Written Answers Nos. 115-122
116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will extend the burning of the land until 31 March 2013 in view of the fact that this year was an extremely wet one; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13205/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 135 and 136 of 7 March 2013.
117. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he expects to host international events of a cultural or heritage nature with a view to the awarding of such opportunities to promote Irish heritage and culture abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13357/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra118. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which he and or his Department can avail of international cultural events to promote Irelands heritage and culture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13358/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra119. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plan for the promotion of Ireland's heritage and culture globally in the course of 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13359/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has had discussions with overseas emigrants or representative groups in the context of promoting the concept of national identity through the aegis of culture and heritage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13361/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 119, inclusive, and 121 together.
My Department, through its Culture Ireland Programme, promotes Irish arts and culture worldwide through regular grant rounds and through special initiatives. For the first six months of 2013, to mark Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the EU, my Department has put in place an extensive programme – Culture Connects - embracing all Member States and some significant third countries. This programme, which has had a very successful two months to date, will include over 400 events taking place across all Member States of the European Union.
The high profile events which have been launched include:
- 'Changing States' in Brussels, an exhibition of twenty of Ireland's strongest emerging visual artists and Francis Bacon in the high profile Beaux Arts Gallery.
- An exhibition of the work of Eileen Gray in Centre Pompidou, which is expected to be seen by around 500,000 visitors and to help cross-promote contemporary Irish design.
- Extensive theatre tours to sell-out houses are ongoing, including 'WATT' at the Barbican in London and Brokentalkers 'Blue Boy' at various cities across Europe.
- For the duration of Ireland's Presidency, an exhibition of Irish craft and artwork involving cutting-edge technology is being presented in the Council Headquarters in Brussels.
In January of this year, my Department supported a delegation of key theatre, dance and music practitioners to attend the Association of Performing Arts Presenters Conference (APAP) 2013, as part of an Irish Government trade and promotional mission for the performing arts. This is a key target market for Irish artists and is of strategic importance in the development of US Irish cultural relations. Reports to date are very positive for future tour bookings for 2013/2014 for the Irish artists and delegates who were part of the delegation.
My Department, through the Culture Ireland programme, continues to support Irish artists in presenting work at strategic international festivals, venues and showcases, building touring networks and contacts, including with overseas emigrant or representative groups, where appropriate. It also continues to work on a cross-agency basis on key initiatives of joint interest and, over the St Patrick’s Day period, for example, is supporting more than 60 events across Europe, the US, China, Russia and Australia.
Other activities to be supported this year through the Culture Ireland Programme include:
- WOMEX, the World Music Expo, in Cardiff in October in a partnership sharing showcasing and networking opportunities for Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland;
- a showcase at the Edinburgh Festivals in August, which will offer audiences and promoters a snapshot of the diverse and exciting new theatre work being created in Ireland; and
- support, in partnership with the Arts Council, for Ireland's participation in the 55th International Venice Art Biennale 2013.
I am satisfied that my Department's international promotion of Irish arts has created significant goodwill and influence for Ireland and has helped to contribute to the strength of Ireland's reputation for creative excellence.
120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has had discussions with cultural and-or heritage groups in the context of The Gathering 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13360/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, The Gathering initiative undertaken by my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, has the strong support of my Department and the agencies under my Department's remit.
A range of actions being taken to support The Gathering were outlined in my replies to Question No 13 of 30 January 2013 and Question No 16 of 28 November 2012. The national cultural institutions under the auspices of my Department have prepared a comprehensive response to The Gathering. As outlined previously, the Arts Council is playing an ongoing key role in funding and developing arts events around the county during 2013. In terms of the Gaeltacht, Údarás na Gaeltachta has a dedicated scheme to support traditional festivals in the Gaeltacht intends, when assessing applications for such festivals in 2013, to place particular emphasis on activities aimed at attracting visitors to Ireland as part of The Gathering.
Tourists arriving as part of The Gathering, particularly those from amongst the 70 million people abroad who claim Irish ancestry, will be particularly interested in heritage sites. Last September, I launched two new websites which aim to highlight some of our lesser-known sites – national monuments and heritage buildings that are open to the public but which tend to be only visited by those very familiar with the particular area in which they are situated. It is hoped that these new "Places to See" and "Monuments to Visit" websites will assist in encouraging tourists to visit locations that might not otherwise be on their itineraries and also assist people welcoming relatives and friends from abroad as part of The Gathering to be able to identify locations nearby that will interest visitors. My Department will also continue to cooperate closely with the Office of Public Works to further enhance the tourism value of our built heritage.
I am informed that the Heritage Council has made a submission to Fáilte Ireland regarding the international marketing of Heritage Week 2013 to link in with ‘The Gathering’. In addition, in 2013 the Heritage Council is grant-aiding a genealogist post in the organisation Ireland Reaching Out, a Diaspora focused organization that is contracted to support The Gathering. I also understand that Local Authority Heritage Officers, whose employment is financially supported by the Heritage Council, sit on County Committees for The Gathering 2013 around the country.
In summary, therefore, I consider that a substantial contribution to The Gathering initiative is underway in both the cultural and heritage areas.
122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number and location of buildings or sites that have become the responsibility of the State in each of the past four years in the context of preservation of historical or heritage sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13362/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its establishment in June 2011, my Department has acquired ownership of a complex of five archaeological monuments at Lough Gur, Co Limerick, from the local authority.
For the sake of completeness, I should refer to the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme operated by my Department under which domestic turf cutters can sell designated bog plots to the State at agreed rates. In May 2010, the then Government announced the closure of this scheme to new applicants. However, my Department has purchased bog plots in areas designated as special areas of conservation over the last number of years and is continuing to process applications received before this date.
