Written Answers Nos. 342-363
342. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she has engaged a third-party company to date in 2021 to conduct online and or social media monitoring and or provide reports on social media coverage of her Department; if so, the cost of same; and the name of the social media platforms being monitored. [25794/21]
View answerEffective communication with the public and stakeholders is essential in achieving the Department’s goals. My Department uses social media to promote the wide range of schemes and programmes operated under its auspices and it uses digital content services to support engagement with citizens and communities across Ireland. My Department does not generally engage third party companies to conduct online and or social media monitoring and/or provide reports on social media coverage of my Department, and the only exception to this is the Creative Ireland programme, which has a strong citizen engagement element that requires extensive use of digital platforms.
The Creative Ireland Programme in my Department is a culture-based, all-of-government initiative to place creativity at the centre of public policy and public life. The Programme uses digital platforms to support citizen engagement, principally through the Creative Ireland website and social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram). As part of a wide range of digital services, online analysis and evaluation of public engagement with its digital creative content on these social media platforms forms part of the Programme’s digital strategy. This performance analysis is a standard feedback element of a digital content strategy and is undertaken in order to inform the future development and delivery of citizen engagement programmes that will enhance and encourage the public’s access and participation in creative initiatives, projects and events. This activity is supported by a third party company contracted by my Department.
343. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if officials in her Department are tasked with conducting online and social media monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of her Department and her Ministerial activities; if so, the number of staff involved; the respective grades of each; the estimated working hours committed to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25812/21]
View answerI have been informed by my Department that no officials are tasked with conducting online and social media monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of my Department and my Ministerial activities.
344. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she and bodies under her aegis have engaged private investigation companies or persons in the past three years to date; and if so, the cost, duration and purpose of these engagements of this type of contractor. [25834/21]
View answerI am advised that my Department has not engaged any private investigation companies or persons in the period specified by the Deputy.
With regard to those bodies under the aegis of my Department, under the Sport Ireland Act 2015, Sport Ireland is the National Anti-Doping Organisation in Ireland and under Section 42 (1) (a) of the Act it can implement such measures as it considers appropriate for the delivery of a comprehensive, coordinated and effective response to doping in sport. I am advised that in fulfilment of this aspect of its remit Sport Ireland entered into a contract for private investigation services for a two pear period at a cost of €23,000 per annum.
345. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if indoor Irish language summer schools for pods of less than 15 children will be permitted in June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25900/21]
View answer346. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if indoor Irish language summer schools for pods of less than 15 children will be permitted in June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25908/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 346 together.
I recently announced the outcome of the extensive consultation process undertaken with the Irish Language Summer Colleges sector over the past few weeks.
During the consultation process, a representative group of Gaeltacht households who provide accommodation for students, as well as course operators expressed significant concerns around health and safety, due to COVID-19, were courses to proceed.
On foot of the feedback received and the concerns expressed, a decision has been taken not to proceed with recognised Irish courses this summer.
I understand that this will be disappointing for many young people who were looking forward to attending this year.
I am also conscious of the economic consequences of the decision for Gaeltacht communities. For this reason, officials from my Department will continue to engage with the sector over the coming weeks with a view to progressing an appropriate stabilisation package, thus ensuring that the sector is put on a sound footing for a full and safe return in 2022 and beyond.
347. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will advocate to the Sports Council to provide indemnity on State-owned land for bridleways registered as part of the National Trails Register to encourage more bridleways on State-owned land; her plans to increase bridleways in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25913/21]
View answerSport Ireland is tasked with the development of trail criteria and best practices along with maintaining the National Trails Register. Sport Ireland is currently undertaking a project to review and update the Horse Trail criteria for Ireland. The criteria will be the benchmark for the development of horse trails throughout the country ensuring that quality infrastructure is being developed to enable accessible, safe, and enjoyable trail riding opportunities. The criteria will also outline an appropriate system for the classification and grading of horse trails in line with international best practice.
Sport Ireland manages an insurance policy providing public liability insurance to private landowners whose land is crossed by a trail. The insurance policy managed by Sport Ireland does not apply to State lands.
I do not have responsibility for State lands on which trails currently exist or might be developed. The Deputy might wish to refer her question to the Ministers with responsibility for the State lands in question.
348. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media her views on whether the ability to analyse the number of artists and arts workers in the census would assist with efforts to provide a basic income for workers in the sector as she outlined. [26091/21]
View answerThe Arts and Culture Recovery Taskforce report Life Worth Living, was published in November 2020 and made ten recommendations for the sector. The recommendations included a proposal to pilot a universal basic income (UBI) scheme for a three-year period in the arts, culture, audiovisual and live performance and events sectors. The Taskforce was of the view that a pilot basic income would keep the sector intact, minimising the loss of skills and contributing to its gradual regrowth, with ongoing benefits: social and economic, local and national.
Artistic and creative work is intrinsically valuable to society; it includes a broad mix of employment types and is often characterised by low, precarious and often seasonal income. This is an exciting proposal and has been the subject of positive commentary both nationally and internationally.
I have recently established an Oversight Committee for the appraisal of the Taskforce Recommendations including UBI. The Oversight Group is being chaired by my Department joined by representatives of the Departments of Finance, Social Protection, Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Public Expenditure and Reform as well as Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The Directors of the Arts Council and Screen Ireland are also members and they will be joined by a representative of the County and City Managers Association.
I have asked the Oversight Group to prioritise the examination of the Recommendation on a basic income for artists. This Oversight Committee will examine the manner in which we could deliver a pilot Basic Income for artists. Their considerations will include all available data, including the Census, to help ensure an evidence-based data driven proposal on this matter.
349. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the number of data breaches suffered by her Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [26108/21]
View answerThe number of data breaches recorded by my Department for the period specified is set out in the table below.
I am advised that the majority of breaches were deemed to be of zero or low risk, and were therefore not required to be reported to the Data Protection Commission. These were managed internally with steps taken to ensure that similar breaches would not reoccur.
Those breaches that met the threshold to be referred to the Data Protection Commission were quickly resolved to the satisfaction of that office.
|
Year |
Number of Breaches |
Number of Breaches reported to the Data Protection Commission |
|
2021 |
2 |
0 |
|
2020 |
9 |
1 |
|
2019 |
6 |
2 |
|
2018 |
1 |
1 |
|
2017 |
0 |
0 |
|
2016 |
0 |
0 |
350. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if water parks are permitted to reopen along with swimming pools and leisure centres on 7 June 2021 in line with the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. [26188/21]
View answerIn recognition of the improving epidemiological situation, the Government announced a roadmap on 29 April for the gradual lifting of some restrictions over May and June, with a particular focus on allowing more outdoor activities. A range of measures are now being eased, with a further easing of measures in June subject to the epidemiological situation at the time. Further detail is available on Gov.ie: https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0bd80-new-public-health-measures-announced-the-path-ahead/
NPHET has advised that this phased plan for the months of May and June can be considered low to medium risk. However, they also advise that a faster reopening over these months would be very high risk. A number of higher-risk activities, including congregated settings such as those occurring in water parks, are not part of the reopening plans for May and June, but they will be subject to further consideration towards the end of June with a view to recommencing these activities as we move through the summer.
Significant progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to continue to avoid the virus spreading and to support the safe reopening of activities over the coming months.
351. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if she will engage with representatives of park runs (details supplied) on the holding of trial events given the inclusive nature of the events as outlined. [26472/21]
View answerI am open to meeting representatives of Parkrun. The return of parkruns is fundamentally concerned with the removal of the current restrictions on the size of outdoor public gatherings. In recognition of the improving epidemiological situation, the Government announced a roadmap on 29 April for the gradual lifting of some restrictions over May and June, with a particular focus on allowing more outdoor activities. A range of measures are now being eased, with a further easing of measures in June subject to the epidemiological situation at the time. Further detail is available on Gov.ie:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/0bd80-new-public-health-measures-announced-the-path-ahead/.
NPHET has advised that this phased plan for the months of May and June can be considered low to medium risk. However, they also advise that a faster reopening over these months would be very high risk. A number of higher-risk activities including outdoor mass gatherings and events (such as parkruns) are not part of the reopening plans for May and June, but they will be subject to further consideration towards the end of June with a view to recommencing these activities as we move through the summer.
I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Health, that there continues to be regular contact with parkrun organisers and detailed discussions regarding a return of parkrun events will commence once Government has taken decisions in relation to the re-introduction of outdoor mass participation events.
Significant progress has been made on suppressing the virus over recent months due to the huge effort of people across the country. By working together, we have saved lives and limited the impact of the disease on society in Ireland. We all must continue to do everything possible to continue to avoid the virus spreading and to support the safe reopening of activities over the coming months.
352. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the percentage of posts made on each of her Departmental social media accounts and platforms that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; the percentage of posts made on each of her Departmental social media accounts and platforms that featured bilingual translations in Irish and English between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26590/21]
View answerMy Department covers a broad remit which includes the tourism, culture, arts, Gaeltacht, sport and media sectors. The Department posts social media messaging relevant to activities and programmes across all of these sectors, with annual output standing at close to 6,000 posts across the entirety of its social media platforms, which includes Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
The Department strives to promote the Irish language throughout social media messaging, by regularly sharing content relating to, and posted by, bodies and agencies under our remit whose work relates to the development of the Irish language and Gaeltacht regions. Departmental posts relating to the Gaeltacht or the Irish language are always posted in the Irish language and news of particular national significance e.g major funding schemes, or state commemorations is generally posted bilingually. Between May 1, 2020 and the April 30, 2021, the percentage of posts in Irish or bilingual were as set out in the table below:
|
Platform |
|
|
|
|
|
% Irish or bilingual |
9.8% |
13.5% |
17% |
32% |
My Department has been building its social media capacity and activity over the past two years. As this continues to grow, it is intended to increase the proportion of bilingual and Irish language postings.
353. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the amount the NGO and charity sector receive in funding from her Department per annum. [26637/21]
View answer354. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media if a record will be provided of the annual funding received by the NGO and charity sector from her Department in each of the years 2000 to 2020. [26650/21]
View answer355. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media the funding allocated to each NGO and charity in each of the years 2010 to 2020 by her Department. [26663/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 353 to 355, inclusive, together.
As I recently advised the House in my reply to Dáil Question no. 303 of 11th May, while my Department provides funding to a wide range of sporting, cultural and community organisations, I am advised that funding is not provided to any non-governmental organisations.
As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department is responsible for a wide range of funding programmes. Many of the beneficiaries of these programmes, for example sports clubs, are eligible for charitable status. Details of allocations under these programmes are announced from time to time and details of Department expenditure are published annually in the Department's Appropriation Account.
However, if the Deputy has a specific query in relation to funding provided to a particular group organisation, my officials will seek to assist him upon receipt of the relevant details.
356. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if battery energy storage system developments are fast-tracked for planning purposes given they are treated as strategic infrastructure in the planning process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26087/21]
View answerThe Seventh Schedule of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended (the Act) prescribes infrastructure developments for the purposes of sections 37A and 37B of the Act, for which planning applications in respect of projects referred to as Strategic Infrastructure Developments (SID) are made directly to An Bord Pleanala. Battery energy storage systems are not specifically listed as SID projects in the Seventh Schedule of the Act.
However, if an applicant considers that their proposed development which, may or may not include battery energy storage systems, comes within the ambit of the Seventh Schedule, Section 37B of the Act requires that a person who proposes to apply for permission for any development specified in the Seventh Schedule shall, before making the application, enter into consultations with the Board in relation to the proposed development. Following discussion with the Board, if the Board is of the opinion that the proposed development does or does not fall within the Seventh Schedule, it shall serve a notice in writing on the prospective applicant stating that it is of that opinion.
Where the Board is of the opinion that a proposed development comes within the ambit of the Seventh Schedule, a planning application for same is made directly to the Board under Section 37E of the Act. Under Section 37J of the Act, the Board has a statutory objective period of 18 weeks, beginning on the last day for making submissions or observations by the public or prescribed bodies, to make decisions on SID applications. Where the Board does not consider it possible or appropriate to reach a decision within 18 weeks (e.g. because of the particular complexities of a case or the requirement to hold an oral hearing), it will inform the parties of the reasons for this, and will indicate when it intends to make its decision.
Where the Board is of the opinion that a proposed development does not come within the ambit of the Seventh Schedule and requires planning permission, a planning application must be made to the relevant planning authority in whose functional area the proposed development would be located. When such a planning application is subsequently made to a planning authority, under Section 34(8) of the Act, the planning authority must make a decision within eight weeks of receiving a valid application where no further information is requested from the applicant. A decision of a planning authority on a planning application may be appealed to An Bord Pleanala within 4 weeks of the decision. Under section 126 of the Act, the Board has a statutory objective period of 18 weeks to make a decision on any appeal.
357. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage his views on the reintroduction of domestic water charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26297/21]
View answerThe Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services, published on 12 April 2017, has definitively addressed this matter. The Committee recommended, amongst other things, that the cost of domestic consumption of water services be met from general taxation rather than by means of direct charges on households, with the exception of levies or disincentives necessary to curb wasteful and excessive use of water services. These recommendations have been given statutory effect under the Water Services Act 2017. The current Programme for Government includes a commitment to the implementation of the recommendation of the Committee in relation to excess use. Arrangements necessary to give effect to this commitment, and thus conserve water supplies, are currently being advanced by my Department and by Irish Water.
358. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount Irish Water has received in State funding per annum since its foundation in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26403/21]
View answerSince 1 January 2014, Irish Water has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels. State funding provided to Irish Water over the past 7 years is set out in following table:
|
Year |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 (Unaudited) |
Total |
|
€m (to nearest) |
900 |
495 |
836 |
1,200 |
1,100 |
1,966* |
1,541* |
8,038 |
* Includes €758m and €238m respectively for 2019 and 2021, in respect of capital contributions from the Minister for Finance for the replacement of commercial borrowings with State equity funding.
359. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the actions he is taking in response to the finding in the EPA Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report that after any heavy rainfall event it is best to avoid recreational water activities at your beach or bathing area for at least 48 hours, as rainfall events wash pollution into waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26539/21]
View answer360. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his engagement to date to support and promote efforts at the local government level to improve the quality of bathing waters, especially those areas classified as poor or sufficient in the EPA Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26540/21]
View answer361. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of his engagement to date with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications concerning supporting and promoting efforts at the local government level to improve the quality of bathing waters, especially those areas classified as poor or sufficient in the EPA Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26893/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 359 to 361, inclusive, together.
I welcome the recent publication of the EPA’s Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2020 report, and I am pleased to see the continued improvements in the quality of our bathing waters highlighted in the report, especially those bathing waters that are meeting or exceeding the minimum water quality requirements. It is important to note that 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard. This is up from 95% in 2019 and improvements in bathing water quality are welcome and necessary.
Currently in Ireland there are almost 150 designated bathing waters identified by local authorities with the help of public consultation. Excellent work is being carried out by local authorities and other stakeholders on the continued improvements in our bathing water quality. For both local and national tourism, it is important that the network of bathing waters is strengthened and enhanced. For this reason I am particularly delighted to see two new bathing waters in Carrigaholt and Quilty identified in 2020. Credit must go to Clare County Council for their work in making this happen. It should be noted that responsibility for protecting and improving our waters rests with my Department rather than the Department of the Environment, Climate Action and Communications.
The reduction in poor bathing waters from 5 to 4 is also welcomed but it is clear that work must continue. Local authorities and Irish Water are working closely together to ensure issues at these 4 poor bathing waters are remedied as soon as possible.
These issues are often complex and require input from a variety of stakeholders to resolve, however recent successes at Ballyloughane and Portrane Beaches have demonstrated that once issues are identified and resolved, bathing water quality can improve rapidly.
The continued poor status at Clifden is disappointing. However, Galway County Council has identified a new bathing area at nearby Aillebrack/Silverhill Beach and it will continue to work to ensure that Clifden can be reclassified as a bathing water.
I would encourage all bathers to use the information on the dedicated www.beaches.ie website before going swimming, and to always follow the advice of the HSE and Department of Health in relation to social distancing protocols when you are at the beach. Following periods of heavy and sustained rainfall, specific and temporary bathing prohibition notices are issued where necessary, and as a precautionary measure for beaches, to protect people’s health pending water test results.
In regards to improving the standards of waste water discharge into the environment, our waste water networks require ongoing and sustained investment and the Government has approved the Irish Water Strategic Funding Plan 2019-2024 comprising of a €6.1bn investment in infrastructure and assets and €4.9bn in operating costs.
Last year the Dublin Task Force was created including representatives of my Department, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Irish Water to work together to diagnose the root-causes and put in place programmes to solve issues specific to Dublin Bay.
I am also very aware of the recent increase in people swimming outdoors, and the increase of beach users generally, outside of the traditional bathing season so I have tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining potential increases to the frequency of bathing water monitoring and improving the availability of results to improve information for people swimming outside of the designated bathing season. I have also requested that the Expert Group consider the issues related to changing the bathing water season, taking into account the current review by the European Commission of the Bathing Water Directive.
362. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will take steps to begin systemically testing the bathing waters of Dublin Bay at ten different locations daily for the next 24 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27231/21]
View answer363. Deputy Joe O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if year round and more frequent testing of coastal bathing waters will be considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27304/21]
View answer388. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a commitment will be given to the systematic testing of the waters of Dublin Bay at a minimum of ten locations throughout 356 days of the year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26063/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 362, 363 and 388 together.
I am very aware of the recent increase in people swimming, and the increase of beach users generally, outside of the traditional bathing season in Dublin Bay (and in many other areas).
I have tasked the Bathing Water Expert Group with examining potential increases to the frequency of bathing water monitoring and improving the dissemination of results to improve information for people swimming outside of the designated bathing season. I have also requested that the Expert Group consider the issues related to changing the bathing water season, taking into account the current review by the European Commission of the Bathing Water Directive.
The bathing water report for 2020, which was recently published by the Environmental Protection Agency, 96% of bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard. This is up from 95% in 2019 and improvements in bathing water quality are welcome and necessary.
