Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 27 Feb 2001

Vol. 531 No. 3

Written Answers. - National Development Plan.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

344 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the sections and division of the European Commission which are involved in assisting and or monitoring the implementation of those aspects of the national development plan for which her Department has responsibility; the name of the senior EU official with responsibility for that role; the number of meetings that have taken place since the publication of the national development plan between officials of her Department and the relevant officials of the European Commission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5612/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

The BMW and S&E regional assemblies are responsible for monitoring the aspects of the NDP for which my Department has responsibility for implementation. The regional assemblies report to the NDP/CSF monitoring committee. The European Commission is not directly involved in the aspects of the national development plan for which my Department has responsibility.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

345 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will state for that section of the national development plan for which she has responsibility for its implementation, the number of consultants who have been hired by her Department to assist with the design or implementation of the national development plan; the projects upon which they are engaged; the cost of those projects; the approximate professional fee cost which the consultants will be charging her Department on com pletion of the consultancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5628/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

My Department has responsibility for the implementation of aspects of the national development plan in the BMW and S & E regions. We also have an involvement in other NDP Operational Programmes for which other Departments have lead responsibility.

One firm of consultants has been engaged to date by my Department to assist with the implementation of the NDP. The consultants have been engaged in relation to the arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, ACCESS. A sum of £36 million has been allocated for ACCESS over the life of the NDP and the consultancy will cost approximately £110,000.

The following local authorities have appointed consultants to prepare feasibility studies on a number of piers for Gaeltacht or Island projects which it is hoped will be developed under the national development plan: Donegal County Council, Mayo County Council, Galway County Council, Kerry County Council and Waterford County Council. The cost of these consultancies have not been finalised between the Department and these local authorities.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

346 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the aspect of the national development plan for which her Department has responsibility; the precise number of projects which are a part of that section of the national development plan for which her Department has responsibility; the number of personnel in her Department who are working full-time and part-time on the national development plan; their grade within the Civil Service; the budgeted cost for each project; the timetable for its implementation; the present stage at which it is; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5645/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

My Department has responsibility for the implementation of aspects of the national development plan in the BMW and S & E regions. We also have an involvement in other NDP Operational Programmes for which other Departments have lead responsibility.

In relation to the BMW and S & E Regional Operational Programmes my Department has responsibility for the following sub-measures: cultural institutions, arts and culture, habitat protection, heritage conservation and Gaeltacht and islands I will address the issues on a sub-measure basis.

Habitat Protection:
a)Number of projects	–3
b)Number and grade ofpersonnel	–5 (PO to EO – small percentage time input.
c)Budgeted cost for eachproject	–Project	Project Allocation (£‘000)
S&E Region	Doneraile Court, Co Cork	£2,000
BMW Region	Mayo National Park	£3,000
	Clara Bog, Co. Offaly	£1,100
Timetable for implementation
As soon as possible, within the NDP period – 2000/2006.
Heritage Conservation
a) Number of projects	–104
b) Number and grade ofpersonnel	–4 administrative personnel, part time; also professional and direct labour inputs
c)Budgeted cost for each project	–Not yet finalised.
Timetable for implementation:

As soon as possible, within the NDP period – 2000/2006.

Gaeltacht/Islands
a)Number of projects	–not yet decided
b)Number and grade ofpersonnel	–14 personnel, part-time involvement
c)Budgeted cost for eachproject	–Not decided.

The projects will involve works on piers, housing and roads.

Timetable for implementation:

Over the NDP period 2000/2006.

Cultural; Institutions sub-measure

Under the NDP £15.57 million will be allocated to capital development works in the cultural area. In 2000 the Department undertook works on projects expending a total of £1,057,000.

a)Number of projects	–7
b)Number and grade ofpersonnel	–2: AP & HEO (approx 5% of time)
c)Budgeted cost for eachproject	–Project	Amount in 2000 (£‘000)
S&E Region	Pearse Family Home	344
	Marsh's Library	12
	National Library of Ireland	308
	National concert Hall	47
	Film Institute	47
	Total	758
BMW Region	Letterfrack Conservation Centre	28
	NMI (Turlough Park House)	271
	Total	299
d) timetable

The above projects have been substantially completed. Further projects will follow.

Arts and Culture

Some 175 applications are under consideration for the arts and culture capital enhancement.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

347 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of groups, both statutory and non-statutory but excluding local authorities with which her Department is in regular contact or consultation in respect of the implementation of that section of the national development plan for which her Department has responsibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5662/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

My Department has responsibility for the implementation of aspects of the national development plan in the BMW and S & E regions. We also have an involvement in other NDP Operational Programmes for which other Departments have lead responsibility.

The Department is in regular contact with the following groups and organisations in respect of NDP implementation: Office of Public Works; Arts Council; Heritage Council; Údarás na Gaeltachta; The Irish Film Board; Waterways Ireland; Screen Training Ireland; Fota Trust; Castletown Foundation.

In addition, my Department will consult with all relevant local interest groups, such as co-oper atives and development organisations, in regard to NDP works in their areas of operation.

Ruairí Quinn

Ceist:

348 Mr. Quinn asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will outline, in respect of that section of the national development plan for which her Department has responsibility, the number of potential public private partnerships that have been identified; the number that are under active consideration; the name, location and potential cost of such projects; if any exchange of letters has taken place; if any other initial firm commitment has been entered into with prospective private providers; the approximate capital value of all projects so identified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5688/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

My Department has responsibility for the implementation of aspects of the national development plan in the BMW and S & E regions. We also have an involvement in other NDP Operational Programmes for which other Departments have lead responsibility, for example, Gaeltacht Housing under the Economic and Social Infrastructure OP and Údarás na Gaeltachta and the Film Board under the Employment and Human Resource Development OP and the Productive Sector OP.

No potential public private partnerships have been identified to date. However, some 175 applications are under consideration for the arts and culture capital enhancement support scheme, ACCESS, being intruduced in my Department and some of these involve public private partnerships proposals.