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Tuesday, 5 Feb 2019

Written Answers Nos. 681-687

Special Areas of Conservation

Questions (681)

Tony McLoughlin

Question:

681. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will investigate with the National Parks and Wildlife Service, to partially withdraw aspects of the new special areas of conservation, SAC, boundaries in County Sligo which it has developed in and around a club (details supplied); if it will work with the club in order to ensure that common sense prevails with regard to the development of new SAC areas surrounding the club; if it will take into consideration potentially swapping a larger piece of its land for the area of contention which it has raised with the service in January 2019 and which will ultimately lead to a potential net habitat gain for the SAC; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5277/19]

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Written answers

The site referred to in the Deputy’s Question was proposed for designation as a special area of conservation in 1997. It was adopted by the European Commission as a site of community importance in 2004.

When lands are being proposed for inclusion within a special area of conservation, landowners are notified in writing of the proposed designation and are sent an information pack on the relevant site. Public notification of the proposed designation is also undertaken. The information pack explains the scientific reasons for the proposed designation, sets out the activities requiring my prior consent, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and includes information on how to appeal against the inclusion of land within the site proposed for designation.

The deadline for lodging an appeal against the inclusion of land within the site referred to in the Deputy’s Question, as proposed for designation in 1997, has passed. In addition, the land referred to in the Deputy’s Question contains habitat which is listed as a priority habitat type within Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive.

Scéimeanna Teanga

Questions (682)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

682. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil plean teanga faighte aici ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail; má ta, cén uair a fuair sí an plean; cén uair a bhfuiltear ag súil go ndéanfar an plean a fhaomhadh [5421/19]

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Written answers

Fuarthas an chéad dréacht den chéad scéim teanga ón Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail ar 18 Eanáir 2019. Tá an dréachtscéim sin á plé agus á meas ag oifigigh mo Roinne faoi láthair. Táthar ag súil go mbeidh sé faofa taobh istigh de roinnt seachtainí.

National Concert Hall

Questions (683)

Kathleen Funchion

Question:

683. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to meet with the chairperson and CEO of the National Concert Hall in the immediate future. [5451/19]

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Written answers

My officials and I maintain active engagement with the Chairs and Directors (where appropriate) of the National Cultural Institutions under the aegis of my Department. I intend to meet the Chair of the National Concert Hall in the near future.

National Monuments

Questions (684, 685)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

684. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 30 and 35 of 21 June 2018, the two monuments indicated at which there were instances of acquisition; the circumstances of their acquired status and or the threat posed to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5497/19]

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Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

685. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the decision-making process on whether a monument attains the status of national monument will be clarified; the person or body that makes this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5498/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 684 and 685 together.

The National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 define “national monument” as meaning (in summary) any monument the preservation of which is a matter of national importance by reason of the historical, architectural, traditional, artistic, or archaeological interest attaching to it. Therefore, the Minister does not have, under the Acts, a function as such of designating monuments as national monuments other than by way of the exercise of a number of specified functions which she may, at her discretion, exercise in respect of a monument which, in her opinion, is a national monument. These functions are the power to make preservation orders or temporary preservation orders in respect of national monuments which are in danger, the power to become guardian of a national monument and the power to acquire national monuments. In exercising these functions the Minister has access to advice from the Department’s Chief Archaeologist and other legal assistance as necessary.

The national monuments referred to in my reply Question Nos. 30 and 35 on 21 June 2018 are the Gate Lodge at Askeaton Castle in County Limerick and the buildings at Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street in Dublin city centre. They were acquired in 2015 for the purposes of conservation, management and presentation to the public and both benefit from the protections of the National Monuments Acts.

Wildlife Protection

Questions (686)

Clare Daly

Question:

686. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the potential impact on the bottlenose dolphin as a consequence of the development of the Shannon liquid natural gas, LNG, project has been evaluated; the measures which will be taken to mitigate against potential impacts on the species; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5571/19]

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Written answers

As set out in the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, Appropriate Assessment of the potential impacts of a proposed development is a matter for the planning authorities, which fall under the remit of the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government.

At the time of the planning application, my Department provided advice on the potential wildlife impacts of the development, including in relation to the bottle-nosed dolphin. The view of my Department are a matter of public record. It is not, however, a planning authority.

Seirbhísí Uisce

Questions (687)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

687. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an raibh aon phlé aici leis an Aire Tithíochta, Pleanála agus Rialtais Áitiúil maidir leis na scéimeanna cóireála eisiltigh atá ag Údarás na Gaeltachta a aistriú chuig Uisce Éireann le go bhféadfaí na córais seo a úsáid le haghaidh an phobail i gcoitinne [5748/19]

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Written answers

I dtús báire ní miste dom a dheimhniú don Teachta nach raibh aon phlé agam le mo chomhghleacaí an tAire Tithíochta, Pleanála agus Rialtais Áitiúil maidir leis an ábhar atá luaite aige.

Sin ráite, tá sé tugtha le fios go poiblí ag Údarás na Gaeltachta roimhe seo go bhfuil siad sásta comhoibriú le heagraíochtaí stáit eile atá ag iarraidh áiseanna cóireála fuíolluisce cónaitheach agus tráchtála a chur ar fáil do phobail Gaeltachta agus a bheadh ar leas na bpobal sin. Labhair mé le Príomhfheidhmeannach Údarás na Gaeltachta le déanaí faoi seo. Ina thaobh sin, tuigim go raibh comhráití ginearálta acu le hUisce Éireann ar chásanna éagsúla ceann ar cheann - áit a bhfuil forbairtí ar chórais fuíolluisce ar siúl faoi láthair.

Ar ndóigh, tuigeann an Teachta nach bhfuil soláthar áiseanna cóireála fuíolluisce cónaitheach, tráchtála nó pobail mar shainchúram ar Údarás na Gaeltachta. Roimhe seo, d’fhorbair an tÚdarás ionaid cóireála fuíolluisce, go príomha, ar nó gar d’eastáit tionsclaíochta nó páirceanna gnó a bhí ina seilbh chun fostaíochta a chruthú i gcomhlachtaí lonnaithe ar na páirceanna seo a éascú.

I gcásanna eisceachtúla, ceanglaíodh áiseanna pobail a bhí ar nó gar d’eastáit tionsclaíochta do na hionaid cóireála fuíolluisce. I gcásanna eile, bhí agus tá an tÚdarás sásta comhoibriú, ar iarratas, le húdaráis áitiúla ag áireamh Uisce Éireann, chun córais, áiseanna nó talamh a chur ar fáil lena bhforbairt agus a dtógáil ar lámh ag na háisíneachtaí cuí.

Tuigim chomh maith, go bhfuil Údarás na Gaeltachta sásta breathnú ar an féidearthacht go ndéanfaí a cuid córais nó, i gcásanna áirithe, tailte a cheannach, le go ndéanfaí iad a úsáid don chuspóir seo, chomh fada agus nach ndéanfaí aon díobháil d’aon úsáid eile a bheadh i bpleananna an Údaráis do na tailte sin sa todhchaí.

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