Hildegarde Naughton
Question:26. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the Galway 2020 project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47305/18]
View answerCultural Policy
Questions (26, 43)
Catherine Connolly
Question:43. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 21 of 21 June 2018 and 2811 of 24 July 2018, when the performance delivery agreement in relation to the contribution of €15 million to Galway 2020 will be published; the details of the agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47422/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 43 together.
In December 2014 the Government decided that Ireland should exercise its right to nominate a European Capital of Culture for 2020 and committed in principle at that time to provide €15m to the selected project. Galway's designation as European Capital of Culture 2020, along with Rijeka, Croatia, is a great honour for Ireland and a wonderful opportunity to strengthen and promote our culture nationally and internationally.
The Government's support of €15m represents the largest single contribution to the overall cost of Galway 2020 as the European Capital of Culture. The Government's contribution is provided as part of a suite of co-funding arrangements to deliver the programme outlined by Galway 2020.
A performance delivery agreement for the provision of the €15m grant to be paid to Galway 2020 was drawn up by officials of my Department, in consultation with Galway 2020, and signed on 6 November last. The performance delivery agreement addresses the roles and responsibilities of the Department and Galway 2020 in the provision and expenditure of the grant, as well as the key deliverables and performance indicators attached to the drawdown of the grant, and monitoring and reporting arrangements.
As the Deputy is aware, the annex to the performance delivery agreement contains a list of projects under the Galway 2020 Programme allocated funding by my Department. These projects will be announced at a showcase event for Galway 2020 this evening and I intend to publish the full performance delivery agreement, together with this annex, on the Department's website, after the projects have been announced.
Galway 2020 is now moving into the delivery phase of the project. Patricia Philbin – the Project Manager for the bid phase of the project – took over as CEO last month, while the team also now includes cultural producers, with expertise across the art forms.
The showcase event to be hosted this evening, and to be attended by my colleague in the Department, Minister of State, Seán Kyne, will be also an opportunity for the public to hear about some of the key projects and events that will take place under the Galway 2020 Culture Programme, as well as find out about and become involved in the volunteer and partnership programmes for Galway 2020.
Cultural Policy
Questions (27)
Niamh Smyth
Question:27. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason for the delay in the publication of the final Culture 2025 policy document; when it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47404/18]
View answerWritten answers
In July 2016 my predecessor, Minister Humphreys, published the draft framework policy document Éire Ildánach/Culture 2025. This underwent a round of consultations, with submissions received from Government Departments, local authorities, and cultural bodies and stakeholders in the cultural sector, and was very useful in setting the scene for many of these bodies to develop their own cultural strategies. The draft framework policy was submitted to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs in July 2016, who published its 'Report on Culture 2025 – Éire Ildánach, Framework Policy to 2025' in July 2017.
My Department is now finalising the framework policy. In this regard, the Joint Oireachtas Committee made a number of very good suggestions including in relation to how the policy document should be reshaped. My Department has taken time to give careful consideration to these suggestions.
In addition, the Creative Ireland Programme, which was launched in December 2016, restated the key aims and values set out in the draft Culture 2025 document but took these a stage further in terms of setting out key deliverable actions both in year 1 and over a 5 year period. In effect, the Creative Ireland Programme has become the main implementation vehicle for many of the priorities identified in the Culture 2025. In this regard, the main emphasis of the Department during 2017 was to get the Creative Ireland Programme up and running. Since then my Department has been working to align the final Culture 2025 document with other concurrent policy documents, including the proposed new heritage plan for Ireland, Heritage Ireland 2030, the public consultation on which I launched at the start of this month.
It is important however, notwithstanding the significant achievements under the Creative Ireland Programme, that Culture 2025 will remain as a broad overarching policy document for culture setting out the strategic aims of Government for future years. My intention is therefore to complete this work for final signoff very shortly and to bring Culture 2025 to Government for approval and subsequent publication.
Creative Ireland Programme
Questions (28)
Peter Burke
Question:28. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the projects in County Westmeath that were successful in their applications to the national creativity fund. [47222/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Creative Ireland National Creativity Fund was launched on 17 May 2018 with a closing deadline of the 15 June. A total number of 287 applications were received in respect of the fund, far exceeding expectations. Following an initial review by officials by my Department, 77 of these these were submitted to an independent expert panel for analysis and scoring against published set criteria. A total of 30 projects were ultimately approved for funding, with grants varying from a minimum of €10,000 to a maximum of €70,000. Cumulatively, the total funding being made available to support these projects across 2018 and 2019 amounts to approximately €1.2m.
The purpose of the National Creativity Fund is to develop strategic collaborations with a variety of organisations/individuals in order to identify and develop new initiatives that support the broad objectives of the Creative Ireland Programme and help inform policy and/or cross-sectoral development in the area of culture, creativity and wellbeing.
Helium Arts (the national children’s arts and health charity) based in Mullingar, has received funding to pilot the development of a Creative Health Hub as a replicable model to significantly increase engagement among children living with illness with creative activities in both hospital and community settings. This pilot will look at improving access to creative activities for children and young people; complement the work of the medical community in treating illnesses; develop artistic skills in the field of arts and health, and capture a strong evidence base highlighting the contribution creative programmes make to health and wellbeing.
Full details on all the projects supported under the National Creativity Fund are available on www.creativeireland.gov.ie.
Film Industry
Questions (29)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:29. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she plans to take to reduce precarious work in the film industry and create training and career pathways; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47418/18]
View answerWritten answers
In June 2018, I launched the Government's Audiovisual Action Plan. I have also established an oversight steering group charged with the overall implementation of the plan's recommendations. This steering group has met three times since the action plan was published. The group includes representatives of all Departments and State agencies with involvement in the audiovisual industry. The steering group will report to me at regular intervals and is engaging proactively with stakeholders in the film industry.
The Plan drew heavily on a Study prepared by international audio-visual consultants Olsberg SPI with Nordicity entitled Economic Analysis of the Audiovisual Sector in the Republic of Ireland which was also published in June. The report measured the economic value of the Irish audiovisual industry, and proposed policy changes to support its future growth. The report showed that the Irish audiovisual sector generated €1.05 billion in gross value added in 2016 and supported employment of 16,930 full-time equivalents of which 10,560 was direct employment. The largest contribution to employment came from the film, TV, and animation sub-sector, which generated 11,960 full-time equivalent jobs (FTEs) of employment of which just over 7,000 was direct employment such as cast and crew.
Fís Éireann is the national development agency for Irish filmmaking and the Irish film, television and animation industry, investing in talent, creativity and enterprise. I am glad to report that Screen Training Ireland, which is a division of Fís Éireann, plans to hold an inaugural Screen Industry Education Forum on the 19th November. The aim of this annual event is to bring screen industry stakeholders, education/training providers and policy influencers together to focus on the skills development challenges and opportunities of the screen sectors in Ireland.
The audiovisual sector supports thousands of jobs of Ireland and there is significant potential for further growth in the years ahead. Ireland’s audiovisual and animation industry is currently worth more than €1 billion to the Irish economy, and the audiovisual Action plan which I launched in June, set out under the Creative Ireland Programme, has the potential to not only increase the number of full-time industry employees to an estimated 24,000, but to grow its gross value to nearly €1.4 billion.
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection has brought forward the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 to improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours. This legislation responds specifically to the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to address the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The Bill completed Report and Final Stage in the Dáil on 12th July 2018.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (30)
Niamh Smyth
Question:30. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a new director will be appointed to the Irish Museum of Modern Art; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47402/18]
View answerWritten answers
I am happy to inform the Deputy that IMMA has announced this morning that Annie Fletcher, Chief Curator at the Van Abbemuseum in Eindhoven in the Netherlands has been appointed as the new Director of the IMMA. She will take up her position on 1st March next year.
This is an exciting time for IMMA. I welcome the appointment and look forward to working with the new Director of IMMA in the coming years.
Creative Ireland Programme
Questions (31)
Joan Burton
Question:31. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of artists now working in collaboration with schools; the schools at primary and secondary level that have collaborations; the number of schools participating in these schemes; her plans to expand collaborations; the details of proposed collaborations; the number of schoolchildren in primary and secondary schools participating and benefitting in the collaborations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47412/18]
View answerWritten answers
Creative Youth – a Plan to Enable the Creative Potential of Every Young Person was launched on 7th December 2017. This Plan sets out a number of measures to deliver on one of the key goals 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.
This Plan is being led by my Department, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Arts Council, all working in partnership.
The Creative Schools pilot will be operating across 150 Schools and approximately 50 Creative Associates, a mix of artists and teachers are working with these schools. These schools have approximately 38,000 pupils. There are a diverse range of school types involved, in different parts of the country, rural and urban, primary and post primary, DEIS schools, special schools, and Youthreach centres. 2018/2019 is the pilot for Creative Schools and it is hoped to expand the programme in the coming years.
There are 73 schools participating in Creative Clusters and they have been grouped into 23 clusters and there are 17 facilitators working with these clusters, through the Education Centres. There are approximately 17,000 students, from a diverse range of school types, in these schools. These clusters have a budget to bring in local artists to facilitate their chosen creative projects and may choose to bring in more than one artist. It is also hoped to expand on this programme in future years.
The Teacher/Artist Partnership, for primary school teachers, has taken place over the last number of years and between the summers of 2017 and 2018, 469 teachers and 146 artists took part in this CPD course. These teachers, in collaboration with the artists took their expertise back to their respective schools, and the pupils in these schools have benefited from their partnerships. It is hoped to build on this over the coming years.
Many schools collaborate locally with artists, creative practitioners and others in various fields. Children and young people across the country benefit greatly from these collaborations. The local Arts Offices, and indeed the Creative Ireland Coordinators in each local authority, are integral to ensuring that these collaborations grow and continue and are allowed to flourish.
Creative Ireland Programme
Questions (32)
Niamh Smyth
Question:32. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of children who have access to tuition in music, drama, coding and art; if she is satisfied that the target of ensuring that, by 2022, each child will have such access will be met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47400/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Creative Youth Plan, which I launched last December 2017, seeks to ensure that every child in Ireland has practical access to tuition, experience and participation in music, drama, art and coding by 2022.
The actions in the Creative Youth Plan extend to both the formal and non-formal education sectors and are being delivered by my Department, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Arts Council.
Nearly one year on, we can now show some real progress towards meeting this ambitious objective.
- The Creative Schools pilot project for 150 schools is now up and running reaching over 38,000 children and young people. The Pilot will cover a wide range of creative activities for children and young people which could potentially include drama, visual arts, literature, poetry, film, coding and other activities.
- Music Generation is moving into Phase 2 of their expansion and it is planned that nationwide expansion will take place during the lifetime of the Creative Ireland Programme, enabling increased access to music tuition for children and young people.
- The Department of Education and Skills are continuing to progress the availability of coding at both primary and post primary levels. At post primary level, a short course has been developed in coding for Junior Cycle and is available for all schools to offer. The first phase of Leaving Certificate Computer Science is underway with 40 schools offering the subject.
- Plans are being examined with key stakeholders for the expansion of the youth theatre provision across the country and other important initiatives are being developed and piloted such as the Pilot Creative Youth Partnership initiative which was launched during the summer and the outcome of which will be announced shortly.
- There are 73 schools participating in Creative Clusters and they have been grouped into 23 clusters. There are approximately 17,000 students, from a diverse range of school types, participating.
- We are continuing to invest in Continued Professional Development (CPD) for teachers and for artists working in partnership with teachers which is crucial to the long-term success and sustainability of the overall plan.
- Cruinniú na nÓg – the first national day of creativity for children and young people took place on 23rd June saw over 500 free events right across the country to involve children and young people in creative activity in their own communities.
I am also pleased that a number of innovative projects covering a range of activities for children and young people have come through the National Creativity Fund process and I am looking forward to seeing the outcome of these projects.
The Creative Youth Plan is ambitious and ever developing. I hope that by 2022, it will have touched the lives of every child and young person in Ireland.
Arts Promotion
Questions (33, 34)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:33. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the recommendations in the arts in education charter. [47340/18]
View answerNiamh Smyth
Question:34. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress that has been made in relation to the implementation of the arts in education charter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47403/18]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.
The Arts in Education Charter was launched in 2013 as a joint initiative of the then Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, The Department of Education and Skills, working with the Arts Council. A number of commitments were made as part of this process and much progress has been made across all areas of the Charter since its publication.
Six formal reports were submitted to the Minister for Education and Skills and to the then Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. These reports have been uploaded to the Arts in Education Portal and are available to view.
As the Deputies are aware, Creative Youth, a plan to enable the creativity of every child and young person was published in December 2017. This Plan aims to ensure that every child in Ireland has practical access to tuition, experience and participation in music, drama, arts and coding by 2022. Creative Youth is being implemented by my Department, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Arts Council, all working in partnership. This Plan is building on the Arts in Education Charter and aims to resource, fast-track and implement the objectives of the Arts in Education Charter as well as rolling out a range of other initiatives.
Examples of initiatives which were kick-started by the Arts in Education Charter and where significant progress has now been made by the various partners involved include:
- ARIS – Arts Rich Schools has evolved into the Creative Schools pilot project initiated this year,
- The expansion of Music Generation has now been included in Creative Youth Programme with the aim of providing nationwide coverage within the lifetime of the Creative Ireland Programme;
- Local Arts Education Partnership (LAEPs) which have evolved into Local Creative Youth Partnerships (LCYPs) and which were initiated this year;
- the ongoing development of the Arts in Education Portal; and
- the continued support for teacher training initiatives.
In addition, a new Expert Advisory group chaired by Dr. Ciaran Benson has been established by me, Minister Bruton, in his previous role as Minister for Education and Skills and Minister Zappone. Their role is to drive the implementation of Creative Youth and the continued roll out of the Arts in Education Charter. They will also advise on the broader long-term objective for the Creative Ireland Programme: to enhance cultural and creative education for all our children and young people.
National Parks and Wildlife Service
Questions (35)
Joan Burton
Question:35. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she and-or her officials have had contact by way of meetings or correspondence with representatives of the owners of an estate (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if so, the details of such meetings or correspondence by her or her officials, including dates regarding the acquisition of some or all of the estate, particularly the 4,000 acres of land; her views on whether such an acquisition in respect of the estate would be a fitting commemoration and memorial to all of the work of a person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47411/18]
View answerWritten answers
As outlined in my response of 18 September, Parliamentary Question No. 823, and 2 October parliamentary Question No. 69 there is no change to my Department's position. The sale and any apportionment of the property into lots is a commercial matter for the vendor.
Through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht manages a property portfolio in respect of national parks and reserves of approximately 87,000 hectares. These important biodiversity areas are located all around the country including a large area of County Wicklow, and the 5,000 hectares of lands in Glenasmole purchased in recent years. Given the limited resources available for capital investment within the National Parks and Nature Reserves, I recognise the need to focus on the core responsibilities relating to the management of the existing Parks and Reserves' lands.
While the lands in question would represent a significant addition to the stock of publicly owned heritage properties and lands, my Department could, as stressed previously, only consider acquiring this property if the price fell to within a certain range, or in the context of a donation or bequest. This is known to the Vendors. Clearly, the Glenasmole purchase of 5,000 hectares sets a precedent, and although the circumstance pertaining are very dissimilar, it is certainly a market factor. As the Deputy will no doubt appreciate, it would not be appropriate of me to seek to negotiate indirectly or publicly. Suffice it to say that I am aware of the public-good value of this property, balanced across a range of demands across my Department.
As I said in my earlier replies, my Department's relationship with the Guinness Estate here, and more generally, has been positive. It is one of mutual respect and good neighbours, and indeed often working together on shared issue of interest. These include herd management and husbandry, habitat oversight, film-making, signage, visitor accommodation, trail maintenance and designation management. Indeed, for the most part, the boundary between the private estate and the National Park is invisible to the visitor and tourist, with pre-eminence being given to the idyllic shared land, lake and mountainscape.
Wildlife Protection
Questions (36)
Clare Daly
Question:36. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to address the effects of an increase in illegal hunting on rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45953/18]
View answerWritten answers
My remit in this matter relates to the species protected under the Wildlife Acts and under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011. All bird species are protected and animals such as badgers, deer, otters, bats and hares are also protected.
Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department monitor compliance with the Wildlife Acts and the European Community (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 across the country on an on-going basis and carry out patrols and site visits to enforce the various provisions of these Acts, as much as possible. They also investigate reports of breaches of the Acts with a view to initiating prosecutions where there is sufficient evidence to support same. Members of An Garda Síochána are also empowered under the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities legislation to investigate alleged offences and to prosecute if they see fit.
Officials of the NPWS are aware of the impact that illegal hunting, especially badger baiting and hare lurching, is having on some local communities. My Department is working closely with An Garda Síochána in relation to wildlife crime. Earlier this year, the NPWS organised a Wildlife Crime conference at which a number An Garda Síochána Officers attended. The NPWS and an Garda Síochána are currently developing closer and more formal liaison arrangements for sharing of information and intelligence and the carrying out of joint operations in relation to wildlife crime.
Creative Ireland Programme
Questions (37)
Noel Rock
Question:37. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the National Creativity Fund 2018 to 2019; the details of the project that a body (details supplied) has made under the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47352/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Creative Ireland National Creativity Fund was launched on 17 May 2018 with a closing deadline of the 15 June. A total number of 287 applications were received in respect of the fund, far exceeding expectations. Following an initial review by officials by my Department, 77 of these these were submitted to an independent expert panel for analysis and scoring against published set criteria. A total of 30 projects were ultimately approved for funding, with grants varying from a minimum of €10,000 to a maximum of €70,000. Cumulatively, the total funding being made available to support these projects across 2018 and 2019 amounts to approximately €1.2m.
The purpose of the Creative Ireland Programme Scheme is to develop strategic collaborations with a variety of organisations/individuals in order to identify and develop new initiatives that support the broad objectives of the Creative Ireland Programme and help inform policy and/or cross-sectoral development in the area of culture, creativity and wellbeing.
In relation to the project specified by the Deputy, this will explore the processes of creative and inclusive music making across a wide geographical spread of primary and post-primary schools that have created showcase performances of their musical endeavours.
Little is known about the processes that teachers and the wider school communities employ to showcase creative, diverse and inclusive approaches to music-making in schools in Ireland, and how the dynamics of interaction work. This project seeks to explore understandings of inclusion and creativity in school communities and provide a roadmap for learning about the pedagogies of engagement in creative music-making.
Full details on what projects have been funded around the country are available on the Creative Ireland Programme website www.creativeireland.gov.ie.
Arts Funding
Questions (38)
Mick Wallace
Question:38. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has had discussions with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government regarding amending the Arts Act 2003 in order to require each local authority to have a ring-fenced arts budget as recommended by arts advocacy organisations such as an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47438/18]
View answerWritten answers
My priority in relation to local government is, to work closely with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy to highlight the importance of Arts and Culture at local authority level. Earlier this year, I joined with Minister Murphy and with the Taoiseach to launch Culture and the Creativity Strategies of all 31 local authorities. These strategies were jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
Local government legislation has specific provision enabling local authorities to promote arts and culture within their functional area. While I appreciate that some groups have called for the law to be changed to make it a requirement for arts funding to be non-discretionary I am not convinced that this would make a difference to expenditure on the ground. All local authorities already make provision for expenditure in the arts. A mandatory provision would not change the level of funding provided as councillors would still continue to balance expenditure proposals across all local authority programmes as is currently the case. It is far better in my view for local authorities to embrace cultural and artistic provision because they see the transformative engagement which the arts and culture can bring to local communities. I think that the experience of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and now the Creative Ireland Programme have been instrumental in raising awareness at local government level of the value of this engagement.
For my part I will work to improve the resources which flow to local authorities through the Arts Council and through the Creative Ireland Programme in partnership with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.
The Taoiseach has declared his intention that he is committed to doubling funding for arts, culture and sport over a seven year period. The Government is already delivering on this objective. Last April we launched Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage, a 10 year capital plan which will support cultural infrastructure nationwide.
Under 2019 Budget funding for the arts and culture sector in 2019 will increase by €22.6m to almost €190m which represents an increase of 14% on 2018. This funding will comprise of €148.2m in current expenditure and €41.7m in capital investment. In the context of the Deputy's question, this includes an increase to the Arts Council funding by almost €6.8m or 10% to a total of €75m made up of €6m in current expenditure, which is more than double the increase in 2018.
I am glad to report that Creative Ireland will receive funding of €7.15m – an increase of €1.15m primarily to support the Culture and Creativity Teams established in every local authority and to allow for the continued roll-out of Creative Youth. A total of €6m is being provided for the European City of Culture – Galway2020 and an additional €250k for the Decade of Centenaries for commemorations was also announced.
I am confident that the increased spending and continued engagement will support Pillar 2 of the Creative Ireland Programme, where local authorities are the primary instruments of community engagement for of the Programme entitled Enabling Creativity in Every Community throughout Ireland.
Film Industry Development
Questions (39)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:39. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she plans to take to ensure that public funding of the film industry will result in quality employment and training; the number of permanent jobs that exist in the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47420/18]
View answerWritten answers
The audiovisual sector supports thousands of jobs in the Republic of Ireland and there is significant potential for further growth in the years ahead. Ireland’s audiovisual and animation industry is currently worth more than €1 billion to the Irish economy, and the audiovisual Action plan which I launched in June, set out under the Creative Ireland Programme, has the potential to not only increase the number of full-time industry employees to an estimated 24,000, but to grow its gross value to nearly €1.4 billion.
In 2016, the Irish Government commissioned international audio-visual consultants Olsberg SPI with Nordicity to produce a report on "Economic Analysis of the Audiovisual Sector in the Republic of Ireland" which was also published in June. The report measured the economic value of the Irish audiovisual industry, and proposed policy changes to support its future growth. The report showed that the Irish audiovisual sector generated €1.05 billion in gross value added in 2016 and supported employment of 16,930 full-time equivalents of which 10,560 was direct employment. The largest contribution to employment came from the film, TV, and animation sub-sector, which generated 11,960 full-time equivalent jobs (FTEs) of employment of which just over 7,000 was direct employment such as cast and crew.
The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection has brought forward the Employment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017 to improve the security and predictability of working hours for employees on insecure contracts and those working variable hours. This legislation responds specifically to the commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to address the problems caused by the increased casualisation of work and to strengthen the regulation of precarious work. The Bill completed Report and Final Stage in the Dáil on 12th July 2018.
I am also glad to report that Screen Training Ireland, which is a division of Screen Ireland, plans to hold an inaugural Screen Industry Education Forum on the 19th November. The aim of this annual event is to bring screen industry stakeholders, education/training providers and policy influencers together to focus on the skills development challenges and opportunities of the screen sectors in Ireland.
Commemorative Events
Questions (40)
Colm Brophy
Question:40. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the proceedings of the international famine commemoration 2018 in Australia; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47336/18]
View answerWritten answers
The International Famine Commemoration 2018 took place at the Famine Rock in Williamstown, Melbourne, on Sunday 28th October last.
Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan T.D., represented the Government at the Commemoration. Minister O'Donovan also participated in a very successful Roundtable discussion on the theme of the Famine and the Irish in Australia.
Forbairt na nOileán
Questions (41)
Catherine Connolly
Question:41. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil polasaí faoi leith ann do na hoileáin; an ndéanfaidh sí cóip den pholasaí sin a sholáthar; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47425/18]
View answerWritten answers
Tá an réasún taobh thiar d’infheistíocht Rialtais maidir leis na hoileáin leagtha amach i ndoiciméid éagsúla thar na mblianta.
Léirigh Tuarascáil an Choiste Idir Rannach um Fhorbairt na nOileán - Creatlach Stráitéiseach d'Fhorbairt Oileáin na hÉireann a cuireadh i dtoll a chéile i 1996 faoi stiúir Roinn an Taoisigh gurb é an bac ba mhó ar rannpháirtíocht eacnamaíocht agus shóisialta phobail na oileán an rochtain, idir sheirbhísí iompair agus infrastruchtúr mara, de chaighdean íseal a bhí ar fáil do na pobail sin.
Thóg Tuarascáil Malachy Walsh & Partners, coimisiúnaithe ag mo Roinn, ar an obair sin ina dtuarascáil maidir le seirbhísí iompair do na hoileáin a foilsíodh i 2003. Níl dabht ach go bhfuil mo Roinn imithe i ngleic leis na heaspaí a aithníodh sna tuarascálacha sin agus tá infheistíocht ollmhór déanta maidir le seirbhísí agus infrastruchtúr mara sna blianta ó shin. Faoi láthair, tá 28 seirbhís iompar á bhfóirdheonú ag mo Roinn le hais níos lú ná deich gcinn in 1996. Tá anseo idir sheirbhísí fharantóireachta do phaisinéirí agus lastas agus roinnt sheirbhísí aeir chomh maith. Comhthreomhar le forbairt na seirbhísí iompair seo, tá mórchlár infheistíochta i gcalafoirt farantóireachta ag freastal ar na hoileáin curtha i gcríoch ag mo Roinn le fiche bliana anuas agus is ar éigean go bhfuil fiú oileán amháin a bhfuil daonra buan air nach bhfaca chuid den infheistíocht sin. Ar ndóigh, níl an obair sin críochnaithe go fóill. Tá ceithre cinn de mhórthograí caipitil luaite sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta, Tionscadal Éire 2040, rud a léiríonn gur obair leanúnach atá ar siúl maidir leis na hoileáin.
Níos túisce i mbliana, d'fhoilsigh Seirbhís Eacnamaíochta agus Meastóireachta an Rialtais Athbhreithniú Caiteachais ar na Seirbhísí Fharantóireachta Fhoirdheonaithe chuig na hOileain amach ón gCósta. De réir na tuarascála sin, le deich mbliana anuas, tá na haschuir seo a leanas, a mheastar a bheith riachtanach chun pobail na n-oileán a chothú, seachadta ag na seirbhísí farantóireachta fóirdheonaithe sin:
- Rinneadh 410,880 seoladh ar sheirbhísí fóirdheonaithe;
- Thaistil 3.95 milliún paisinéir, arbh oileánaigh 40.8% díobh agus ar chuairteoirí 59.2% díobh, ar na seoltaí seo; agus
- Aistríodh 162,000 tona lastas go dtí na hoileáin mar aon le 274,000 feithicil.
De réir na tuarascála chéanna, bhí tionchar dearfach le brath ar na leibhéil fhostaíochta fhoriomlána idir 2006 agus 2016 agus tháinig glanmhéadú de 47 faoi líon na ndaoine a bhí fostaithe ar na hoileáin le linn na tréimhse sin. Cé nach féidir a rá go cinnte cad ba chúis leis an bhfeabhas seo sa ráta fostaíochta, tugtar suntas sa tuarascáil don tacaíocht dhíreach agus indíreach a thugann an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta (agus Údarás na Gaeltachta dár ndóigh) do réimse deiseanna fostaíochta ar na hoileáin lena n-áirítear comharchumainn, Comhar na nOileán, Campaí Samhradh agus Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge (Coláistí Samhraidh). Ina theannta sin, tá sé indéanta ar chuid de na hoileáin comaitéireacht a dhéanamh go dtí an mórthír chun dul ag obair mar thoradh ar an infheistíocht atá déanta ag an Roinn i mbonneagar calafoirt agus i seirbhísí farantóireachta feabhsaithe.
Is fiú a nótáil chomh maith gur foilsíodh i 2010 Athbhreithniú ar na Riachtanais Fostaíochta agus Phoiteanseal d'Fhorbairt Eacnamaíochta na nOileán, tuarascail a chuir na comhairleoirí eacnamaíochta, FGS Consulting, i dtoll a chéile ar son mo Roinne. Anuas air sin, tuigtear dom go bhfuil polasaithe oileánda ag eagrais stáit eile atá ag feidhmiú in earnáil an tsláinte, na forbartha pobail agus an oideachais agus go n-imríonn an raon leathan straitéisí agus polasaithe seo tionchar nach beag ar ollsprioc an Stáit pobail inmharthanacha a chothú ar na hoileáin.
Waterways Ireland Funding
Questions (42)
Brendan Smith
Question:42. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the proposed level of funding that will be provided to Waterways Ireland in 2019; if additional capital funding will be allocated to enable the upgrade of facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47394/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Estimates for 2019 provide for an allocation of €25,117,000 for Waterways Ireland, made up of €20,737,000 in Current funding and €4,380,000 in Capital funding. This is an overall increase of €1,000,000 on the 2018 allocation. Funding from the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland for 2019 is awaited.
Capital funding has been increased by €800,000 from €3,580,000 in 2018 to €4,380,000 in 2019.
The funding of Waterways Ireland for 2019 is for investment in the management, maintenance and development of the inland waterways under its control.
Any proposed works to be carried out in 2019 are an operational matter for Waterways Ireland which will take into account its strategic business objectives for the waterways network.
Question No. 43 answered with Question No. 26.
Cúram agus Oideachas na Luath-Óige
Questions (44)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:44. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil i gceist aici a chinntiú go mbeidh an tacaíocht céanna ar fáil do na naionraí taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht agus atá ar fáil taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [47218/18]
View answerWritten answers
Mar a chuir mé in iúl i m'aisfhreagra ar cheist Dála Uimh. 376 ar 25 Deireadh Fómhair 2018, is trí mhaoiniú ón Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige agus Foras na Gaeilge araon a chuir Forbairt Naíonraí Teoranta tacaíocht ar fáil do na naíonraí Gaelacha go dtí lár 2014. I mí Iúil 2014, aistríodh an cúram sin chuig Gaeloideachas, nuair a ceapadh é mar cheanneagraíocht chun plé le gaeloideachas, tumoideachas agus réamhscolaíocht lán-Ghaeilge.
Tuigim ó Fhoras na Gaeilge, ós rud é nach bhfuil maoiniú á chur ar fáil ón Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige (RLGÓ) ó lár 2014, go ndearnadh iarratas cuimsitheach leis an Roinn sin anuraidh i ndáil le maoiniú a chur ar fáil do na naíonraí Gaelacha. Tuigtear dom go bhfuiltear ag leanúint suas maidir leis an iarratas sin.
Beag beann air sin, de réir Gníomh 3.8 de Phlean Gníomhaíochta an Rialtais don Ghaeilge 2018-2022, tá geallta go gcruthófar dhá phost breise le Gaeilge sa RLGÓ le linn 2019 chun tuilleadh forbartha a dhéanamh ar an soláthar Gaeilge in earnáil na luathbhlianta taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht agus go bhforbrófar plean cuimsitheach don earnáil chomh maith. Anuas air seo, tá ionadaíocht ag an RLGÓ ar Choiste Stiúrtha an Phlean Gníomhaíochta agus déanfar plé maidir le hacmhainní breise don earnáil seo mar chuid d'obair an Choiste.
Leis an gcur chuige nua seo á chur i bhfeidhm, táim dóchasach go dtiocfaidh tuilleadh forbartha ar earnáil na luathbhlianta taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht sna blianta amach romhainn.
Film Industry Development
Questions (45)
Bernard Durkan
Question:45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she plans to promote the expansion of the film industry here with particular reference to the creation of a greater international awareness of Ireland as a suitable location for the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47375/18]
View answerWritten answers
Fís Éireann is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry. Its statutory remit is to assist and encourage the making of film in the State and the development of a film industry in Ireland. Fís Éireann supports writers, directors and production companies across these sectors by providing investment loans for the development, production and distribution of film, television and animation projects. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that €20.04m is to be allocated to Fís Éireann under Budget 2019. This is an increase of €2 million on the 2018 figure .
Fís Éireann also supports the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming in Ireland. It also liaises with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland to maximise opportunities for the promotion of Ireland as a location for film productions as well as a tourism destination.
In April of this year, I was joined by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance in launching Investing in Our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027. This is a capital investment plan and it provides funding of €200m for the audio visual industry and media production through Fís Éireann over the next 10 years. In June 2018 I launched my Department’s €200m Audio-visual Action Plan. The industry-wide, long-term plan, under the Creative Ireland Programme, will support the Government’s ambition to enable Ireland to become a global hub for the production of Film, TV drama and animation.
This Plan is informed by and accompanied by the publication of the Olsberg/SPI with Nordicity Report which sets out a detailed economic analysis of the audiovisual sector and provides an invaluable framework for the growth of the industry over the coming years.
A steering group has been set up which will prioritise measures, oversee implementation and monitor risks, and will report regularly to me as Minister.
I am glad to report that Budget 2019 also included an announcement that Section 481 which is the Irish tax incentive for film, television and animation has been extended to 2024. A time-limited Regional Uplift of 5% is also being introduced for the film tax relief.
Hare Coursing Regulation
Questions (46)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Question:46. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to reports of continued breaching of licences by coursing clubs; and her views on whether harsher consequences in the form of licensing being revoked need to be taken to combat serious breaches of existing legislation in the capturing of hares for use in blood sports. [47406/18]
View answerWritten answers
The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity, is carried out under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My responsibility relates to the conservation status of the hare.
In August last year, my Department issued licences under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, covering some 87 affiliated coursing clubs, to capture and tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings for the 2018/19 season, which extends from the end of September 2018 to the end of February 2019. Those licences contained a total of 25 conditions which have been developed and refined over the years.
Where resources allow, local National Parks and Wildlife Service Conservation Rangers from my Department attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis, to monitor compliance with licences issued to the ICC and its affiliated clubs. All issues arising from reports of NPWS staff will be reviewed and considered in the context of any licence application for the 2019/20 coursing season.
Cultural Policy
Questions (47)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:47. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of Culture 2025 on recommendations that are outside the Creative Ireland Programme. [47339/18]
View answerWritten answers
Since the publication of the Culture 2025 Draft Framework Policy in 2016, following a major consultation exerciese, a huge amount has happened in Irish cultural policy. The impact of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme had a transformative effect and led to the development of the Government's Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022.
The Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022 was launched in December 2016 as the legacy programme of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025. The Creative Ireland Programme was underpinned by the aims and key values of Culture 2025.
As these two documents were developed at the same time they have naturally informed one another. The Culture 2025 Draft Framework Policy, which was published in July 2016, stated that the publication of the policy would be followed up with the development of a cross-sectoral plan which would be guided by the priorities set out in that document.
In reality the Creative Ireland Programme was developed as an action plan and therefore it is the intention that implementation of many of the goals and aspirations set out in the final Culture 2025 document will be carried out under the Creative Ireland Programme 2017-2022.
It is envisaged that Culture 2025 will give overall direction to future iterations of the Creative Ireland Programme as well as guiding the Government's approach to culture policy across all sectoral areas.
With this in mind, my Department is putting together the final version of the Culture 2025 document, which will be completed in the coming weeks and brought to Government for approval and subsequent publication. This final version has been restructured to ensure coherence with the development of the Creative Ireland Programme over the past two years, and other developments in the cultural area, and to clearly distinguish between the high level policy Culture 2025 framework and the more action orientated Creative Ireland Programme.
Heritage Schemes
Questions (48)
Martin Heydon
Question:48. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding supports she will be providing in 2018 and 2019 for built and natural heritage programmes nationally and in County Kildare. [47427/18]
View answerWritten answers
My Department provides financial support for the protection of our built heritage through a number of schemes which are generally administered by local authorities.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures. It is designed to leverage private capital for investment in small scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled conservation professionals and tradespeople. I have allocated funding of €2m in total for this Scheme in 2018. In 2017 and 2018 a total of €100,000 was provided in grant aid under this scheme for 28 projects in County Kildare.
The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. I have allocated €1.3m for the Structures at Risk Fund nationally in 2018. Over the course of 2017 and 2018, a total of €119,000 was allocated to 5 projects in County Kildare under this scheme. Details of the projects approved under both funding schemes are published on my Department’s website and on local authority websites.
The Structures at Risk Fund will be revamped for 2019 and will become the Historic Structures Fund. The Fund will open for applications shortly, together with the Built Heritage Investment Scheme for 2019.
My Department is providing €350,000 of funding to the OPW in 2018 to assist in the conservation and presentation of historic buildings and national monuments in State ownership. My Department’s National Monuments Service works in close collaboration with the OPW on survey, excavation and research work to optimise the protection, management, interpretation and presentation of national monuments in State care.
My Department’s funding to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) provides for the maintenance, development, management and operation of the NPWS. It includes running costs of the 6 National Parks and 80 statutory Nature Reserves, development and improvement works for visitor facilities and other minor capital projects. NPWS also funds conservation-related research and surveys and compensatory measures for landowners’ costs and losses resulting from restrictions in managing their land in areas designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives. There are small provisions for supporting small scale conservation and community education and awareness projects in areas affected by the cessation of domestic turf cutting on designated raised bogs, the operational costs of the Peatlands Council and also for the scanning costs of applications referred to the Minister in her role as a statutory consultee under the Planning Acts and from other consent authorities.
Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas.
Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of Ireland’s raised bog special areas of conservation within the framework of the Habitats Directive. The National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022 sets out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to be managed, conserved and restored and how the needs of turf cutters are to be addressed. Measures for turf-cutters affected by the cessation of turf-cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas also include the provision of compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme which 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.
15,673 annual payments and 1,076 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of applications received under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme for raised bog special areas of conservation. 1,207 annual payments and 2 deliveries of turf have been made to applicants from raised bog natural heritage areas under the scheme. In addition, 1,870 once-off incentive payments of €500 have been made, of which 48 relate to natural heritage areas.
The affected special area of conservation raised bogs in Kildare are Mouds Bog SAC and Ballynafagh Bog SAC. For those sites 933 annual payments and 313 deliveries of turf have been made together with 65 once-off incentive payments of €500. My Department is in the process of relocating applicants from Ballynafagh Bog special area of conservation to the non-designated Coolree Bog. Approximately €103,000 has been spent on progressing this project.
In 2018 I announced the approval of grant funding of just under €137,000 under the pilot Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme for twelve local community groups and organisations for a variety of projects focused on the conservation and revitalisation of raised bog Special Areas of Conservation, Natural Heritage Areas and other raised bog areas in 2018. A grant of €3,900 was awarded to an organisation in Co. Kildare for restoration works to a raised bog natural heritage area in Co. Meath.
In terms of future funding, Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027 represents a major capital investment scheme of €1.2 billion in funding over the next 10 years, as part of Project Ireland 2040. This plan will see increased investment in protecting and celebrating our built heritage across the country. More details on the commencement and completion dates for projects and programmes, as well as the timing of the expenditure in relation to them, will emerge as we go through the process of appraisal and planning as required under the Public Spending Code.
Creative Ireland Programme
Questions (49)
Hildegarde Naughton
Question:49. Deputy Hildegarde Naughton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the initiatives in County Galway that will benefit from the national creativity fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47306/18]
View answerWritten answers
The Creative Ireland National Creativity Fund was launched on 17 May 2018 with a closing deadline of the 15 June. A total number of 287 applications were received in respect of the fund, far exceeding expectations. Following an initial review by officials by my Department, 77 of these these were submitted to an independent expert panel for analysis and scoring against published set criteria. A total of 30 projects were ultimately approved for funding, with grants varying from a minimum of €10,000 to a maximum of €70,000. Cumulatively, the total funding being made available to support these projects across 2018 and 2019 amounts to approximately €1.2m.
The purpose of the National Creativity Fund is to develop strategic collaborations with a variety of organisations/individuals in order to identify and develop new initiatives that support the broad objectives of the Creative Ireland Programme and help inform policy and/or cross-sectoral development in the area of culture, creativity and wellbeing.
Two projects in Galway are being supported under the Fund. The Galway University Hospitals Arts Trust Limited will be rolling out a comprehensive programme of exhibitions, events, and public engagement for and with the hospital community across Ireland’s largest geographical Hospital Group - the Saolta University Health Care Group, over the next twelve months. This will include workshops, public performances, the development of a strategic arts policy for the Saolta University Health Care Group, a series of arts interventions in public spaces, a month long pilot for a poet doctor programme and a 6-month artist residency pilot.
The Galway Childcare Committee and Groundswell Arts will pilot ‘The Lullaby Project’ which will partner professional musicians with parents, carers, and early years practitioners to compose bespoke personalised songs for young children in three diverse early years settings. The project will build on Galway’s strong musical traditions and raise the profile of how music in early years can support and nurture children, increase wellbeing, support inclusion and build lasting relationships with families.
Full details on the projects supported under the scheme are available on the Creative Ireland Programme website www.creativeireland.gov.ie/en.
National Cultural Institutions
Questions (50)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:50. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of plans to build a national storage facility; and if it will be provided for under Investing in Our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 to 2027. [47338/18]
View answerWritten answers
The issue of storage is an ongoing issue for the national cultural institutions under the aegis of my Department.
At present, there are no definitive plans to build a single national storage facility but the issue will be kept under consideration.