Parliamentary questions

EU Meetings

Joan Burton

1. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Chancellor Merkel on 6 April 2017. [17713/17]

EU Meetings

Gerry Adams

2. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with the Chancellor of Germany, Ms Angela Merkel, on 6 April 2017. [17838/17]

EU Meetings

Eamon Ryan

3. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his recent meeting with Chancellor Merkel. [17914/17]

EU Meetings

Micheál Martin

4. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his meeting with Chancellor Merkel on 6 April 2017; the issues that were discussed; if other bilateral meetings were held; and the other meetings he attended while in Germany. [18281/17]

EU Meetings

Brendan Howlin

5. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if he will report on his engagements on his trade visit to Germany and his meeting with Chancellor Merkel. [18287/17]

EU Meetings

Seán Haughey

6. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Taoiseach if he has spoken to or met Chancellor Merkel recently. [20411/17]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Micheál Martin

7. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the role of the economic policy unit in his Department. [17832/17]

Departmental Administrative Arrangements

Gerry Adams

8. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the role of the economic policy section in his Department. [20718/17]

Northern Ireland

Micheál Martin

9. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Taoiseach the role of the British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs section in his Department. [17833/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Howlin

10. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Taoiseach if the officials in his Department with a senior role in Brexit negotiations will engage in public communications on their work over the course of the two-year process. [18288/17]

Northern Ireland

Joan Burton

11. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on Brexit last met. [19865/17]

Northern Ireland

Gerry Adams

12. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Taoiseach the role of the British-Irish and Northern Ireland affairs section in his Department. [20719/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Richard Boyd Barrett

13. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Housing last met; and when it will next meet. [17911/17]

Cabinet Committee Meetings

Michael Moynihan

15. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet Committee on Regional and Rural Affairs last met; when it will next meet; and the number of times it met in 2016. [17991/17]

Arts Council

Niamh Smyth

39. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Arts Council will be publishing a new arts and disability policy in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20441/17]

Meath na Gaeltachta

Peadar Tóibín

40. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad a dhéanfaidh an Rialtas chun stop a chur le meath na Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20620/17]

Arts in Education Charter

Niamh Smyth

41. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she will take to increase the provision of arts education to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20442/17]

Arts Funding

Joan Burton

42. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the role of Aosdána in recognising and supporting Irish artists; if she plans to limit and diminish the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20438/17]

National Monuments

Éamon Ó Cuív

43. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has considered the report by a group (details supplied) issued in March 2017; her plans to implement the recommendations in the report; the progress made to date in doing so; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20440/17]

Acht na Gaeltachta

Catherine Connolly

44. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad é stádas na bpleananna teanga; agus go háirithe, cé mhéad plean atá críochnaithe agus curtha os comhair an Aire; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20429/17]

CLÁR Programme

Tony McLoughlin

45. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the 2017 CLÁR programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20387/17]

Arts Promotion

Eamon Ryan

46. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to address the deficit in affordable artist studio space around the country, in particular in Dublin city; if she will liaise with the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to introduce legislation that would support the inclusion of a provision of artistic, creative and cultural space in all new developments, such as 2% in all developments over 200 units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20414/17]

Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation

Peter Burke

47. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the status of the actions that have been progressed by her Department under the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20343/17]

Broadband Service Provision

James Lawless

48. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the way many local authorities have appointed dedicated broadband roll-out co-ordinators as required by her Department's task force on broadband installation; the details of the relevant officers for each local authority, with contact details in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13684/17]

Scéim Athnuachana na mBailte agus na Sráidbhailte

Catherine Connolly

49. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an bhfuair aon bhaile, atá suite i gcroílár Ghaeltacht Chonamara agus atá chomh tábhachtach sin d'inmharthanacht na Gaeltachta, aon chabhair faoin Scéim Athnuachana Bailte agus Sráidbhailte; agus má fuair, an gcuirfidh sí an bhliain inar tugadh an chabhair agus sonraí na cabhrach sin in iúl; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20432/17]

Cultural Policy

Joan Burton

50. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to develop a national cultural strategy up to 2025. [19861/17]

Rural Recreation Policy

Peter Burke

51. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the rural recreation programme will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20344/17]

Arts Promotion

Bernard Durkan

52. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which she expects to be in a position to continue to utilise events of a cultural and heritage nature to promote the national image at home and abroad with particular reference to the need to generate increased interest in such matters among young persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20397/17]

Heritage Projects

Brendan Griffin

53. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider a minor grant scheme for local authorities to administer to community projects aimed at preserving old photographs and video footage in their respective localities; her views on preserving such valuable historical records before they get lost or destroyed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20392/17]

Heritage Projects

Thomas Pringle

54. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will address the need for a full-time administrator for a project (details supplied) in Letterkenny taking into account the project is solely run by volunteers yet has potentially huge benefits for local businesses and the community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20399/17]

Illegal Dumping

Bríd Smith

55. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her attention has been drawn to illegal dumping at the Glenveagh National Park in an area situated within the park and opposite the staff entrance to the park; if such dumping is a breach of EU regulations, the Water Pollution Act or the Invasive Species Act; if her attention has been further drawn to the fact that this is taking place in a protected area and special area of conservation in addition to being in a national heritage area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20400/17]

Heritage Projects

Brendan Griffin

56. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the timeframe for the completion and full opening of Killarney House; her plans for 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20380/17]

Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla

Catherine Connolly

57. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad é stádas Bhille nua na dTeangacha Oifigiúla atá beartaithe; agus go háirithe, cén dáta a fhoilseofar Ceannteidil an Bhille; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20428/17]

Invasive Plant Species

Danny Healy-Rae

58. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if rhododendron plants can be banned from sale (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13685/17]

Arts Funding

Niamh Smyth

59. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding that will be made available to regional arts centres across the country; the criteria by which these funding decisions are made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20086/17]

Wild Fires

Eamon Ryan

60. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her Department's estimation of damages caused, loss of habitat and loss of wildlife in view of the recent and ongoing spate of dangerous and severe wildfires across the countryside over the past month and in the context of the recent passage of the Heritage Bill which extends the permitted burning periods into March; and the existing measures in place to prevent illegal burning and current enforcement practices. [20415/17]

National Concert Hall

Niamh Smyth

61. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for the development of the National Concert Hall; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20084/17]

Departmental Correspondence

Joan Burton

62. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received correspondence from a group (details supplied) regarding the sale of Luggala Estate, County Wicklow, the adjoining lands of the estate and its future use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19858/17]

Departmental Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

63. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the expenditure to date of the capital carry over from 2017; the value of work carried out to date with the €28 million pre-paid to local authorities under the town and village enhancement scheme and the CLÁR programme in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19528/17]

Arts Funding

Niamh Smyth

64. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to ensure that the allocation of funding being provided for the arts by her Department is decided by the Arts Council only; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20083/17]

Creative Ireland Programme

Niamh Smyth

65. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the steps she will take to implement pillar 4 of the Creative Ireland programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20087/17]

Rural Development Plan

Bernard Durkan

66. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which it is anticipated progress can be made towards providing and extending vital services in rural and urban areas with a view to ensuring the availability of the highest quality of such services at all locations throughout the country, thereby enhancing the quality of life for the persons therein and the attractiveness for job creating investment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20396/17]

Built Heritage Investment Scheme Administration

Ciaran Cannon

67. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when successful applications under the 2017 structures at risk and built heritage investment schemes will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20393/17]

Cúrsaí Gaeilge

Catherine Connolly

68. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an ndeimhneoidh sí go bhfuil athbhreithniú práinneach ag teastáil maidir leis an Straitéis Fiche Bliain i ndáil le torthaí an daonáirimh agus go háirithe an laghdú suntasach atá tagtha ar líon na gcainteoirí Gaeilge; an bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú seo tosaithe; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [20431/17]

National Monuments

Maureen O'Sullivan

69. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to work on and implement recommendations while acknowledging her role in establishing the Moore Street Consultative Group; and her views on the recommendations of the group. [20151/17]

Creative Ireland Programme

Ciaran Cannon

70. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the estimated numbers in attendance at Cruinniú na Cásca events nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20394/17]

Arts Funding

Niamh Smyth

71. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding being provided for the arts in 2017; the amount that will be allocated by the agencies or organisations under the remit of her Department; the amount being allocated to arts projects directly by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20085/17]

National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff

Clare Daly

72. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of National Parks and Wildlife Service officers currently monitoring the illegal snaring of badgers around the country. [20372/17]

Wildlife Regulations

Maureen O'Sullivan

73. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the procedures within her Department for concerned persons to make observations and complaints regarding breaches of legislation by individual coursing clubs (details supplied). [20152/17]

Arts Council Funding

Richard Boyd Barrett

74. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to have discussions with the Arts Council regarding proposed cuts to grants for non productive artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20374/17]