Wednesday, 13 May 2020

Written Answers Nos. 1319-1339

Waterways Ireland Remit

Questions (1319)

Martin Kenny

Question:

1319. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of commercial operating licences issued and the type of licence issued by Waterways Ireland to businesses operating on the Shannon navigation in each of the years 1992 to 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4425/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Waterways Ireland has informed me that the Body is not in a position to provide details of commercial operating licences issued for the period 1992 to 1999 prior to its inception.

Waterways Ireland commenced issuing commercial operating licences in 2002 with the first operating licence being issued on the Shannon Navigation in 2005. Details of all commercial operating licences issued on the Shannon Navigation by Waterways Ireland are listed in the table.

YEAR	QTY	BUSINESS TYPE
2005	1	Sailing School
	1	Passenger Vessel
2006	1	Passenger Vessel
2007	1	Sailing School
	1	Canoe and Pedalo Hire
2009	1	Boat Hire
2010	1	Passenger Vessel
	1	Boat Hire
2011	1	Passenger Vessel
	4	Boat Hire
2012	1	Passenger Vessel
	1	Kayak Instruction
	3	Boat Hire
2013	1	Passenger Vessel
	3	Boat Hire
	1	Kayak Tour
2014	2	Passenger Vessel
	3	Boat Hire
	1	Kayak Tour
2015	2	Passenger Vessel
	1	Inflatable Waterpark
	2	Boat Hire
	1	Kayak Tour
2016	1	Passenger Vessel
	1	Inflatable Waterpark
	1	Boat Hire
	1	Kayak Tour
	1	Boatel
2017	1	Passenger Vessel
	1	Inflatable Waterpark
	1	Boat Hire
	1	Kayak Tours
	1	Boatel
	1	Community Barge
2018	1	Passenger Vessel
	2	Inflatable Waterpark
	1	Boat Hire
	2	Kayak Tour
	1	Boatel
	1	Community Barge
2019	2	Passenger Vessel
	3	Inflatable Waterpark
	2	Boat Hire
	3	Kayak Tours
	2	Boatel
	1	Community Barge
2020	2	Passenger Vessel
	3	Inflatable Waterpark
	2	Boat Hire
	3	Kayak Tours
	2	Boatel
	1	Community Barge
	1	Sailing School

Waterways Issues

Questions (1320)

Martin Kenny

Question:

1320. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of lock passages, that is, boat traffic on the Shannon navigation in each of the years 1992 to 2019 and to date in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4426/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The following table outlines the boat traffic data provided by Waterways Ireland for the Shannon Navigation at its various locks and lifting bridges for the period 2006 to date.

Data in relation to boat traffic prior to 2006 is not available.

YEAR	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020 TO DATE
PORTUMNA BRIDGE	9494	9335	8001	7100	6629	5504	5349	5294	5395	5341	5453	5600	5944	5451	8
VICTORIA LOCK	9158	8853	7709	6993	6345	5401	5068	4874	4934	5022	5132	5280	5348	5030	5
ATHLONE LOCK	9005	8734	7505	6687	6688	5825	5796	6494	5775	6205	6570	6417	6516	5730	2
TARMONBARRY LOCK	6388	6370	5846	5212	4968	4263	3920	3757	3885	3880	4198	4350	4231	4167	8
CLONDRA LOCK	1193	1090	857	862	813	1102	1020	1099	1020	1241	1040	1152	984	1052	0
ROOSKY LOCK	8168	8137	7248	6743	6482	6047	5555	5374	5565	5508	5771	5573	5469	5285	5
ALBERT LOCK	10739	10850	9876	9379	8516	7563	7250	7040	7205	7286	7363	7344	7537	7293	0
CLARENDON LOCK	6888	7250	6433	6351	5740	5006	5867	6088	5650	5509	5511	5270	5503	5292	2
BATTLEBRIDGE	1643	1619	1331	1268	1135	1127	880	1016	835	813	853	938	1063	875	1
DRUMLEAGUE	1563	1568	1275	1205	1097	1074	836	962	797	796	839	912	1030	849	1
DRUMSHANBO LOCK	846	828	773	681	655	599	481	578	387	372	435	408	413	345	1
POLLBOY LOCK	2042	2106	1766	1374	1474	1523	903	1198	1222	1084	1420	1313	1219	846	0
SARSFIELD LOCK	239	202	167	114	164	122	239	113	97	71	1	30	41	50	0
TOTAL	67366	66942	58787	53969	50706	45156	43164	43887	42767	43128	44586	44587	45298	42265	33

Waterways Ireland Funding

Questions (1321)

Martin Kenny

Question:

1321. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of the Waterways Ireland budget by year and category, that is, capital, salaries, maintenance and so on in each of the years 2010 to 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4427/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The breakdown of the Waterways Ireland budget by category in each of the years 2010 to 2019 is set out on the following table.

Waterways Ireland Budget 2010-2019

	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€	€
YEAR	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Capital Northern Ireland	1,400,000	700,000	170,000	369,000	307,775	295,000	1,148,793	86,207	552,500	2,444,444
Capital Ireland	8,000,000	6,000,000	4,500,000	4,069,000	3,858,000	4,118,000	5,868,000	2,680,000	3,580,000	4,380,000
CURRENT
Pay Northern Ireland	3,411,730	3,334,387	3,356,488	3,356,360	3,411,730	3,012,376	3,402,408	3,155,662	2,797,560	3,077,976
Pay Ireland	13,731,175	13,187,926	12,163,513	11,857,039	13,731,175	11,341,063	11,079,687	10,917,762	11,354,274	11,427,322
Pension Northern Ireland	40,000	50,000	80,277	100,000	227,179	341,804	381,648	462,000	389,059	376,144
Pension Ireland	600,000	860,000	1,085,000	1,300,000	1,509,857	1,986,592	2,086,816	2,221,000	2,413,859	2,365,171
Non Pay Northern Ireland	1,771,064	1,655,653	1,468,608	1,263,840	749,023	1,175,261	893,997	1,071,136	1,059,376	1,066,258
Non Pay Ireland	10,036,031	9,382,034	8,322,114	7,161,761	4,244,464	6,145,985	6,302,403	5,95,540	6,083,082	6,042,129
TOTAL CURRENT	29,590,000	28,470,000	26,476,000	25,039,000	23,873,428	24,003,081	24,146,959	17,827,560	24,097,210	24,355,000

Waterways Ireland Data

Questions (1322)

Martin Kenny

Question:

1322. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of employees working in Waterways Ireland; the number working on or responsible for the Shannon navigation; the way in which this compares with the number of persons employed by Waterways Ireland on the Shannon navigation in 2000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4428/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The number of employees working in Waterways Ireland is currently 303 of which 65 are employed in the Western Region covering the Shannon Navigation.

Waterways Ireland was established under statute in 1999 and an organisational structure was prepared and agreed in July 2000.

In subsequent years that structure was established and implemented as resources allowed.

In that context it is not possible to compare the current compliment of staff in the Western Region to the complement of staff in 2000.

Legislative Reviews

Questions (1323)

Eoin Ó Broin

Question:

1323. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the request by a society (details supplied) for reform of legislation in terms of the hobby of metal detecting particularly on gaining access to State lands and the issue of boundaries near archaeological sites and national monuments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4448/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The statutory provisions relating to the use or possession of detection devices for archaeological purposes, and in relation to discoveries of archaeological objects generally, are set out in the National Monuments Acts. While it is unlawful to be in possession of, or to use, a detection device on any monument site protected under those Acts without Ministerial consent under section 2 of the 1987 National Monuments (Amendment) Act, such consent is only otherwise needed where the device is being used for the express purpose of searching for archaeological objects.

I do want to emphasise, however, that unregulated and inappropriate use of metal detectors causes serious and irreparable damage to Ireland’s archaeological heritage. Unsupervised recovery of archaeological objects can greatly diminish, and could entirely eliminate, any research value that might be gained from a particular discovery. Archaeological objects must be excavated in a structured scientific manner, with careful recording of their association with other objects, structures, features and soil layers.

I believe that the Deputy would support me in wanting to retain a system where important cultural heritage material is subject to an appropriate protection regime, that archaeological objects found in the State belong to the people and are not liable to fall into private ownership, and that he would back the current statutory safeguards rather than seeking to introduce changes that would be inappropriate to the circumstances as they exist in Ireland.

I consider the present legislative framework, and the manner in which it is implemented, to be reasonable, proportionate and essential to preventing irreparable loss and damage to our national heritage. Therefore, I have no proposals at present to make any changes to the law as it applies to the use of metal detecting devices. However, my Department is in contact with the organisation referred to by the Deputy and will be responding to any proposals they have put forward.

Scéimeanna Teanga

Questions (1324)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1324. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén fáth nach n-íoctar ach ar feadh seachtaine na mná tí a choinníonn scoláirí faoin scéim speisialta scoláireachtaí do scoláirí atá ag freastal ar na meánscoileanna ar na hoileáin i gcás go mbíonn scoláire as láthair de bharr breoiteachta; cén costas breise a bhainfeadh leis seo a shíneadh ar feadh míosa; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [4651/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Seán Kyne)

Faoin tionscnamh seo, cuirtear ciste ar fáil ar fiú suas le €150,000 thar tréimhse 3 bliana chun gur féidir le suas le 30 scoláire iar-bhunscoile in aghaidh na bliana scoilbhliain iomlán a chaitheamh ag freastal ar aon cheann den trí iar-bhunscoil ar na hoileáin Árann.Tá scoil iar-bhunoideachais ar gach ceann d’Oileáin Árann: Coláiste Naomh Éinne, Inis Mór, Coláiste Ghobnait, Inis Oírr, agus Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin. Faoin socrú reatha, tá uasmhéid de 30 scoláire ceadaithe (uasmhéid de 10 in aghaidh an oileáin). Is é Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na Gaillimhe agus Ros Comáin a dhéanann earcaíocht ar na scoláirí. Tá nós imeachta i bhfeidhm ag an Roinn seo ó 2016 i leith faoina n-íoctar cúiteamh le teaghlaigh faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge as tréimhse neamhláithreachta scoláirí a théann abhaile ar a dtoil féin agus iad ag freastal ar chúrsaí ar feadh tréimhse coicísí nó trí seachtaine i rith na bliana. Déantar an cúiteamh seo ar an mbunús go mbíonn bia ceannaithe isteach ag na teaghlaigh roimh thús an chúrsa agus nach mbeidh na daltaí ag filleadh ar na cúrsaí agus biseach tagtha orthu.Ní íoctar aon chúiteamh leis na teaghlaigh a thagann faoin Scéim do na hiarbhunscoileanna ar na hOileáin Árann as tréimhse neamhláithreachta scoláirí a théann abhaile de bharr tinneas nó saoire ar an mbunús go bhfilleann na daltaí seo ar na teaghlaigh oileánda agus biseach tagtha orthu. Is cinnte go bhfuil tábhacht agus tairbhe ar leith leis an mbeart seo ó thaobh inmharthanacht na scoileanna agus, dá réir, inmharthanacht na n-oileán. Ní amháin sin, ach de thoradh an bhirt seo, tugtar an deis do scoláirí nach bhfaigheadh an deis sa ghnáthbhealach bliain iomlán a chaitheamh ag fáil oideachais trí Ghaeilge ar na hoileáin Árann. Is chun sochair na Gaeilge agus na nOileán Árann atá an beart seo dá réir. Ár ndóigh, tá critéir theanga i gceist leis an mbeart chomh maith a thacaíonn le feidhmiú an Pholasaí don Oideachas Gaeltachta, na Straitéise 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge agus an phróisis pleanála teanga.

Forbairt na nOileán

Questions (1325)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1325. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta ag a Roinn chun polasaí nua a réiteach do na hoileáin; cén uair atá i gceist lena leithéid a fhoilsiú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [4659/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Seán Kyne)

Bhunaigh an Rialtas Coiste Idir-Rannach do na hOileáin i mí Iuil 2019 agus, ag eascairt as cruinnithe den choiste seo, aontaíodh ar phlean oibre chun polasaí oileánda a ullmhú.

Mar chuid den phróiseas seo, réitíodh agus foilsíodh plépháipéar le hionchur ó na ranna stáit éagsúla. Leag an plépháipéar amach eolas faoi na seirbhísí atá ar fáil do na hoileáin cheanna féin a bheadh mar áis don phróiseas comhairliúchán.

Ó Mí Eanáir ar aghaidh, d'eagraigh oifigigh ó mo Roinne sraith cruinnithe comhairliúcháin chun deis a thabhairt do phobail na n-oileán a gcuid tuairimí faoin bpolasaí agus faoi riachtanais na n-oileán a nochtadh.

Go dtí seo, tionóladh cruinnithe ar aon oileán dhéag mar seo a leanas:

Inis Arcáin	9 January 2020
Faoide	10 January 2020
Baoi	10 January 2020
An t-Oileán Mór	17 January 2020
Inis Oírr	22 January 2020
Inis Mór	29 January 2020
Inis Meáin	30 January 2020
Inis Uí Dhrisceoil	7 February 2020
Inis Fada	7 February 2020
Oileán Chléire	7 February 2020
Árainn Mhór	13 February 2020

Is próiseas cuimsitheach comhairliúcháin atá ar siúl agus is é an chéad chéim eile sa phróiséas cruinnithe a shocrú le páirtithe leasmhara eile, eagrais Stáit san áireamh, a chuireann seirbhísí ar fáil do na hoileáin.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (1326)

Peter Burke

Question:

1326. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost to the vote of her Department if the rate of employer PRSI was increased to 15.75% for the portion of salaries over €100,000; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4698/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I am advised that the estimated annualised cost to the vote of my Department if the rate of employer PRSI was increased to 15.75% for the portion of salaries over €100,000 would be in the region of €50,000.

Special Areas of Conservation

Questions (1327, 1328)

Frank Feighan

Question:

1327. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if an up-to-date map of the special areas of conservation in the Strandhill area, County Sligo will be provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4714/20]

Frank Feighan

Question:

1328. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if new signage will be erected advising the public of the location of special areas of conservation in the sand dunes in the Strandhill area of County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4715/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1327 and 1328 together.

I understand that the candidate special areas of conservation referred to in the Deputy’s Questions are Ballysadare Bay candidate special area of conservation (site code 000622) and Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) candidate special area of conservation (site code 000627). Ballysadare Bay and Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) were publicly notified as candidate special areas of conservation in 1997. The boundary for both sites was mapped using Irish Grid co-ordinates on the reduced scale six-inch maps.

In 2016 the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department commenced the process of transposing the boundaries of all special area of conservation sites from Irish Grid/six-inch maps to ITM/1:5000 maps.

The Irish Grid/six-inch maps are available for Ballysadare Bay and Cummeen Strand/Drumcliff Bay (Sligo Bay) candidate special areas of conservation on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department at www.npws.ie . The ITM/1:5000 maps for the sites will be available on this website when the sites have been formally designated as special areas of conservation by Statutory Instrument.

The sites are not in my ownership as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Accordingly, the issue of signage at these sites would be a matter for the local authority.

Special Areas of Conservation Management

Questions (1329)

Frank Feighan

Question:

1329. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures in place to ensure that special areas of conservation which are being damaged by costal erosion are protected and secured by local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4716/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

My Department recognises that increased incidences and severity of storms has resulted in changes along the coastline, including in areas that have been designated as NATURA 2000 sites.

It is important to recognise that coastlines undergo a constant cycle of erosion and accretion as part of natural processes. Shorelines absorb and attenuate the energy entering the coastal zone, thereby acting as natural coastal defences. Material that is eroded from one section of the coast accumulates in another, such that the contours of the coastline are constantly in a state of change. Coastal habitats and species protected by special areas of conservation are adapted to survive and depend upon these unstable conditions.

Because coastal habitats and species are dependent on natural erosion and accretion, they can be damaged either directly or indirectly when coastal protection structures are put in place. Furthermore, interference with natural, dynamic coastal processes (by trying to slow down or stop them) can sometimes invite further instability and increased rates of damage to land and property in the area concerned. The construction of physical barriers such as sea defences can interrupt longshore drift, leading to beach starvation and increased rates of erosion in adjacent areas. Therefore, care must be taken to consider fully the effects of any response to erosional events.

Implementation of coastal defences through engineering is not part of my Department’s remit. Natural erosion rates can be increased by human impacts such as climate change and recreation, and these factors should be taken into account when considering an appropriate response. My Department will continue to provide advice to local authorities in this matter as appropriate.

Harbours and Piers Development

Questions (1330)

Mairéad Farrell

Question:

1330. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount provided under the capital investment plan, Building on Recovery, Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016–2021, for the pier development on Inis Oírr; the amount spent to date; the progress to date; the projected timeline for commencement of works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4820/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Seán Kyne)

The Development of the pier on Inis Oírr is listed amongst the strategic objectives set out in Project Ireland 2040. My Department has been working with Galway County Council with regard to advancing the project and is in the process of agreeing the business case for same as is required under the Public Spending Code.

Following approval of the business case, the advancement of the project to tendering stage will be considered in the context of the funding available to my Department for capital projects and the various demands on that funding.

To date, my Department has spent €368,300 on advancing this project.

Foras na Gaeilge

Questions (1331)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1331. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of restoring Foras na Gaeilge funding to pre-2007 levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4939/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Seán Kyne)

The annual budget for Foras na Gaeilge is subject to approval by the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), given its status as an agency of An Foras Teanga, a North South Implementation Body. Foras na Gaeilge is co-funded on the basis of 75% from my Department and 25% from the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. My Department also provides additional ring-fenced funding for Foras na Gaeilge in relation to the operations of Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge and the Colmcille programme.

An indicative provision of €13.383m has been provided within my Department’s Vote for An Foras Teanga in 2020, an increase from €13.323m in 2019.

Prior to the NSMC’s return in 2007, Foras na Gaeilge’s allocation from the Department at the time was €15.135m.

Údarás na Gaeltachta

Questions (1332)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

1332. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost of restoring Údarás na Gaeltachta funding to pre-2007 levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4940/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Seán Kyne)

The core exchequer allocation from my department to Údarás na Gaeltachta in respect of 2006 was €36.276m, comprising €11.056m for current administration, €3.72m for current programmes and €21.5m for capital projects. Given that the core exchequer allocation for 2020 is €23.652m, the estimated cost of increasing Údarás na Gaeltachta funding to that level would be €12.624m.

However, it should also be noted that Údarás na Gaeltachta will receive additional non-core exchequer funding of €3m from my Department for 2020 in respect of language planning activities in addition to €350,000 for cultural activities.

Broadcasting Sector

Questions (1333)

Paul Murphy

Question:

1333. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the independent film and television sector does not fall within the remit of the wage subsidy scheme due to the non-permanent project nature of the sector (details supplied); if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that many in the sector were due to commence work on various productions but could not start due to the industry shutdown; and if the regulations or the payment scheme will be amended to support workers in the sector. [5167/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

As part of its suite of responses to the COVID-19 situation, the Government introduced new temporary measures to provide financial support to workers affected by the COVID-19 crisis including the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment and a Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. It offers a payment to employees and to the self-employed who have lost their job on (or after) 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An application in respect of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment can be made both by employees who have lost their job, been temporarily laid off, asked to stay at home, or are not getting any money from an employer; and the self-employed who have temporarily ceased trading due to the pandemic.

The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme is administered by the Revenue Commissioners. The scheme is predicated on the employer wanting to keep employees on the payroll and to retain them until business picks up by enabling employees, whose employers are affected by the pandemic, to receive significant supports directly from their employer through the payroll system. The scheme is expected to last 12 weeks from 26 March 2020 and will cover 70% of the net salary of workers, up to a maximum of €410 per week.

These two schemes are in addition to the normal state supports that remain in place.

There is nothing in the legislation excluding the independent film and television sector from within the remit of either scheme. My Department is aware that many workers from the sector have successfully obtained the PUP and officials will continue to engage on the matter.

Protected Disclosures

Questions (1334)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

1334. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of protected disclosures her Department has received since the legislation was introduced; the number of protected disclosures examined to conclusion by year in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5301/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Under Section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act, public bodies are required to prepare a report not later than the 30th June each year setting out the number of protected disclosures made to it in the course of the immediately preceding year and certain other information relating to any such protected disclosures. Reports for the years 2015 - 2018 have been published on my Department's website and are available at

https://www.chg.gov.ie/about/policy-on-disclosure-of-wrongdoing-in-the-workplace/

I am advised that three potential Protected Disclosures have been received by my Department since the introduction of the relevant legislation in 2014. Details of the first of these, the investigation of which concluded that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing having occurred, is included in the 2017 Report. Two complaints were received in 2019, and were in relation to bodies under the aegis of the Department. Of these, the first was deemed not to be a Protected Disclosure within the provisions of the Act and in the second no evidence of any wrongdoing was found.

National Monuments

Questions (1335)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

1335. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the National Monuments Service will take into State care the Napoleonic battery fortress on Carrig Island, Ballylongford, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5422/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

The national monuments in State care number some one thousand sites at over 760 locations around the country and these command considerable resource commitments in terms of both funding and personnel allocations. In addition, there are in excess of 120,000 monuments listed in the Record of Monuments and Places.

Because of the resource implications, the State is only ever in a position to acquire, maintain and present to the public a relatively small number of heritage properties and monuments. My Department makes such acquisitions from time to time in exceptional circumstances in line with their archaeological, architectural, historical or other special significance.

The property referred to by the Deputy is included in the statutory Record of Monuments and Places and, as such, is safeguarded under the National Monuments Acts. Recorded monuments are protected under Section 12 of the 1994 National Monuments (Amendment) Act and two months’ notice is required to be given to my Department in advance of works at, or in, their vicinity.

I regret that in current circumstances, and in light of the limited resources available for new acquisitions, this particular monument could not at present be regarded as a priority for being taken into state care.

Arts Funding

Questions (1336, 1337)

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1336. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if it will be ensured that artists, arts workers and organisations can plan for next year by guaranteeing that at least the same level of increased investment in the Arts Council and Culture Ireland will be committed for 2021. [5428/20]

Richard Boyd Barrett

Question:

1337. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a roadmap will be created in order to address the way in which arts investment will be doubled by 2025; and if a commitment will be given to double investment in the Arts Council and Culture Ireland over the same period. [5429/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1336 and 1337 together.

The COVID-19 crisis gives rise to many challenges for the nation as a whole and is having an unprecedented impact on the on the arts, culture, heritage and Gaeltacht sectors. The full financial and economic implications of the crisis are not yet known, as further information continues to come to hand and having regard to the fact that the impact on the sectors supported by the Department could extend well past the lifting of any COVID-19 restrictions.

Since the advent of the crisis, officials from my Department have been actively engaging with the arts sector and have met and continue to meet with arts and cultural organisations under its aegis, as well a broad range of sectorial stakeholders including resource organisations, advocacy groups as well as individual artists and arts practices

In the context of the wider cultural sector, officials of my Department have met and continues to meet with the State Bodies under its aegis. The Department is continuing to work with the Arts Council and Screen Ireland as well as other parts of Government, to assess and measure the effects of COVID-19 on the cultural sector and continue to plan how best to manage through this crisis. A number of measures have been taken to date to support this sector by the Department and its agencies.

My Department and the Arts Council are providing detailed advice for arts and arts organisations on their websites. Priority is being given towards supporting the artists and arts workers.

The Arts Council responded quickly to the impact of COVID-19 on the arts sector. At the start of the COVID-19 emergency, the Council introduced a series of measures to help artists and arts organisations manage their businesses during the period of the COVID-19 crisis. These can be accessed on its website at the following link: http://www.artscouncil.ie/COVID-19/

These measures include honouring all existing funding commitments and asking regularly funded arts organisation to prioritise their own payments to artists in turn. Since March 12th the Arts Council has fast-tracked the payment of up to 90% of funding to organisations and individuals.

The Arts Council has announced that there will be no financial penalties for arts organisations and individuals unable to deliver programmed events and activities arising from the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Arts Council is in daily contact with a broad range of artists and organisations to understand how COVID-19 is impacting the sector. The Council continues to operate fully throughout the COVID-19 crisis to support artists and arts organisations through this difficult time. Regular updates are being provided on its website and its social media channels.

The Council has also undertaken detailed surveys of arts organisations to get a deep understanding of how COVID-19 is impacting the arts sector. This is helping to identify the impact on audiences, employment and finances for March, April and May as well as a survey of artists seeking information of the economic impact on individuals. .

With regards to Culture Ireland, a new grant scheme was announced in early April, to support professional artists and enable the live presentation of their work on online platforms for an initial period of 4 weeks. Funding of €100,000 has being made available on a match funded basis by FACEBOOK Ireland and Culture Ireland, a division of the Department. All successful artists have been awarded €1,000. The scheme is being managed by Culture Ireland in conjunction with First Music Contact and Poetry Ireland.

Full details are available at www.cultureireland.gov.ie .

My Department will continue to engage with the agencies under its remit and other sectorial stakeholders to ensure that there is the greatest level of awareness of the supports that are available, and to ensure that optimal use is made of available resources to best support the sector at this challenging time.

During this emergency period the first phase of recovery has been the introduction of exceptional measures such as the pandemic payment and the wage subsidy schemes. My colleague Minister Doherty recently announced that over a million people across several sectors are now receiving some sort of state income support which is unprecedented in this nation’s history. These are divided between the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUPs), those on the Live Register and workers who are benefiting from the Wage Subsidy Scheme.

I look forward to working with my colleagues across government on the type of measures that will be needed to allow the economy recover and to see sectors such as the arts and cultural sector play a full role in the recovery phase.

Gorse Burning

Questions (1338)

Steven Matthews

Question:

1338. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will consider establishing a multi-agency task force to examine the cause of repeated occurrences of illegal gorse burning; and her plans to propose remedies to address the problem and to report back to Dáil Éireann. [5437/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I appreciate the Deputy’s concern regarding the recent fires and illegal burning generally.

There are already a number of the Multi-Agency Gorse Fire Groups in existence that explore issues surrounding such fires, in different locations around the country. My Department, through its National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), is one of a number of agencies represented on such groups. An Garda Síochána is also represented on these groups and lead any criminal investigations. The groups are convened by the Fire Services Department of the relevant Local Authority and the Chief Fire Officer for the Local Authority. Generally, the Chief Fire Officer for the Local Authority would chair the meetings and maintain records and the membership of such groups would include representation from stakeholders such as:

- Fire Services Department of the Local Authority

- Gardaí

- Forest Service Section of the Department of Agriculture and Food

- NPWS

- Coillte

- Teagasc

The primary responsibility in terms of fire fighting lies with the Fire Service and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.

My Department continues to work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and An Garda Síochána, as appropriate, to investigate the causes of such fires on designated sites and in national parks and, where evidence is forthcoming, to pursue appropriate enforcement under the Wildlife Acts or other legislation. The prosecution of those responsible is primarily a matter for the An Garda Síochána. The Department, through its National Parks and Wildlife Service staff, cooperates fully with any Garda investigations and any other investigations that may be initiated by other statutory bodies. Where appropriate, this Department pursues cross compliance with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Museum Projects

Questions (1339)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

1339. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to fund the National Children’s Science Museum upon completion, either through her Department or through bodies under her aegis; the amount invested in the project to date; the amount raised by the National Children’s Science Museum through philanthropic donations to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5449/20]

Written answers

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

No decision has been taken on the provision of any funding to the National Children’s Science Museum upon its completion. The amount of funding provided to date by my Department in relation to the project is as follows:

2006 – 2009 €637,500

2016 €25,000.

Any philanthropic donations raised by the National Children’s Science Museum is a matter for that entity.