Written Answers Nos. 174-185
174. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a building (details supplied) in County Cork is on his Department's list of recorded monuments; and the role his Department has in conjunction with the local authority in terms of any application for planning permission that has or will be lodged with Cork County Council to renovate the building. [31305/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building referred in the question is not included on the statutory record or register maintained under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004. However, I understand that it is on the Record of Protected Structures for County Cork. Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012 provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including them on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
Under the Planning & Development Acts 2000-2010, the local authority is the decision-making body in the first instance in relation to planning applications. An Bord Pleanala is the appeals authority for planning applications. My role in relation to planning applications is limited to that of statutory consultee in cases where a proposed development may have an effect on natural, archaeological or architectural heritage. I understand that Cork County Council have received an application for planning permission in relation to the this building and, as the building is on the Record of Protected Structures, officials in my Department have asked the Council to refer this application to me for consultation under the Planning and Development Act.
I refer the Deputy to Cork County Council as the appropriate body to consult with reference to this planning application.
175. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps he will take to have Irish cultural institutions such as the National Museum of Ireland, Kilmainham Gaol, the National Gallery of Art and the National Museum of Modern Art, open longer hours for tourists during the summer months in particular, and the reason the museum is closed on Mondays, the last tour at the gaol is 5 p.m. and the gallery doesn't open before 12.30 on Sundays. [31450/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhilst my Department provides funding to the National Cultural Institutions, the Board of each institution is responsible for all operational matters, including opening hours, and I do not have a statutory function in respect of such day-to-day matters. However, opening hours is a matter which is kept routinely under review by all of the institutions and alternative means of access and the question of public opening times in general are amongst the matters being discussed with the institutions as part of the implementation of the Government's Public Sector Reform Plan.
The management and operation of Kilmainham Gaol is under the aegis of the Office of Public Works and my Department has no responsibility for it.
176. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31202/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. This information relates to the Shorter Working Year Scheme which replaced term time in 2009.
|
Year |
Number of Staff who Availed of Shorter Working Year |
Average |
|
2012 |
31 |
6 weeks |
|
Year |
Number of Staff who Applied for Shorter Working Year (to date) |
Average |
|
2013 (to date) |
30 |
6 weeks |
177. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31218/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31250/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 179 together.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought regarding staff in the agencies under the aegis of my Department is an operational matter for each Agency. I have notified the agencies under the aegis of the Department of the questions and have requested them to respond directly to the Deputy with their replies.
178. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of staff in his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31234/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Study Leave Applications |
Average |
Full pay & benefits |
|
2012 |
7 |
5 days |
Yes |
|
2013 (to date) |
5 |
3.5 days |
Yes |
180. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the number of officials that have been seconded from his Department, to other Government Departments, EU institutions and bodies, international organisations, NGOs, other nation states and any other body; the level, grade and rank of each official that is on secondment; the name of each body an official is currently with; the length of each secondment, detailing time seconded to date and expected secondment remaining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31336/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table.
|
Grade |
No. of Grade Seconded |
Seconded To |
Date Seconded from |
Secondment Period |
Date Seconded to |
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
ComReg |
1/11/11 |
4 years |
31/10/15 |
|
Assistant Principal |
3 |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
24/08/09 4/10/10 22/07/11 |
5 years 4 years 4 years |
31/7/14 31/10/14 31/7/15 |
|
HEO |
1 |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
1/9/12 |
11 months |
31/7/13 |
|
AO |
2 |
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |
1/11/10 1/09/12 |
4 years 11 months |
31/11/14 31/7/13 |
|
AO |
1 |
IDA |
1/11/10 |
3 years |
1/11/13 |
|
EO |
1 |
Department of Environment, Community and Local Government |
27/6/11 |
For the tenure of the Minister |
n/a |
|
EO |
1 |
Department of Education and Skills |
11/12/02 |
3 year initial period extended annually on request by the Department of Education and Skills |
Reviewed annually |
181. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans regarding the introduction of post codes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31384/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is strongly committed to introducing postcodes here in Ireland. The procurement process to select a postcode management licence holder to implement a National Postcode System began in 2011 with the publication of a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire on www.etenders.gov.ie. Since then, intensive work has taken place on what is an extremely complex national project with many different inter-dependent aspects to it. The procurement process is expected to come to a conclusion very shortly.
The final decision to proceed with implementation of a national postcode will be one for Government and will be based on appropriate financial, technical and operational considerations. I cannot give a precise date on when this decision will be made but I intend that it will be no later than the third quarter of this year.
182. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there are any motor tax exemptions available to very large families, for example over six children, similar to the disabled drivers and disabled passengers exemption, who require larger vehicles; if there are any plans to introduce any exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31290/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMotor tax for private cars is calculated on the basis of CO 2 emissions or engine capacity, depending on the date of first registration of the car. Any reduction in motor tax rates for this category would require a compensatory increase elsewhere in the motor tax rates or elsewhere in the tax code. I have no plans to revise the basis of taxation for vehicles at this time.
183. Deputy Dara Murphy asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if there is a provision of moneys available to local authorities for the reintroduction of the down sizing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31185/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no funds specifically designated under the Social Housing Investment Programme for the purpose of facilitating local authority tenants wishing to downsize and I do not plan to introduce such a scheme. A number of housing authorities, however, have traditionally operated such schemes within their overall housing programmes.
184. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff in his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31205/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2012, 57 staff members availed of special unpaid leave under the Shorter Working Year scheme (formerly term-time); the average duration of leave was 6 weeks. To date in 2013, my Department has approved 56 applications under the scheme.
185. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of term time in 2012; the average duration of such in 2012; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31221/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra187. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of staff in organisations or agencies under the aegis of his Department who availed of study or training leave in 2012; the average duration of such leave; if all staff availing of this leave received full pay and benefits during the time; the number that will do so in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31253/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 187 together.
Day to day operations in agencies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for management in each agency. Accordingly, the information requested is not available in my Department.
