Written Answers Nos. 788-790
788. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration is being given to introduce an exemption for the entertainment industry from the proposed ban on tungsten bulbs from 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9941/18]
View answerI understand that the European Commission is working on a single lighting regulation under the Ecodesign Directive framework intended to update the existing Ecodesign Lighting Regulations. The regulatory framework in Ireland is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation and I understand that Enterprise Ireland, under the remit of that Department, is currently engaged in a stakeholder consultation process in relation to the matter.
My Department is aware of the issues around the use of tungsten bulbs and the proposed ban and is examining them in the context of the proposed new regulations.
789. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans under the NDP to invest in an enhanced Valentia Island cable station; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10056/18]
View answerThe Valentia Cable Station is a unique part of Valentia and Ireland's heritage and is integral to the history of modern telecommunications. It was the easternmost point of the Transatlantic Cable that provided a permanent connection between Europe and North America through its counterpart in Heart's Content, Canada, for one hundred years between 1866 and 1966. The Cable Station is also an important architectural feature in its own right, having been designed by leading architects of the nineteenth century.
Late in 2017, the Canadian authorities announced that the Heart's Content Cable Station had been placed on its Tentative List of World Heritage Sites. This is a significant development in the creation of a potential transboundary bid for UNESCO World Heritage status involving both Cable Stations.
As a precursor to being nominated to UNESCO, a site must first go through a comprehensive assessment process at national level that would lead, with UNESCO's agreement, to its placement on Ireland’s World Heritage Tentative List. Later this year, my Department will be inviting applications from candidate sites for inclusion on the upcoming 2020 Tentative List. Inclusion on the list will ultimately be determined by whether a site meets relevant criteria relating, inter alia, to outstanding universal value, availability of adequate site management and protection resources, and the extent of stakeholder engagement and support for the bid.
My Department is in ongoing contact with Kerry County Council and its Canadian counterpart in relation to the potential World Heritage application and has informed both parties that Ireland will support the Valentia bid once it meets the qualifying criteria. There is specific reference too to the Cable Station in the National Development Plan and my Department will engage with all the key stakeholders with a view to agreeing an appropriate investment programme for its refurbishment.
I understand that a considerable amount of preparatory work has already been done locally on the Valentia proposal, including essential repairs to the buildings which were grant aided by my Department. The Department will continue to assist with the preparation of the Tentative List bid, including providing as much advice, guidance and support as possible to Kerry County Council as the lead organisation at local level.
790. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici líon na scoláireachtaí do na meánscoileanna ar na hoileáin a mhéadú i mbliana ó tharla go bhfuil an-tairbhe ag baint leis an scéim do na hoileáin agus an-éileamh ar na scoláireachtaí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [10076/18]
View answerMar eolas don Teachta, le deich mbliana anuas tá deontas ar fiú €27 in aghaidh an scoláire in aghaidh an lae á íoc ag mo Roinnse le teaghlaigh atá cáilithe faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i leith scoláirí ón mórthír a chaitheann scoilbhliain iomlán ag freastal ar cheann amháin den trí iar-bhunscoil ar na hoileáin Árann. Anuas air a bheith ag éascú deis don lucht freastail an Ghaeilge atá acu a shaibhriú, aithnítear gur beart é seo a chuireann le hinmharthanacht na scoileanna agus, dá réir, le hinmharthanacht na n-oileán.
Faoin socrú reatha, tá uasmhéid de 30 scoláire ceadaithe (uasmhéid de 10 in aghaidh an oileáin). Is iad na hiar-bhunscoileanna féin a dhéanann earcaíocht ar na scoláirí, a roghnaíonn na tithe lóistín (coinníollach ar iad a bheith cláraithe leis an Roinn faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge) agus atá freagrach trí chéile as na scoláirí (i gcomhar leis na teaghlaigh a chuireann an lóistín ar fáil), a fhad a bhíonn na scoláirí ar na hoileáin.
Is sa chomhthéacs sin go ginearálta a scrúdófar an cheist maidir leis an uaslíon a mbeifear sásta glacadh leis chun críche aitheantais faoin scéim, laistigh de na hacmhainní atá ar fáil do mo Roinn agus na héilimh eile atá ar na hacmhainní sin. Caithfear a chur san áireamh chomh maith, dár ndóigh, an tionchar a d'fhéadfadh daltaí ón mórthír a imirt ar iompar teangan na ndaltaí de bhunadh na noileán agus aon chinneadh á dhéanamh maidir leis an ábhar seo.
