Tuesday, 20 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 621-627

Hare Coursing Regulation

Questions (621)

Clare Daly

Question:

621. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a club (details supplied) held a meeting in adverse weather conditions on 11 February 2018 putting the welfare of the dogs and hares at risk; and if her Department will review licensing conditions to take into consideration adverse weather conditions that compromise the safety and welfare of the animals that are exploited for the purposes of hare coursing events. [8231/18]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

It is my understanding that the Deputy is referring to the National Coursing Meeting held on 10th, 11th and 12th February last.  This coursing meeting was monitored by officials from the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department on each of the three days of the meeting.  In addition, officials of my Department monitored the trials for this meeting.  The officials have reported that they did not find any issues of concern relating to the conditions of the licences granted to the ICC.  This monitoring report will be published on the NPWS website in due course.

Wildlife Conservation

Questions (622)

Clare Daly

Question:

622. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the increased reports of a shortage of hares; and the actions her Department will take to honour EU directive 92/43/EEC which directs that the State maintain a hare population at a favourable conservation level. [8232/18]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

EU Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) requires Ireland to make a detailed report every six years on the conservation status of all listed species, including the hare. Ireland’s most recent report in 2013 included a comprehensive assessment of the range, population status, habitat and threats for the Irish hare. The report can be downloaded at https://www.npws.ie/article-17-reports-0/article-17-reports-2013. The next report is due in 2019. 

The 2013 report stated that the Hare is found throughout the country from coastal habitats to upland heath and bog.  The Hare is widespread and common in Ireland with a broad habitat niche. None of the identified threats are considered likely to impact on its conservation status in the foreseeable future and the Overall Conservation Status was assessed as Favourable.

In addition to the reporting requirements of the EU Habitats Directive, data on the distribution of the hare is being collected continuously by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the recent Atlas of Mammals in Ireland 2010-2015 provided a summary of the species’ range, demonstrating that it remains widespread across the country.

My Department recently commissioned a new assessment of the status of hare’s population in Ireland. The survey work to inform this population assessment will extend over two years to provide for a comprehensive review of the national situation. The first round of surveys began in December 2017, with a second survey season to follow in winter 2018/19. The final report is due in July 2019.

EU Directives

Questions (623, 624, 625)

Clare Daly

Question:

623. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if information will be provided on matters (details supplied) further to the award of the contract for a review of the derogation process under Article 9(a) of the EU birds directive. [8571/18]

Clare Daly

Question:

624. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if information on matters (details supplied) will be provided further to the review of the derogation process under Article 9(a) of the EU birds directive for the protection of public health and safety and in view of her Department’s previously stated non-competence in matters of public health and safety. [8572/18]

Clare Daly

Question:

625. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the review of the derogation process under Article 9(a) of the EU birds directive will be completed in time to inform the 2018 derogation declaration, which is normally published on or before 30 April each year; and if not, her plans in regard to the derogation declaration due to be made on 1 May 2018. [8573/18]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 625, inclusive, together.

My Department is currently undertaking a review of the derogation process under Article 9 of the EU Birds Directive which will take account of all relevant factors, including perceived threats, distribution and population data available in respect of all the bird species in the derogations. ANIAR Ecology were recently appointed by my Department to undertake the review following a public tendering process. The Terms of Reference for the review include

1. Review the existing General and Air Safety Declarations (2017/18) including species covered, time periods covered, geographic areas covered, reasons stated for inclusion and methods of control and having examined and taking account of

i. Relevant National and European legislation

ii. Information available on bird species which are included in the current declarations and any other bird species proposed to be included in the Declarations in the future, including information on population and population trends of, distribution of, and threats to such species

iii The extent to which such bird species give rise to issues in relation to

1. Public health and safety

2. Air safety

3. Serious damage to crops, livestock, forests, fisheries or water

4. Protection of flora or fauna.

2. Recommend in relation to 2018/19 and future years which bird species should be included in the annual Declarations with in relation to each case, the reasons for recommending inclusion in accordance with legislation, which time periods should be covered, which geographic areas should be covered, and which control methods  are appropriate.  Also where species included in the current (2017/18) Declarations are not being recommended for inclusion in 2018/19, outline reasons for this.

3. Recommend guidance and criteria for use by the Department for future annual reviews of the General Declaration and the Air Safety Declaration.

Further details in relation to the Terms of Reference and information on the deliverables are included in the Request for Tender Document (Tender No. 123861) available on the Government e-tenders website at

www.etenders.gov.ie.  

Among other issues the consultants will consider public health and safety issues in the context of the derogation process and will also review the position in other EU countries.

The contract is for a period of five months with the final report scheduled for mid-June 2018.  An interim report is due from the consultants by April 2018 to include recommendations in respect of the derogation process including in relation to the 2018/19 declarations.

It is my understanding that the consultants have commenced a consultation process with relevant stakeholders with a wider and more detailed public consultation process will commence following the completion of the interim report.

Ferry Services

Questions (626)

Mick Barry

Question:

626. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the decision to replace the ferry to Tory Island built in 1992 with a 1976 built model will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8652/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department provides funding for passenger and ferry services to Ireland’s inhabited offshore islands, including Toraigh.  It also has a range of supports in place for the island, in the context of its responsibility to support our offshore islands, but also in support of the Gaeltacht community.

In 2017, my Department ran an open tender competition, in accordance with public procurement rules, for the provision of a passenger and light cargo ferry service for Toraigh Island.  At the early stages of this process, I, along with officials from my Department, met with representatives from Tory Island Co-op.  The islanders requested that it be a condition of the new contract that the duration of the journey would be no longer than 30 minutes.  This request was deemed impractical as to be this specific in a tender document could result in no tenders being received in a very limited market.

Two tenders were received and, following evaluation, the contract for this service was awarded to the company, Réalt na Maidne Teo, using the vessel, MV Queen of Aran.  This contract will come into effect from 1 April 2018 and run for a 5 year period. While this vessel is, indeed, older than the one currently used on the service, it is currently undergoing a full refit, in consultation with the Marine Survey Office (MSO) of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport which has statutory responsibility for the safety of passenger vessels in Ireland.

Once in operation, the new service will be a considerable improvement on that currently provided:

- The vessel will have a newly installed lift for passengers with impaired mobility;

- The vessel will be faster than the current vessel and carry more passengers;

- A dedicated bus service will be provided between An Bun Beag and Machaire Rabhartaigh on days when it cannot dock at the latter pier, and previously islanders had to arrange taxis from An Bun Beag to Machaire Rabhartaigh; and

- The operator will provide additional cargo services as part of the contract.

The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has long recognised that Toraigh is unique among the offshore islands.  In addition to ferry services, in 2016, the Department agreed to fund additional winter time helicopter services to Toraigh, moving from a fortnightly to a weekly service.  

There has been continuous contact between myself, my Department and representatives of Comharchumann Thoraí in relation to this issue. I have met with representatives from the island on a number of occasions - September 2017, at a public meeting in Toraigh on 12 January 2018, again on 2 February, to discuss the commencement of the contract and islanders’ concerns. 

Recognising the concerns expressed by islanders, my Department has offered a number of options for future ferry services to Toraigh. These include:

- The building of a new vessel to service the island, or the purchase of a new vessel and

- Development of the pier at Machaire Rabhartaigh in order to accommodate any new vessel.

Subsidising the provision of a separate fast ferry service for the island to supplement the new service scheduled to commence on 1st April 2018, its existing heavy cargo service and the island’s weekly winter air service.  This fast ferry service would require a small boat with a capacity of between 12 and 20 passengers, operating alongside the main service and the island’s subsidised weekly winter air service.

These options have been presented to the representatives from the co-op, who have agreed to consider them and revert to my Department in due course.  

At every stage of this process, I have reiterated my commitment to pursuing these options.  I would point out that with the exception of the complementary fast ferry service, the options of a newly built, or a newly purchased vessel, and the associated developments at Machaire Rabhartaigh pier will take time to progress.  The Deputy will also be pleased to learn that the development of the pier at Machaire Rabhartaigh and the provision of a new passenger vessel for the island has been included in the new National Development Plan, Project Ireland 2040, announced last week.

In the meantime, the Department has in place a legal contract to commence the new ferry service provided by Réalt na Maidne Teoranta on 1 April 2018.

Departmental Properties

Questions (627)

Róisín Shortall

Question:

627. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of vacant habitable dwelling units and vacant derelict residential dwelling units in the ownership of or part ownership of or under the control of both her Department and agencies under her remit; the county in which each unit is located; the length of time each unit has been vacant, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8661/18]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I refer the Deputy to my response to Parliamentary Question No. 1921 of 16 January, 2018.