Written Answers Nos. 130-150
130. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the breakdown of all State funding for local radio stations in 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28030/20]
View answerPart 10 of the Broadcasting Act, 2009 makes provision for the disbursement of 7% of the net television licence fee receipts to the Broadcasting Fund administered by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). The Broadcasting Fund supports both the Sound and Vision (S&V) and Archiving Schemes. Total Licence Fee Receipts comprises monies from TV licence sales and exchequer funding from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for the operation of the free TV licence Scheme.
Total funding under the Sound and Vision 3 scheme was €951,181 in 2019 and to date in 2020 is €3,020,156 for programming produced by or for a community or commercial radio broadcaster.
The current S&V 4 Scheme provides for funding for the community radio sector in respect of their social benefit obligations. This amounts to funding of €750,000 for community radio in 2020. Applications are now being invited. Further information is available on the BAI's website at https://www.bai.ie/en/broadcasting/funding-development-3/sound-vision-4/.
On 8th September the BAI launched an open funding round of the scheme, for which I secured €2m in exchequer funding in the July Stimulus and which will amount to €4.5m in total. While this round will mainly focus on the audio visual sector, it will also provide more than €200,000 in funding for independent audio producers working with commercial, community and public service radio stations. In addition to the Sound and Vision Schemes Foras na Gaeilge approved grants to Raidió na Life (€720,000 over three years) and Raidió Fáilte (€648,000 over three years) under the Community Radio Scheme 2019-2021, which will support both stations provide an all-Irish broadcasting schedule for the local Irish language listening community in Dublin and Belfast.
My Department has been funding Raidió RíRá since its inception in 2008 with funding of €615,725 provided and funding of € 75,000 approved by my Department for the station this year and an equivalent amount for 2021. Capital funding of €9,963 was provided to Raidió na Life this year to enable them to purchase new computers for the station.
Radio stations also benefit from other State subsidies – for example the Community Employment Scheme administered by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her views on whether there is a need for adherence to certain standards in social media thereby ensuring customer confidence and reliability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28047/20]
View answerThe General Scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill was approved by Government on 9 January 2020 and subsequently published on 10 January 2020. At that time the Government also approved the detailed drafting of the proposed Bill by the Office of the Attorney General and forwarded the General Scheme to the Joint Oireachtas Committee for Communications, Climate Action and Environment for pre-legislative scrutiny. Due to the dissolution of the Dáil and Committees in January, pre-legislative scrutiny has not yet commenced. Engagement with the AGO is continuing on the detailed drafting of the Bill.
The enactment of the proposed Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill is a commitment in the Programme for Government. As per Government decision of 22 September 2020, responsibility for the proposed Bill has now been transferred to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Government approval will be sought shortly for the finalisation of General Scheme of the proposed Bill through the addition to the provisions relating to the funding of the Media Commission, the regulation of audiovisual media services, the maximum amount for financial sanctions for non-compliance and other matters. These additional provisions will then be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General for addition as a basis for detailed drafting and to the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee for pre-legislative scrutiny. It is for the relevant newly formed Committee to determine whether and when to commence such scrutiny.
At this time, the finalised General Scheme will also be notified to the European Commission for a technical conformity assessment with relevant EU law regarding regulations on online services.
The proposed Bill will establish a multi-person Media Commission, including an Online Safety Commissioner, dissolve the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, establish regulatory frameworks for online safety and the regulation of audiovisual media services, and transpose the revised Audiovisual Media Services Directive. The regulatory framework for online safety will be overseen by the Online Safety Commissioner. The Commissioner will have the power to designate online services for regulation and to create and enforce binding online safety codes, which will set standards that online services will be required to follow. These will seek to minimise the availability of harmful online content through oversight of the systems that online services used to deliver and moderate content. The regulator will have the power to sanction non-compliant online services, including financial sanctions.
Regarding consumer protection more broadly, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the Data Protection Commission and An Garda Síochána have general roles, including in relation to activity on or by social media, in advertising and consumer protection standards, data protection and privacy law and fraud and other offences respectively.
132. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the degree to which an examination has been carried out as to whether the established media, print, electronic and broadcasting, are being disadvantaged by social media; if steps will be taken to address these issues without interfering with the freedom of the press; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28048/20]
View answerOn 10 December 2019 the former Government agreed the terms of reference for the Commission on the Future of Irish Public Service Broadcasting to be established by the Department of the Taoiseach. The former President of Dublin City University, Professor Brian Mac Craith was appointed as Chair of the Commission.
The Programme for Government has expanded the remit of the Public Service Broadcasting Commission to become a Future of Media Commission to consider the future of print, broadcast, and online media in a platform agnostic fashion and details of the Commission were announcer earlier this week. It is expected that the Commission will complete its deliberations within nine months on the necessary measures that need to be taken to ensure that there is a vibrant, independent public service media for the next generation.
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which the tourism sector can be further assisted in the short and medium term given the severe impact of Covid-19 on the industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28049/20]
View answerTourism has suffered a severe impact as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Along with my colleagues in Government, I have taken a number of measures to help the sector survive this current crisis. The July Stimulus Package introduced significant measures to help support businesses to recover following the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Some of the key measures for tourism and hospitality include the “Stay and Spend” initiative, the €26m adaptation grant, the €10m grant for coach tourism and the revised Restart grant which now includes B&B’s. Tourism enterprises also benefit from wider horizontal supports such as the new Employment Wage Support Scheme, liquidity and enterprise investment measures, warehousing of tax liabilities and the extension for a further three months of the waiver of commercial rates.
As part of its response to COVID-19, and to drive bookings for short breaks and holidays in Ireland in 2020, Fáilte Ireland has invested in a number of domestic holiday campaigns since June of this year. I have seen at first hand that these campaigns have been successful in getting Irish people to holiday at home.
All of these measures have been of great benefit to the sector. I appreciate, however, that we need to continue to examine ways to ensure that businesses survive and recover. The Tourism Recovery Taskforce appointed in May submitted its report to me this week. It is making a number of recommendations to help the sector to survive the crisis and eventually recover. Along with my colleagues in Government, I will consider its recommendations as we prepare for the Budget and the subsequent National Economic Plan.
134. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to explore ways to assist the tourism sector at home and internationally in an effort to address issues caused by Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28050/20]
View answerBrexit poses significant challenges to our tourism sector. The impact of the drop in value of sterling since the UK referendum on EU membership in 2016 has been that from a tourism perspective, Ireland has become a more expensive destination for UK visitors. The number of British visitors to Ireland in 2019 was 3.5% less than in 2016 and the associated revenue generated by British visitors was 7.9% less in 2019 than in 2016.
A No-Deal Brexit, combined with impacts of Covid-19, will have very significant negative impacts for Irish tourism. It will mean fewer tourists, lower revenues, less employment and a lost in Exchequer earnings from the sector. These losses will impact Ireland as a whole but will be felt hardest in regional areas where there are few alternatives to replace the economic benefits generated by tourism.
In 2019, the Government allocated almost €8 million in additional funding to the tourism agencies specifically to respond to the impact of Brexit. Furthermore, additional Government supplementary funding of €7 million was provided to the agencies at the end of 2019, primarily to support accelerated tourism marketing initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of Brexit.
Budget 2020 saw an allocation of almost €186 million for tourism, up 10% (over €17m) on the 2019 allocation. This has helped to ensure that the agencies remain equipped to deal with the challenges caused by Brexit as the situation evolves. Budget 2020 also included a €40m contingency fund for tourism, which would be available in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
GB is a vital market for Ireland’s tourism sector. It provides the best seasonal and regional dispersion of visitors across the country. GB is Ireland’s single largest source market, accounting for 35% of all overseas tourists in 2019.
Fáilte Ireland will continue to support businesses to access relevant Brexit business supports, to cut and contain costs, build value and drive competitiveness. Through its ‘Get Brexit Ready’ programme, Fáilte Ireland offers a set of supports, to help tourism businesses meet Brexit-related challenges such as development supports, training programmes, and insights and market intelligence. Tourism businesses can also avail of Fáilte Ireland’s ‘Brexit-check’ online tool allowing them to assess their own level of Brexit readiness.
Tourism Ireland is undertaking an extensive programme of research in our major markets – to identify when consumers are ready to consider holidaying again and which of our markets offer us the best short-term prospects. The insights gained will inform Tourism Ireland’s new business plan and will ensure that Tourism Ireland’s promotional plan is as targeted and as motivational as it possibly can be – in order to drive a strong recovery for tourism to the island of Ireland as quickly as it is possible to realise it.
Officials from my Department and the tourism agencies remain in close contact as regards ensuring that appropriate contingency plans and other necessary resources are in place to assist in preparing for the end of the transition period.
The Government has put in place a range of supports and other resources to assist in preparing for the end of the transition period. Businesses are encouraged to avail of these supports, and to get ready now if they have not already done so. Acting now can help to mitigate the risks of disruption, delays and increased costs.
The Tourism Recovery Taskforce has completed its final report this week, which includes a set of recommendations on how best the Irish Tourism sector, can adapt and recover. In the context of framing Budget 2021 and our impending National Economic Plan, I am reviewing the recommendations of the Taskforce with my colleagues in Government, as we consider the policy measures needed to facilitate sector growth in what will be a highly competitive and uniquely challenging environment for Irish tourism in a Post COVID-19 and Post Brexit world.
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to explore ways and means of assisting the arts, notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, with particular reference to the need to regenerate employment in the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28051/20]
View answer136. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with stakeholders in the arts with a view to achieving a means of addressing the crisis arising from the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28052/20]
View answer137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she continues to promote the arts and culture sectors as a means of recovering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28053/20]
View answer138. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she expects cultural activities to assist in Ireland's recovery from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28054/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 to 138, inclusive, together.
The arts and culture sectors have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic; cultural venues and events were among the first to be closed in the country’s public health response to the crisis, and they will be among the last to recover.
The Deputy will also be aware that I have recently appointed the Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce which is beìng chaired by Clare Duignan. The membership of the taskforce includes representation from the Events Industry Alliance. Taking as its starting point, the research and evidence of the devastating impact of the pandemic on the sector compiled by the Department, the Arts Council and other stakeholders, the Taskforce will prepare a report to me setting out recommendations on how best the arts and culture sector can adapt and recover from the unprecedented damage arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector includes culture, the arts, the audiovisual industry and the live entertainment industry.
The Taskforce has already met twice. Its proceedings will be conducted in a transparent manner and all correspondence will be published in due course.
Earlier this month, I launched a number of new music and performance support schemes to aid employment in the creative industries. An allocation of €5 million is being made available under the “Live Performance Support Scheme” which aims to assist commercial venues, producers and promoters of live performances and provide employment to workers in the creative industries.
A further support package, the Music Stimulus Package, involves three funding schemes designed to help sustain the popular and commercial music sector across all music genres, including rock, pop, hip hop, indie, jazz, country and western and traditional and folk. Under this package, a fund of €1,000,000 is being put in place to stimulate areas of work which artists would usually fund with income from own sources including live event fees. These schemes are targeted at professional musicians and their teams and will support song writing camps, recording and album releases. The aim is to ensure that Irish musicians, engineers, PR, media, agents, labels and publishers can continue to develop and share their work in the context of COVID restrictions. The Music Stimulus Package schemes will be managed on behalf of the Department by First Music Contact and will be subject to peer panel assessment.
With the upcoming Budget and the development of the National Economic Plan, the Government will review and refine existing supports, and consider any further necessary measures required as a consequence of COVID-19.
139. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the steps she can take to promote and develop the recovery of sport in Ireland with particular reference to the restrictions caused by Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28055/20]
View answerThe COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the sport sector, with all sporting activity suspended at the end of March. The sport sector has played a key role in supporting the public health by promoting key messages and many sports clubs throughout the country supported elderly and vulnerable members of their communities. The sporting bodies have also done excellent work to develop and implement protocols for the safe return to training and competition, with guidance from Sport Ireland and the Expert Group on Return to Sport established by my Department.
It is thanks to this hard work that sport in Ireland has thankfully already recovered to a considerable extent, notwithstanding the acute financial and operational difficulties still being encountered. From early June, group training was successfully resumed and our elite athletes returned to training. Significant national competitive events are also taking place and sports participation levels across the population have also recovered.
Sport Ireland continues to be extremely active in its sport promotional activities. Sport Ireland’s network of Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) is the primary means employed to deliver participation policies and action. Research recently undertaken by Sport Ireland indicates significant increases in the number of people participating in sport and physical, especially in relation to recreational walking and cycling. Sport Ireland are also currently assessing applications for funding from sports bodies as part of the €70m package announced earlier in the Summer and plan to make announcements towards the end of October.
Finally, we must all be aware that case numbers and hospitalisations continue to rise and continue our efforts to prevent transmission of infection in our communities and to limit our social contacts. I would ask all those involved in Irish sport, from elite to grassroots, to continue to observe public health advice and to take all appropriate precautions at training and sporting events.
140. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the degree to which she continues to liaise with the various sporting organisations with a view to restoration of sport to normality in the course of recovery from restrictions imposed due to Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28056/20]
View answerFrom the outset of the pandemic earlier this year, a close liaison has been maintained between my Department, Sport Ireland and the various sporting organisations. This has been achieved in particular through the establishment of a representative Sports Monitoring Group, which has held regular meetings over the past few months. In addition, Sport Ireland, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, has maintained ongoing contact with the sporting organisations.
I have also met a number of the sporting organisations recently and I would hope to be in a position to hold further such meetings in the coming period.
This close collaborative relationship has provided an acute understanding of the difficulties and challenges that face the sports sector. It has also informed the development of the various funding packages in place to support the sector, which have been widely welcomed.
141. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht her vision for the promotion of the Irish language in all areas throughout the country in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28057/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government acknowledges the importance of the Irish language as the first language of the State, as a living language and as a vital component of the heritage of this island.
My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, which represents the cornerstone of the Government’s policy on the Irish language. In 2018, the Department published the 5-Year Action Plan 2018-2022 for the implementation of the Strategy, outlining specific strategic priorities for the following five years, along with a timeline for their implementation. The Plan outlines over 180 specific measures that are being implemented in conjunction with approximately 60 stakeholders on a cross-Departmental basis in support of the Irish language and the Gaeltacht.
The Gaeltacht Act, 2012, provides the statutory footing for the language planning process. Under the process, Gaeltacht communities, and communities in Gaeltacht Service Towns and in Irish Language Networks as prescribed under the Act, are being afforded the opportunity to prepare and implement language plans at a community level with ongoing State support. To date, 18 of 26 language plans relating to Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas have been approved under the process, in addition to three plans relating to the Irish Language Networks and two plans relating to Gaeltacht Service Towns.
Further supports towards implementation of the process are provided centrally in the early years, family and youth sectors and for the traditional arts.
The new Programme for Government also contains a commitment that the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill 2019 be enacted before the end of this year. I look forward to bringing the Bill back before the Houses at second stage shortly, at which time Oireachtas members will have the opportunity to discuss the Bill and put forward proposals for its amendment.
I should also add that my Department provides significant co-funding to Foras na Gaeilge to carry out its statutory mandate under the British-Irish Agreement Act 1999, to promote the Irish language on an all-island basis. This funding, along with funding from the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland, enables Foras na Gaeilge to provide support, advice and financial assistance to many community language groups and to its six lead organisations, who are working to promote the Irish language on an all-island basis.
142. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she foresees opportunities to improve the conditions of life on the islands with particular reference to employment, sporting and cultural opportunities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28058/20]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Islands (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2020, responsibility for the offshore Islands has recently transferred from my Department to the Department of Rural and Community Development, with effect from 23 September 2020.
Having said that, my Department continues to provide funding to support the development of community, language, and recreational facilities on Gaeltacht offshore islands inter alia under my Department's Community and Language Supports Programme in further support of the Gaeltacht offshore islands. In that regard, I might also mention that on foot of a recent policy review by my Department in relation to the programme, the maximum level of capital grant-aid which can now be provided by my Department for eligible island-based projects has been increased from 80% to 90% of the total eligible costs.
While recognising that my Department no longer has responsibility for the islands, this policy change nonetheless represents a practical response to the significant and ongoing challenges faced by island communities.
I might also mention that under this revised policy, I recently allocated €424,462 - equivalent to 90% of the total cost - to Comhlacht Forbartha Inis Meáin to enable them to begin works on the development of a community centre on the island. This follows an initial allocation by my Department of €53,798 towards consultancy costs in relation to the project.
The Deputy may also be aware that my Department also administers a specific measure, ÁRAINN Gaeltachta, by which funding of up to €150,000 over a 3-year period was recently allocated in order to facilitate up to 30 post-primary students per year in attending any one of the three post-primary schools on the Aran Islands for a full school-year. This practical measure not only supports language enrichment opportunities but also supports the ongoing viability of second-level education provision on the Aran islands. Notwithstanding the unique challenges being presented by the ongoing pandemic, it is my hope that this measure can continue into the future when it is safe and practical to do so.
In the interests of completeness, I should also point out that Údarás na Gaeltachta will continue to support enterprise development on Gaeltacht offshore islands as part of its overall remit.
On a general note, the Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government includes a commitment to develop a new Policy for Island Development, which will identify and address the main challenges and opportunities to support the social, economic and cultural development of our island communities. Prior to the transfer of functions a significant amount of consultation in relation to the development of this policy was undertaken. This consultation will continue under the stewardship of the Department of Rural and Community Development in order to fully inform the new islands' policy.
143. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of flood events from 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by local authority in tabular form. [27735/20]
View answerMy Department undertakes the Lead Government Department role, as set out in the Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) Framework (2017), in relation to coordination of national level response to flooding emergencies, where warranted. This includes preparation of review reports into the response to flooding emergencies where national level coordination is activated, including the Review Report on Severe Weather Events 2017-2018, which is available on my Department's website at the following link:
https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/severe_weather_review_report_-_final.pdf
It should be noted that local authorities are designated as lead agency for coordinating the local response to flooding emergencies as per the Government decision relating to the “Framework for Major Emergency Management” (2006). My Department would not be involved in flooding events that are managed at a local level and therefore would not hold the precise data requested by the Deputy.
The flooding events that my Department have responded to in its role as lead Government Department over the period 2017 to date are set out below.
2017
August 2017 – Inishowen, Co. Donegal
November 2017 – Mountmellick, Co. Laois
2018
January 2018 – Galway City
2019
October 2019 - Donegal Town
December 2019 - Galway City
2020
February 2020 – River Shannon (numerous areas)
June 2020 – Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
July 2020 – Kenmare, Sneem, Co. Kerry
August 2020 – Skibbereen, Youghal, Bantry and Bandon, Co. Cork
September 2020 – Clifden, Co. Galway
144. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of deer hunting licences waiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27741/20]
View answer145. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures that will be implemented to deal with the backlog of deer hunting licences for the 2020/2021 season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27742/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together.
Applicants for deer hunting licenses are always advised to apply before July to ensure that they get their licenses before the beginning of the deer hunting season. At this stage all applicants who had applied before July will have received their licenses. Over 3,100 licenses have been issued since 1 August this year.
Notwithstanding this, I am aware of some delays in my Department in processing later batches of deer hunting licence applications this year and that some deer hunters have not received their licenses yet. The delays arise too as a result of the ongoing Covid-19 public health emergency and the effects this has had on travel and working arrangements. While staff in the unit that deals with the issuing of licenses continued to attend the office during the crisis, given restrictions, the numbers of such staff attending was, of course, limited. The database system used for managing deer licensing is not currently a web based one and some technical challenges arose in facilitating the processing of such licenses for staff working remotely with laptops. Staff continue to work to eliminate the backlog as quickly as possible.
146. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the waiting times for the key functions of the Land Registry including the stamping of deeds, registering of conveyances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27765/20]
View answerI am informed that the Property Registration Authority (PRA) is currently operating a high level of service. In this regard, applications for registration can be lodged as usual through the post or DX and are being processed in order of priority. Urgent applications are processed expeditiously upon request, on a case by case basis.
For the month of August 2020, the following is the case.
|
|
Intake |
Output |
|
Land Registry |
16,818 transactions |
15,461 transactions registered |
|
Registry of Deeds |
2,020 applications |
2,580 applications registered |
I am further informed that all of the PRA's electronic services continue to be available at landdirect.ie and eRegistration.ie. Moreover, requests for Certified Copy Folios with Map and Copy Instruments can be made online via the PRA's landdirect.ie service or by post. Plain copy orders of Memorials/ROD Applications are being processed by the Registry of Deeds.
Registrations in the Registry of Deeds are completed within seven days of receipt.
The arrear of applications on hand in the Land Registry has increased by 26 per cent when compared to the end of August 2019, primarily due to the impact of the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. As applications for registration are often complex, necessitating numerous legal queries, it is not possible to give an estimate of the potential delays. However, as the number of applications being lodged is decreasing, response times will improve over time.
147. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the breakdown of the local authority funding provided from central Government in each of the years 2010 to 2019, inclusive, in tabular form. [27967/20]
View answerLocal authorities receive central government funding for both current and capital expenditure by means of Government grants and subsidies. This information can be seen in the audited annual financial statements (AFS) of each authority. The table below details the total payments to each authority from central government covering the years 2014 to 2018. 2019 data is not yet available as the audit of the 2019 AFS was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic and is not yet complete.
A significant change to local government structures took place in 2014 when town and borough councils were amalgamated with their county authorities. Information on central funding allocated between 2010 and 2013 to each of the 88 local authorities that existed before the amalgamation is not readily available and its compilation would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work.
Total Central Government Funding to 31 Local Authorities
(Current and Capital Combined) 2014 to 2018
|
LOCAL AUTHORITY |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
€23,420,097 |
€19,867,861 |
€24,642,889 |
€28,559,725 |
€41,468,530 |
€137,959,102 |
|
CAVAN |
€31,398,734 |
€30,733,479 |
€34,580,737 |
€35,754,643 |
€47,484,660 |
€179,952,252 |
|
CLARE |
€46,332,742 |
€46,040,589 |
€48,669,933 |
€58,797,585 |
€71,110,269 |
€270,951,117 |
|
CORK CITY |
€48,232,910 |
€55,727,085 |
€87,729,519 |
€66,160,513 |
€112,040,136 |
€369,890,163 |
|
CORK COUNTY |
€112,515,241 |
€112,346,021 |
€137,040,517 |
€169,763,085 |
€217,209,086 |
€748,873,950 |
|
DONEGAL |
€61,096,928 |
€54,824,441 |
€78,512,384 |
€73,847,701 |
€119,516,139 |
€387,797,594 |
|
DUBLIN |
€204,233,720 |
€242,504,046 |
€330,607,184 |
€444,517,982 |
€538,587,667 |
€1,760,450,599 |
|
DLRD |
€37,966,879 |
€47,070,365 |
€48,266,594 |
€76,088,260 |
€77,165,853 |
€286,557,950 |
|
FINGAL |
€39,920,364 |
€72,259,705 |
€79,471,797 |
€103,082,295 |
€147,909,118 |
€442,643,278 |
|
GALWAY CITY |
€18,140,137 |
€18,792,239 |
€23,196,120 |
€23,975,178 |
€37,497,543 |
€121,601,216 |
|
GALWAY COUNTY |
€76,889,302 |
€75,155,907 |
€86,863,167 |
€70,657,232 |
€100,988,643 |
€410,554,251 |
|
KERRY |
€49,416,250 |
€49,775,336 |
€62,785,168 |
€75,162,274 |
€103,789,388 |
€340,928,416 |
|
KILDARE |
€51,709,783 |
€56,592,680 |
€84,867,170 |
€111,677,523 |
€168,278,966 |
€473,126,123 |
|
KILKENNY |
€30,704,388 |
€46,973,810 |
€40,943,903 |
€50,582,592 |
€68,390,588 |
€237,595,281 |
|
LAOIS |
€26,240,363 |
€25,960,351 |
€25,107,202 |
€32,892,091 |
€37,176,623 |
€147,376,631 |
|
LEITRIM |
€17,690,516 |
€14,564,530 |
€21,984,717 |
€18,480,979 |
€23,501,023 |
€96,221,766 |
|
LIMERICK |
€88,742,158 |
€97,317,003 |
€153,485,465 |
€261,552,461 |
€397,407,552 |
€998,504,638 |
|
LONGFORD |
€17,279,959 |
€15,653,565 |
€17,030,112 |
€20,245,641 |
€32,604,957 |
€102,814,234 |
|
LOUTH |
€24,328,071 |
€39,052,312 |
€36,820,924 |
€46,728,200 |
€60,319,400 |
€207,248,907 |
|
MAYO |
€67,178,089 |
€75,628,772 |
€95,595,439 |
€80,062,808 |
€102,033,481 |
€420,498,590 |
|
MEATH |
€33,206,935 |
€37,195,826 |
€50,385,478 |
€58,563,490 |
€100,263,169 |
€279,614,898 |
|
MONAGHAN |
€27,054,503 |
€25,408,013 |
€31,915,439 |
€41,850,214 |
€44,113,318 |
€170,341,488 |
|
OFFALY |
€20,717,629 |
€23,741,631 |
€26,103,076 |
€25,479,252 |
€34,885,997 |
€130,927,584 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€46,692,776 |
€27,307,199 |
€41,786,476 |
€35,342,425 |
€48,834,365 |
€199,963,241 |
|
SLIGO |
€29,456,042 |
€44,836,074 |
€43,928,469 |
€37,948,765 |
€52,172,747 |
€208,342,097 |
|
SOUTH DUBLIN |
€51,244,048 |
€47,685,633 |
€88,535,703 |
€101,602,900 |
€159,871,527 |
€448,939,812 |
|
TIPPERARY |
€53,844,623 |
€53,628,182 |
€71,864,919 |
€65,858,619 |
€86,487,410 |
€331,683,754 |
|
WATERFORD |
€56,270,580 |
€52,564,401 |
€61,467,791 |
€49,156,890 |
€86,982,901 |
€306,442,562 |
|
WESTMEATH |
€32,572,719 |
€34,989,320 |
€37,743,575 |
€37,831,292 |
€50,462,307 |
€193,599,214 |
|
WEXFORD |
€43,417,571 |
€59,502,952 |
€53,118,747 |
€62,160,930 |
€87,905,044 |
€306,105,244 |
|
WICKLOW |
€36,230,290 |
€45,007,453 |
€48,946,220 |
€36,655,440 |
€63,327,045 |
€230,166,448 |
|
TOTALS |
€1,504,144,349 |
€1,648,706,778 |
€2,073,996,835 |
€2,401,038,985 |
€3,319,785,454 |
€10,947,672,401 |
148. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protocol for the closure of sluice gates in Athlone and the dates in July 2020 that the ESB closed sluice gates in Athlone; the number closed on each date; the protocol for the removal of boards and the opening of sluice gates in Meelick; the dates in July 2020 that Waterways Ireland opened sluice gates and removed boards; the number of boards removed and gates opened on each date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27992/20]
View answer166. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the protocol for the removal of boards and the opening of sluice gates in Meelick; the dates in July 2020 that Waterways Ireland staff or their agents opened sluice gates and removed boards; and the number of boards removed and gates opened on each date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27993/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 166 together.
The protocol for the closure of sluice gates in Athone is determined by the ESB.
If the sluice gates are closed in Athlone, Waterways Ireland will carry out an appropriate sluice operation in the Meelick area.
Waterways Ireland as the Inland Navigation Authority, operates the sluices and weir boards in the Meelick area. There are 30 sluices south of Banagher. They are on two channels in parallel in the Meelick area with
- 18 sluices on the new cut; and
- 12 sluices on Meelick weir.
Waterways Ireland has stated that the operating procedure is as follows:
When water levels are indicated as being at 2.18 (35.41) metres on the gauge at Banagher and falling, sluices are closed on either the new cut or Meelick weir. This regime continues when all but 3 to 5 sluices are closed and water levels continue to fall. The weir boards are installed on the 57 bays of the weir to maintain water levels for Navigation purposes. The reverse applies when water levels at the gauge at Banagher exceed 2.18 metres and sluices are opened in the Meelick area and the weir boards removed.
|
BANAGHER AREA/MEELICK |
ATHLONE SOUTH |
||||||
|
DATE |
Water Level |
SLUICES OPEN |
RAINFALL(mm) |
WEIR BOARDS |
W.L. |
SLUICES OPEN |
RAINFALL(mm) |
|
1ST July |
35.36 |
12 |
1.7 |
IN |
35.63 |
4 |
5 |
|
2nd July |
35.39 |
13 |
0.9 |
IN |
35.68 |
4 |
4.6 |
|
3rd July |
35.42 |
15 |
2.6 |
IN |
35.7 |
6 |
2.9 |
|
4th July |
35.48 |
18 |
0.2 |
IN |
35.91 |
6 |
2 |
|
5th July |
35.53 |
19 |
0 |
IN |
35.98 |
6 |
2.7 |
|
6th July |
35.53 |
19 |
0.9 |
IN |
35.98 |
6 |
2.4 |
|
7th July |
35.53 |
20 |
1.1 |
IN |
36.01 |
6 |
3.6 |
|
8th July |
35.5 |
23 |
9.7 |
IN |
36.06 |
6 |
10.5 |
|
9th July |
35.43 |
25 |
11.1 |
REMOVED ILLEGALLY |
36.06 |
0 |
10.3 |
|
10th July |
35.44 |
26 |
0 |
OUT/Retrieving weir boards |
36.04 |
0 |
0 |
|
11th July |
35.4 |
28 |
0 |
OUT |
36.09 |
0 |
0 |
|
12th July |
35.36 |
29 |
0 |
OUT |
36.09 |
0 |
0 |
|
13th July |
35.34 |
30 |
0.4 |
OUT/Retrieving weir boards |
36.09 |
0 |
0 |
|
14th July |
35.33 |
30 |
0 |
OUT/Retrieving weir boards |
36.09 |
0 |
0 |
|
15th July |
35.31 |
30 |
1.4 |
OUT |
36.09 |
0 |
2.3 |
|
16th July |
35.29 |
30 |
0 |
OUT |
36.09 |
0 |
0 |
|
17th July |
35.26 |
28 |
0 |
OUT |
36.04 |
0 |
0.2 |
|
18th July |
35.27 |
28 |
0.6 |
OUT |
36.04 |
0 |
4.4 |
|
19th July |
35.27 |
38 |
0 |
OUT |
36.04 |
0 |
0 |
|
20th July |
35.25 |
25 |
0 |
OUT |
35.98 |
0 |
0 |
|
21st July |
35.26 |
23 |
0 |
OUT |
35.96 |
0 |
0 |
|
22nd July |
35.26 |
22 |
3.1 |
OUT |
35.93 |
0 |
1.9 |
|
23rd July |
35.25 |
19 |
0.3 |
OUT |
35.93 |
0 |
2.7 |
|
24th July |
35.29 |
19 |
0 |
OUT |
36.01 |
2 |
1.2 |
|
25th July |
35.28 |
22 |
3.9 |
OUT |
35.96 |
1 |
8.3 |
|
26th July |
35.28 |
21 |
4 |
OUT |
35.96 |
1 |
10.3 |
|
27th July |
35.32 |
21 |
10 |
OUT |
35.98 |
1 |
14.4 |
|
28th July |
35.38 |
26 |
0 |
OUT |
36.06 |
1 |
0.7 |
|
29th July |
35.34 |
24 |
0 |
OUT |
36.01 |
0 |
0 |
|
30th July |
35.35 |
25 |
5.5 |
OUT |
36.06 |
0 |
10 |
|
31st July |
35.4 |
28 |
4.9 |
OUT |
36.14 |
0 |
2.6 |
|
62.3 |
103 |
149. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the heritage in schools programme will return. [27725/20]
View answer150. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if funding under the heritage for schools programme will be provided to parents who are homeschooling in 2020. [27726/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together.
The Heritage in Schools programme is not run by my Department but rather it is administered by the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department.
The scheme provides a panel of 160 heritage specialists who visit primary schools throughout the country. The aim of the Scheme is to encourage awareness of the natural and cultural world that surrounds us in our daily lives and engage children in a direct experience of their heritage, preferably outside the classroom. The Scheme supports the aims and objectives of the Social, Scientific and Environmental Education (SSEE) curriculum and provides an additional educational tool and resource for teachers. The scheme is part-funded by the school and the Heritage Council.
Visits generally relate to heritage in the locality of the school, and, in previous years, through the Scheme, the children could develop a knowledge and appreciation for the uniqueness of their locality through trips to local parks, woods, lakes, rivers, sea-shores, old graveyards, castles or churches or other places of interest through structured field trips with a Heritage specialist.
While visits to schools have, of course, been on hold since mid-March 2020 due to COVID 19, the spirit of the scheme has been kept alive, and heritage specialists on the Panel were invited to make videos for promotion online. 30 online videos were developed, with the heritage specialists covering a vast range of topics from potato planting, folklore on herbs and beetle identification to modelling archaeological sites out of papier mâché and singing traditional songs. These have proven very popular with family groups too and are, of course, available to families who are home-schooling.
Public health remains the main priority of the Heritage Council, who will continue to play its part in keeping everyone safe. There are many factors to consider before the programme can open up to physical visits again, including a risk assessment on managing future processes for visits, as well as compliance with individual school COVID 19 policy statements and risk assessments.
The Council is, however, working on a virtual programme which is being piloted in counties Donegal and Kilkenny, with the Education Centres and the Heritage Officers. The response from schools so far has been very positive with approximately 90 requests for virtual visits registered to date. More detailed information on the videos, the virtual programme and the Heritage Council’s other activities is available on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie or by contacting the Council directly.
While funding for parents who are home-schooling is a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, the Heritage in Schools online material is available to all and can be found on the Heritage Council’s website.
