Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, is independent in the performance of its functions. The allocation of its resources across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually is a matter for the Heritage Council, having regard to the principles of proper public financial management and competing priorities for limited resources.
I understand that the Heritage Council is still considering what suite of further supports it can continue to offer the network in question in the context of this year's allocation. In the current year, €1 million has been earmarked specifically for the Historic Towns Initiative, which will complement any capital component of supports for the network referred to.
690. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of bodies under the remit of her Department that have not yet published audited accounts and their annual report for 2016; the names of these bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3389/18]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, following audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Annual Reports and Accounts of state bodies are submitted to Government prior to publication. I am advised that six bodies under the remit of this Department have fully completed this process and have published audited accounts and their annual report for 2016:
- The Arts Council,
- The Heritage Council,
- The Chester Betty Library,
- The Crawford Gallery,
- Údarás na Gaeltachta, and
- Waterways Ireland.
I am advised that the annual reports and accounts for 2016 for:
- The National Gallery of Ireland,
- The National Concert Hall, and
- An Coimisinéir Teanga
have now been submitted to Government and publication is expected shortly.
I am further advised that the four bodies listed as follows are now in the final stages of preparation and expect to be in a position to circulate their audited accounts and annual reports for 2016 for Government approval shortly:
- The National Museum of Ireland,
- The Irish Museum of Modern Art,
- The National Library of Ireland, and
- The Irish Film Board.
