Vol. 494 No. 3
244 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the major decisions taken by her Department since her appointment; the proposals, if any, she has, and the limit involved, to implement further proposals in relation to her Department contained in An Action Programme for the Millennium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18157/98]
As a former Minister, the Deputy will appreciate that since my appointment I have made many major decisions and it would be unrealistic to seek to itemise each and every one. I set out in tabular form the current position regarding commitments made in An Action Programme for the Millennium which relate to my Department.
|
Matter |
Current position |
|
£26 million budget for Arts Council in 1998 |
Implemented |
|
Arts Council to examine support for Disabled Artists and more regional emphasis, Arts Council to devote more funding to deal with the Arts through the medium of the Irish language. |
Support for disabbled artists, regional emphasis and the Arts through the medium of the Irish Language to be looked at in the context of the review of current Arts Plan and preparation of next Plan. Review, including wide public consultation will be completed this week. The Arts Council appointed by me in June includes members living in ten different parts of the country, a member with a particular knowledge of Arts and the disabled and a number of members with a interest in and knowledge of the Irish language. |
|
Establishment of a National Cultural Institutions Council. |
The terms of reference of the new Council of National Cultural Institutions have been agreed with the directors of the relevant Institutions and the first chair of the Council has been elected. The inaugural meeting of the Council will take place on 21 October. |
|
Establish Dublin Centre for Performing Arts. |
The Joint Working Group set up in collaboration with the Minister for Education and Science has issued an Interim Report which is being considered by me and the Minister for Education and Science. |
|
Establish a Screen Commission. |
Established. |
|
Establish Film Industry Think Tank. |
Established. |
|
Encouragement of world class residential recording studios, establishment of digital musical libraries, campaign to attract performing artists to live in Ireland. |
Being considered in context of possible establishment of a Music Board. |
|
Protect viewing on RTE and TV3 of major domestic sporting events. |
Proposals for legislation are in the process of completion and will be brought to Government in the immediate future. |
|
Statutory Independence for Teilifís na Gaeilge. |
Government approval obtained to have a Bill drafted to honour this commitment. This legislation, when enacted, will provide the Minister with the necessary powers to establish Teilifís na Gaeilge as a separate entity in its own right. |
|
Fostering Independent Radio Network including £500,000 fund to set up and maintain transmission sites for local radios. |
Government approval obtained to have a Bill drafted to honour the Government's commitments to establish a £500,000 fund to assist transmission costs of local radio. The proposed legislation will also honour the Government's commitment to abolish the 3 per cent levy on local radio services. |
|
Developing a National Heritage Plan, and also local heritage plans |
Scope, approach and time frame of plan approved by me; public consultative phase and internal preparatory phase commenced 10 September 1998. |
|
Legal protection of sites of artistic, heritage and historical interest; measures to promote the preservation of heritage dwellings. |
Package of administrative, legislative and financial proposals prepared in collaboration with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government has been approved by Government and announced. Necessary legislation being drafted. Publication of legislation scheduled for autumn. |
|
Reviewing the procedures for implementation of the Habitats Directive (Special Areas of Conservation) |
Review completed. Appeals Board established and Local Liaison Committees in process of establishment. REPS package approved by EU. |
|
Restore cutbacks in schemes operated by the Department in the Gaeltacht areas. |
Achieved. |
|
Undertake a re-evaluation of the structures of the official and voluntary Irish language organisations. |
Ongoing. |
|
Modifying the school curriculum to place more emphasis on cultural and artistic activities. |
Discussions are continuing between my Department and the Department of Education and Science, who are primarily responsible for changes in the school curriculum on this issue. |
|
Ombudsman to monitor State Services provided through Irish. |
Provision of State Services through Irish being dealt with in context of Bille na Gaeilge presently in preparation. |
|
Development of industries and cultural tourism in the Gaeltacht. |
Ongoing by Údarás na Gaeltachta |
