Written Answers Nos. 250-269
250. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the sampling regime undertaken by the NPWS to identify prevalence of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus; the research being undertaken into the issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17047/20]
View answer252. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the areas and counties in which the rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus 2 has been detected over the past year; the date on which the virus was detected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17049/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 252 together.
Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD2) was first reported in wild rabbits in Ireland in early August 2019 and shortly after that in the Irish hare. Since then the disease has been confirmed in hares in three counties - Dublin, Wexford and most recently Kildare - and in wild rabbits from 12 counties: Carlow, Clare, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Kerry, Leitrim, Meath, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow. While most of the reports are from the end of 2019, a number of new records of the disease were confirmed last week in rabbits from Clare and Cork and in hares from Wexford and Kildare.
The virus is known to be highly contagious and easily spread, and environmental contamination presents significant difficulties in terms of any biosecurity responses. The disease is known to have caused significant mortality among rabbits in parts of Ireland and the spillover into both the Irish hare population and domestic pet rabbits raises additional concerns. While a vaccine is available for pet rabbits this is not an option for wild animals.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are working with colleagues in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to develop a national survey of RHD2 in rabbits. This will involve sampling rabbits from hunting bags at different locations in every county of Ireland. All animals will be tested for RHD2 virus (which will demonstrate the presence of the disease) and RHD2 antibodies (to confirm previous exposure to the virus and subsequent recovery).
The results will provide a snapshot of the prevalence of RHD2 nationally in wild Irish rabbits and will hopefully highlight any geographical patterns that may be present. The results will also indicate if the prevalence of animals with detectable antibodies provides evidence that ‘herd immunity’ to the disease is developing among the rabbit population. It is hoped that an improved knowledge of the disease in rabbits will enhance our understanding of the risks that this disease poses to Irish hares.
251. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of hare coursing licences issued by county over the past ten years; the number of hares captured under those licences; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17048/20]
View answerThe 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. While the regulation of hare coursing is not under my statutory control, licences are required by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) under the terms of the Wildlife Acts on behalf of their affiliated clubs to facilitate the netting and tagging of hares for closed park meetings. Licences are not issued on a county basis or to individual coursing clubs.
The most recent licences issued to the ICC to capture and tag hares for the 2019/2020 coursing season are available on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department. The licences include a Schedule of the individual hare coursing clubs subject to the licence.
On the NPWS website my Department also publishes reports provided by both the ICC and NPWS Conservation Rangers of individual hare coursing meetings and these include data on the number of hares captured at each meeting. These reports for the last five hare coursing seasons are available at https://www.npws.ie/licences/hare-coursing.
253. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil i gceist cúnamh a thabhairt do champaí samhradh a raibh costais tarraingte orthu féin agus earlais a fháil acu roimh a fograíodh nach mbeadh aon champaí Samhraidh ann i mbliana ag tús Mí Iúil, mar a rinne le na coláistí Gaeilge; agus an ndéanfaidh sí raiteas ina thaobh. [17052/20]
View answerCeadaíonn mo Roinn allúntas suas le €330,000 d’Údarás na Gaeltachta chun campaí samhraidh a reáchtáil sa Ghaeltacht gach bliain. Is iad Muintearas Teo atá roghnaithe ag an Údarás chun cúram a dhéanamh de riar na scéime faoina scáth. Is ionann an cúnamh a chuirtear ar fáil faoin scéim agus fóirdheontas i ndáil leis an táille a ghearrtar le freastal ar champaí aitheanta.
Cé is móite den fhóirdheontas sin agus allúntas suas le €33,000 atá iníoctha le Muintearas Teo. as an scéim a riar, ní íoctar as aon chostas eile i ndáil le campaí samhraidh faoi scéim na Roinne.
Ar fhaitíos na míthuisceana, fógraíodh lé déanaí go mbeifí ag glacadh le hiarratais faoi Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh i mbliana.
254. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her engagement with Waterways Ireland on the issue of regulating the use of canal barges for residential accommodation; if legislation, regulations or bye-laws are required to permit the use of barges on canals controlled by Waterways Ireland for residential occupation; her plans to bring forward such legislation or regulations; and the funding required to provide services to facilitate residential occupation of barges on canals controlled by Waterways Ireland. [17367/20]
View answerWaterways Ireland has a statutory responsibility to ensure the protection of the water quality of the canals, and the habitats and ecological systems that depend on it. Waterways Ireland is also responsible for complying with environmental legislation including the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and the Fisheries Acts ( the canals are coarse fisheries of national significance). The canals are also proposed Natural Heritage Areas; of national significance from a conservation perspective, and are protected under the Wildlife Acts.
The functions of Waterways Ireland relate only to the management, maintenance, restoration and development of inland waterways. It has no powers or functions in regard to the provision of accommodation for those who might need it. The by-laws governing the use of inland waterways were introduced in 1988: http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1988/si/247/made/en.
Residential moorings on any inland waterways do require planning permission and infrastructure. This would be required for the safe provision of water, sewage, location for bins, and access and egress for emergency vehicles. Recreational access to canals for members of the public, which are public amenities of significant cultural and heritage value, would also need to be retained. Any plan or development proposal is also considered in relation to relevant County or City Development Plans and any locally impacted community.
My colleague, Minister of State Noonan recently met the Acting CEO of Waterways Ireland to discuss, among other issues, sustainable urban canals and their communities. Our canals and navigable waterways are essential components of our built and natural heritage, which can accommodate unique and vibrant communities, harbour biodiversity and host youth and leisure amenities. Waterways Ireland will engage in a collaborative process with all stakeholders around finding a long term, sustainable solution to regularise the use of the canals, recognising the cultural and heritage value of our canal network as living communities of people and ecology. The process, with community and sustainability at its heart will seed the future strategy.
Waterways Ireland is working on a ten-year strategy for the development of Ireland’s inland waterways. As part of this exercise, it will examine all opportunities to develop, over the next decade, initiatives for each of its navigations. These will include areas on and along the country’s inland waterways infrastructure. Plans will be consistent with its remit; its funding; and will involve consultation and engagement with the many diverse stakeholders within the catchment areas.
255. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ar lorg sí athbhreithniú ar an gcinneadh sláinte nach n-osclófar campaí samhraidh Muintearas srl i mbliana ach amháin iad siúd a bheidh amuigh faoin aer, ionas go ligfear dóibh siúd ag a raibh hallaí nó ionaid phobail srl a bhí mór go leor a bheith istigh ar feadh cuid de na campaí samhraidh [17407/20]
View answerBhí an cheist faoi an mbeifí in ann dul ar aghaidh le reáchtáil Scéim na gCampaí Samhraidh ar chor ar bith an samhradh seo idir dhá cheann na meá mar gheall ar Covid-19. Ar mhaithe leis an gcinneadh cuí a dhéanamh faoin ábhar trí chéile iarradh dréacht-prótacal ón eagraíocht Muintearas - atá freagrach as an scéim a riar - ina leagfaí amach an chaoi a mbeadh sé beartaithe acu cúram a dhéanamh de ghnóthaí Covid-19 agus camapí samhraidh ar bun.
Tar éis an prótacal sin a fháil agus a bheith scrúdaithe ag Údarás na Gaeltachta agus ag mo Roinn araon, rinneadh an cinneadh glacadh lena raibh molta ag Muintearas tairbhe na scéime a theorannú do champaí faoin aer. In éindí leis an gcoinníoll sin, cuireadh roinnt coinníollacha eile leis an gcead ar mhaithe le féachaint chuige go raibh cúram cuí déanta de lucht freastail agus eagraithe na gcampaí chomh maith le foireann Muintearais iad féin mar a bhaineann sé le baol Covid-19.
Tuigfidh an Teachta nach foláir leas sláinte an phobail a chur chun tosaigh i gcónaí agus táim sásta sna tosca reatha gur deineadh é seo mar a bhaineann le an gcoinníoll áirithe seo chun aitheantas faoin scéim a theorannú do champaí faoin aer.
256. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional supports given the film industry to help it overcome the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. [17408/20]
View answerThe Government has introduced measures to support workers and businesses affected by COVID-19 that apply to all sectors of the economy, including those who work in the film industry. These include wage and employment supports, as well as business supports.
In terms of direct support to the audiovisual sector, my Department and Screen Ireland have focused on bringing forward the payment of grants awarded this year to ensure financial commitments can be met.
Screen Ireland – the development agency for the Irish Film Industry – has established a COVID-19 Industry Sub-Committee as part of its planning for recovery. The Sub-Committee has been working together with industry stakeholders including Animation Ireland, Screen Producers Ireland, Visual Effects Association Ireland, Commercials Producers Ireland, Screen Guilds of Ireland, SIPTU and Equity to address key issues and further support measures required. The Covid-19 Sub-Committee aims to respond to the on-going needs of the industry as they arise during the pandemic.
At the outset, Screen Ireland moved quickly to introduce supporting measures following informal consultation with stakeholder groups. These early measures included
- measures to support cashflow;
- distribution support;
- supports for the promotion of Irish film;
- provision of as much of Screen Skills Ireland content as possible online.
Screen Ireland has also introduced further measures to support the industry. Importantly, the measures are directed to the sustainability of the industry with a strong focus on development support. This is intended to ensure companies are well positioned for launch as production recommences. These measures include the following:
- In addition to its normal production and development rounds, Screen Ireland has already allocated €4.5 million in COVID-19 support measures for the Irish film and TV industry amid the Covid-19 crisis which includes commitments to:
- provision of 90% funding upfront on all development loans to Irish screenwriters and production companies through to 31st July 2020;
- extension of existing development and production loan offers which are due to expire in the coming months to 31st July 2020;
- provision of additional marketing and distribution support for upcoming Irish film and TV releases during this period;
- increase the Strategic Slate Development Fund to €3 million to support strategic slate project development;
- introduction a new €1 million COVID-19 Production Fund, to assist with additional production costs associated with implementing the new guidelines as the industry returns to work.
- provision of an additional €1 million in enhanced development support across feature film , TV and Animation;
- a new Creative Concept Development Scheme to Irish directors and writers;
- funding to companies in need of urgent financial planning support;
- continued provision of skills development opportunities to Industry practitioners with Screen Skills Ireland delivering some of its planned activity for 2020 online free-of-charge and support for industry professionals to undertake high level online skills development courses;
- repurposing of two of Screen Skills Ireland’s funding schemes to assist Irish organisations and film festivals to provide online industry events including masterclasses, workshops and seminars;
- introduction of two new funding schemes through Screen Skills Ireland to support industry professionals and stakeholders:
- the Stakeholders & Guilds Funding Scheme which announced the 11 successful organisations and initiatives who will share funding of €200,000 on 25 June 2020. This funding will be used to deliver a wide variety of skills development activities for the Irish screen sector
- a Screen Mentoring Funding Scheme to support industry professionals to access Mentor support.
My Department continues to engage across Government Departments and State Agencies on matters affecting the sector through the Audiovisual Action Plan Steering Group.
261. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the additional supports provided to organisations (details supplied) and those associated or working with the traditional Irish music sector to help them survive and overcome the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. [17413/20]
View answerComhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann are in receipt on an annual subvention of €1.6m from my Department. This subvention remains in place for 2020.
My Department has recently received additional funding of €25m to assist with stabilising the sector in the context of the impacts of COVID-19. €20m of this was allocated to the Arts Council and a further €5m will be allocated to other measures, including securing the future of key cultural and museums spaces and facilities through Ireland, and the production of high-quality digital art and on-line performances. While the details are currently being finalised, funding requirements for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and other bodies are being considered in this context.
Na Píopairí Uileann are primarily funded through the Arts Council, who are independent in the allocation of their funding. Any additional supports for this body would be a matter for the Arts Council.
In general terms, there are number of traditional Irish music projects funding through the Creative Ireland programme through local authorities, including Keeping the Uilleann Pipes Alive – Craobh na Mara in Co. Fingal and Ceangal an Cheoil in Co. Louth. Further ventures supported through Cruinniú na nÓg include the online Céilí in the Kitchen and Online Traditional Song Workshops for Children –across 10 local authorities.
265. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of the way in which each budget line of her Department was allocated and spent in each of the past three years; and the 2020 estimate. [17417/20]
View answerDetails of all expenditure for my Department during 2017 and 2018 are contained in the Annual Appropriation Account, published by the Comptroller and Auditor General at https://www.audit.gov.ie/en/Find-Report/Publications/Appropriation%20Accounts/. A breakdown of 2019 expenditure will be contained in my Department’s 2019 Appropriation Account which is due to be published by the Comptroller and Auditor General later this year. In the interim, details of total expenditure in respect of my Department and all Government Departments are published by the Department of Finance and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Total gross voted expenditure for 2019 figures are available at https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/092b67-fiscal-monitor-december-2019/.
Details of the Revised Estimates for my Department for 2019 and 2020 are published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at https://www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/.
266. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the Department funding and capital that has been repurposed and redistributed within her Departmental vote; the funding she has identified which will be unspent in the various budget lines in 2020 due to works not being able to progress or the arts sector being shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she has requested the Minister for Finance for leave to redistribute same within her Department to help the arts sector recover from Covid-19. [17418/20]
View answerExpenditure across all programme areas in my Department’s Vote continues to be reviewed in light of the Covid19 crisis. Many programme components are being re-imagined on foot of health and safety restrictions necessitated by the crisis, including for example Cruinniú na nÓg, Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture and Other Voices ‘Courage’. Total expenditure for my Department as at 30 June 2020 was at 99% of profile. While it is too early to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn, I can advise that no significant savings are envisaged at present. All expenditure within my Department's vote will continue to be carefully monitored between now and year end to ensure the best use of available financial resources.
Since the outset of the pandemic, officials from my Department have been in ongoing communication with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to the devastating and unprecedented impact of Covid19. This communication has centred around how best to stabilise sectors and ensure their viability going forward and included consideration of reallocation of resources as well as the need for additional resources. A further investment of €25 million in arts and culture during 2020 was announced in June of this year to address Covid19 challenges. The 2020 Further Revised Estimates for my Department passed by the Dáil on 9 July last reflect this additional funding.
267. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé hiad na cruinnithe a bhí aici leis na eagrais Ghaeilge agus Ghaeltachta ó roghnaíodh í mar Aire sinsearach don Gaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht. [17452/20]
View answerTá cás na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta rí-thábhachtach don Rialtas nua agus dom fhéin go pearsanta agus táim ag súil go mór le bheith ag obair as lámha a chéile leis an Aire Stáit nua agus leis na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta ar mhaithe lenár gclár oibre leathan sa Roinn nua a chur chun cinn. Tá sé i gceist agam cuairt a thabhairt ar cheantar Gaeltachta i dteannta an Aire Stáit nua gan mhoill, áit a chloisfimid faoi dhúshláin agus riachtanais na bpobal Gaeltachta. Beidh mé fhéin agus an tAire Stáit Chambers ag tapú an deis chomh maith sna seachtainí agus sna míonna amach romhainn casadh leis na heagrais Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta ar mhaithe le cloisteáil faoina gcuid dúshlán agus le hiarracht a dhéanamh teacht ar bhealaí len iad a shárú.
Creidim go láidir go bhfuil an Ghaeilge ar cheann de na hacmhainní nádúrtha is luachmhaire atá againn. Tá sí mar chuid lárnach dár bhféiniúlacht, agus is ceart agus is cóir go ndéanfar gach iarracht chun í a chaomhnú agus a neartú. Tá comharthaí dóchais le feiceáil dar liom sa mhéid daoine gur mhaith leo a gcuid gasúir a chuir chuig gaelscoileanna, sa mhéid daoine fásta anseo in Éirinn agus ar fud na cruinne atá ag foghlaim na teanga, san fhás as cuimse a fheiceann muid ar an teanga ar na meáin shóisialta agus an rath atá ar leithid na ‘Pop-Up Gaeltachtaí’ le roinnt blianta anuas. Níl aon dabht go bhfuil deacrachtaí ann chomh maith, agus dar liom, caithfidh an Stát iarracht níos fearr a dhéanamh chun tacú leis an teanga. Tá pobal labhartha láidir Gaeilge agus Gaeltacht ríthábhachtach má tá muid chun an teanga a thabhairt slán don chéad ghlúin eile. Má tá meas le bheith ag pobal na tíre ar an teanga, sílim go gcaithfidh an rialtas a léiriú go bhfuil meas ag an Stát ar an teanga.
268. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason a carer caring for their parent in the carer’s own home is not eligible for an adaptation grant to adapt the house to suit their parent’s needs due to the fact the parent has their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16693/20]
View answerRegulations S.I. 670 of 2007 and S.I. 104 of 2014 provide the statutory basis for the operation of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability. Article 8 of the Regulations provides that the applicant must occupy the house as his or her normal place of residence on completion of the works.
The administration of the grants scheme, including the assessment, approval and prioritisation of grant applications under the various measures, is the responsibility of each local authority. Having considered all of the circumstances in any particular case, it is a matter for the local authority to determine grant eligibility.
269. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to amend the National Planning Framework; the aspects due to be changed; if clarity regarding the hierarchy of planning policy at present can be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17029/20]
View answerProject Ireland 2040 comprises two principal elements, both of which were published by Government in 2018. The National Planning Framework (NPF) is Ireland’s long-term national spatial planning strategy to accommodate projected future population and economic growth over a 20-year period to 2040.
The other principal element of Project Ireland is the current National Development Plan (NDP), which sets out a €116 billion public capital investment envelope in support of the NPF, to 2027. The aligned and shared vision of the NPF in tandem with the NDP, is an integrated, ‘joined-up’ planning and investment strategy, focused on a series of ten shared national outcomes.
The Programme for Government commits to review of the National Development Plan (NDP) to be brought forward from 2022, to set out an updated NDP for the period to 2031. The Programme for Government also confirms that the updated NDP will remain aligned with the spatial planning strategy in the NPF. Accordingly, it is not proposed to review the NPF at this time.
The NPF sits at the top of a hierarchy of statutory spatial development plans, the purpose of which is to ensure the sustainable development of urban and rural areas, secure balanced regional development and to support and co-ordinate proper planning and development throughout Ireland. This national-level planning policy is being implemented at the regional level through statutory Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies (RSES) for the three Regional Assembly areas.
Further to the NPF, a RSES was prepared by each of the three Regional Assemblies in Ireland, all of which were approved and in place by January 2020. In accordance with Section 11 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 as amended, subsequent review of each County Development Plan must be consistent with both the NPF and the relevant Regional Strategy. In addition, since April 2019, Development Plan review processes have been overseen by the independent Office of the Planning Regulator.
