Written Answers Nos. 895-907
895. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the criteria used in designating a Special Area of Conservation; in designating the Lough Corrib Special Area of Conservation; if specific studies were undertaken in this process; the specific measures used in studies carried out to designate a Special Area of Conservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14701/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe criteria for selecting sites eligible for identification as Sites of Community Importance and designation as Special Areas of Conservation are set out in Annex III of the EU Habitats Directive. The Lough Corrib area was surveyed on a number of occasions for habitats and species listed in that annex.
The intention to designate the Lough Corrib special area of conservation was advertised in August 1999.
In 2006, in order to meet Ireland's obligations under the Habitats Directive, 25 river special areas of conservation, including the Lough Corrib site, had their boundaries amended to include important salmon spawning areas, identified by the then Central Fisheries Board, that had not been included in the proposed special areas of conservation.
896. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will provide urgent consideration to the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Cavan, in view of its potential for development as a tourism and heritage project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14814/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra921. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Cavan by her Department or agencies under the remit of her Department, in view of its potential for development as a tourism and heritage project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14941/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 921 together.
The property referred to by the Deputy is a fine example of a Palladian villa of the 18th century and is considered of significant architectural importance. My Department, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, may acquire heritage properties of national significance and in exceptional circumstances. However, given the many competing priorities for funding built heritage, and due to the significant reduction in funding to my Department in recent years, resources are not available from my Department to consider the purchase of the property in question.
My Department has been working closely with the relevant local authority in the maintaining and safeguarding of the property's future. Both my Department and the local authority will continue to assist and advise in determining any suitable or viable uses for the property into the future.
897. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil dualgas ar údaráis áitiúla faoi alt 33(2)(c) d’Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla na comharthaí bóthair a chur suas i nGaeilge amháin nuair a bhíonn cuid d’áit lena mbaineann logainm taobh istigh den Ghaeltacht agus an chuid eile taobh amuigh; cén chaoi a bhfuil cead ag Comhairle Contae Chiarraí comharthaí bóthair dátheangacha a chur suas i gcás Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13862/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá na logainmneacha Gaeltachta daingnithe san Ordú Logainmneacha (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) IR 872 de 2004. Faoi réir fhorálacha alt 33 d'Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiula 2003, níl aon fheidhm nó éifeacht ón 28 Márta 2005 leis an leagan Béarla de na logainmneacha seo ar chomhartha bóthair nó sráide arna chur suas ag údarás áitiúil nó thar a cheann.
Maidir le Dingle/Daingean Uí Chúis, de bhun leasuithe a rinneadh ar Chuid 18 den Acht Rialtais Áitiúil 2001, arna chur isteach ag alt 48 den Acht Comhshaoil (Forálacha Ilghnéitheacha) 2011, rinneadh an tOrdú Logainmneacha (Ceantair Ghaeltachta) IR 872 de 2004 a leasú ionas gurb iad Daingean Uí Chúis i nGaeilge agus Dingle i mBéarla na leaganacha oifigiúla den logainm, seachas An Daingean mar a bhí daingnithe san Ordú Logainmneacha roimhe sin.
Tuigfidh an Teachta nach bhfuil aon fheidhm agamsa mar Aire Stáit maidir le faireachán a dhéanamh ar chomhlíonadh forálacha, lena n-áirítear comharthaí bóthair, a bhaineann le húsáid na Gaeilge. Is feidhm í sin de chuid an Choimisinéara Teanga faoi réir alt 21 d'Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla.
898. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici fóirdheontas díreach a dheonú i leith an chostais a bhaineann le ticéid phaisinéirí ar an mbád farantóireachta go hÁrainn, á chur i gcuntas go bhfuil na hoileánaigh ar an oileán sin ag íoc i bhfad níos mó ar thicéid ná mar atá aon oileánaigh eile; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13865/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, níl aon chonradh ag mo Roinn faoi láthair chun seirbhís farantóireachta do phaisinéirí a chur ar fáil idir Ros an Mhíl agus Árainn (Inis Mór). É sin ráite, tuigtear dom go bhfuil an farantóir ag leanúint leis an tseirbhís chéanna i gcónaí gan aon chúnamh Stáit. Sa chomhthéacs seo, níl sé i gceist fóirdheontas díreach a dheonú i leith an chostais a bhaineann le ticéid do phaisinéirí ar an mbád farantóireachta go hÁrainn.
899. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a bheidh deireadh leis an gconradh reatha farantóireachta chuig Inis Meáin agus Inis Oírr; an bhfuil i gceist aici gurb é conradh amháin do na trí oileán Árann a bheidh in aon chonradh nua; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13866/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTiocfaidh deireadh leis an gconradh farantóireachta reatha do phaisinéirí go hInis Meáin agus Inis Oírr ar 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2017. Glacfar cinneadh in am trátha maidir le comhdhéanamh aon chonradh nua tar éis athbhreithniú iomlán a bheith déanta agus ag tógáil moltaí na bpáirtithe leasmhara san áireamh.
900. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a lorgófar tairiscintí don chonradh aerthaistil go dtí oileáin Árann; an bhfuil i gceist aici go mbeidh an leibhéal céanna seirbhíse á thabhairt faoi aon chonradh nua i gcomparáid leis an tseirbhís atá ann faoi láthair; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [13867/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá an fógra ag lorg tairiscintí do sheirbhís aeir Oileáin Árann foilsithe anois. Tá spriocdháta den 8 Meitheamh 2015 ag tairgeoirí seirbhísí aeir chun tairiscintí a dhéanamh. Faoin Iarraidh ar Thairiscint, tá íosleibhéal seirbhíse in aghaidh na seachtaine i gceist, is é sin dhá eitilt fillte in aghaidh an lae, seacht lá na seachtaine móide seirbhís iompar bóthair chun freastal ar na heitiltí sin. Mar atá i gceist faoin gconradh reatha, ní bheidh cosc ar an gcuideachta ar a mbronnfar an conradh níos mó seirbhísí ná an t-íosleibhéal sin a chur ar fáil.
901. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for details of the person responsible for running Killarney House in County Kerry; the number of staff it is intended to have to run the property; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13890/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraStaffing requirements for Killarney House remain the subject of consideration in light of my Department's overall business needs and the approved pay framework for 2015. The final phase of restoration, refurbishment and new works at Killarney House is currently ongoing and, accordingly, the nature and extent of posts required, including their budgetary implications, have yet to be finally determined.
902. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 1010 of 24 March 2015, the amount of money transferred from the Vote of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to her Department for the period 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2015; her views on making a further funding announcement in order to match the annual core funding allocation in 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14078/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 1010 of 24 March 2015, I am advised that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government is providing funding for the community groups on the relevant non-Gaeltacht islands up to 13 May 2015. A sum of €300,000 will be transferred to my Department for these purposes for the period to end-2015 and arrangements to that end are in hand. As stated in my previous reply, this funding will assist with the development and delivery of services for these non-Gaeltacht islands and my Department will seek to enhance this delivery into the future through engagement with the island communities. I am confident that there will not be any significant diminution in the level of service provided on these islands.
903. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of her Department's application to United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, to have the Hill of Uisneach in Killare, Mullingar, County Westmeath, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14122/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUNESCO sets out a formal process for State signatories to the World Heritage Convention to nominate properties for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The nomination process is initiated by the State authorities drawing up a Tentative List of what they consider to be the most important heritage sites within their national boundaries. A particular criterion is that a site must be considered to be of outstanding universal value, defined by UNESCO as meaning of “cultural and or natural significance which is so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations of all humanity.”
“The Royal Sites of Ireland”, made up of Cashel, Dún Ailinne, the Rathcroghan Complex, the Tara Complex, Eamhan Macha and the Hill of Uisneach, is included in Ireland's current Tentative List. Having a nomination progressed from the Tentative List to inscription by UNESCO on the World Heritage List is a very substantial undertaking that requires the development of a comprehensive management plan, full agreement with local interests, significant local authority actions and support and, finally, production of highly detailed nomination documents.
In the case of the “The Royal Sites of Ireland”, initial technical evaluation reports have been produced by the local authorities in relation to each of the sites involved with a view to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of each component of the overall set. My Department has arranged for an expert examination of the technical evaluations and, assuming a positive outcome from that process, the next steps will involve developing management plans for each site and the identification of core and buffer zones in each case. There will be local consultation at every stage with a view ultimately to the creation of full nomination documents for submission to UNESCO for evaluation and approval.
904. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding the recent public consultation conducted on section 40 of the Irish Wildlife Act, the way any change to the section, if such is to be made, would be made; the instrument that will be used to amend the Irish Wildlife Acts; the timeframe for any findings and recommendations to be made to her from the working group she has established within her Department to consider the matter; when she will make a decision on the matter; the persons, bodies, sections and perspectives that are represented within the working group; if the working group comprises only her Department's staff or if she will provide the names of other representatives that are involved; if she will provide a copy of the terms of reference or instruction for the working group; if she or her Department solicited any submissions from any groups or organisations on this matter; if any submissions or comments were received on the matter outside of the mechanism notified for the public consultation; if she will clarify any distinction being made between the different types of submissions received; if different weighting or treatment will be afforded to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14163/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity and therefore a review of the current legislation was initiated to ensure that it remains both effective and balanced.
Stakeholders had been seeking an opportunity to input their views on the operation of section 40 of the Acts and I announced, last year, a consultation process which provided that opportunity, with a deadline of 9 January 2015 for the receipt of submissions. The submissions received range from detailed papers from stakeholders to individuals expressing support for one outcome or another.
I have established a Working Group, consisting of officials from my Department, to consider all submissions received by the deadline. I have not given any directions to the Working Group other than to consider all the submissions received in full and to report back to me with a range of proposals.
While no further submissions or views have been sought from stakeholders, I have on occasion met with stakeholders on a range of issues, who have availed of the opportunity of re-iterating views expressed in their submissions in response to the public consultation.
Any changes to the closed period for cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation as provided for in section 40 of the Wildlife Acts would require amending legislation.
905. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her strategy to revive the gaeltachtaí (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14167/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the implementation of the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 is a key priority for my Department in the context of supporting the Irish language as a community and household language in the Gaeltacht. My Department is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the Strategy in conjunction with a wide range of key stakeholders. The Deputy may be interested in the latest progress reports on its implementation which were published last year by the relevant Departments, 12 in total, including my own Department. These reports are available at: http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/20-YearStrategyfortheIrishLanguage2010-2030/ImplementationoftheStrategy/.
The Gaeltacht Act 2012, which forms a key part of the Strategy, provides the legislative framework for the systematic implementation of the language planning process set out under the Act. My Department is implementing this process in accordance with the provisions of the Act, in conjunction with Údarás na Gaeltachta and Foras na Gaeilge. Insofar as the Gaeltacht is concerned, 13 of the 26 Gaeltacht Language Planning Areas have begun the language planning process.
The Deputy will also be aware that my Department administers a range of Gaeltacht Support Schemes which have as their key objective the maintenance and development of Irish as a community and household language in the Gaeltacht. Further information regarding these schemes is available at http://www.ahg.gov.ie/en/AnGhaeltacht/.
906. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps being taken to promote the use of Irish in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14169/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder my Department's Irish Language Scheme 2012-2015, a range of measures are in place with regard to the provision of services through Irish. These measures include the promotion of Irish within the Department. My Department is currently undertaking a public consultation process in relation to its next language scheme and interested parties are encouraged to forward submissions by 6 May.
My Department is committed to promoting and encouraging the use of Irish among staff in the carrying out of our day-to-day internal functions and supports staff wishing to communicate more effectively in Irish through the provision of Irish language training. This ranges from beginner level training to academic third-level courses which are supported under my Department's Refund of Academic Fees Scheme. It also includes supporting staff to undertake the Certificate in Professional Irish courses which specifically aim to help public sector employees communicate more effectively in Irish. My Department routinely issues all office notices bilingually and promotes a strong culture of bilingualism amongst senior management in particular.
907. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the area of bog owned by the State in Clonmoylan bog (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14235/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome 163 hectares of bog are registered with the Property Registration Authority of Ireland (PRAI) as being in the ownership of the State in the area referred to in the Deputy's Question. Ownership of a further 8.18 hectares of bog on this site is in the process of being registered with the PRAI on my behalf as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
