Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Ceist:39. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding being provided for the Heritage Council in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39504/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraHeritage Council Funding
Ceisteanna (39)
Freagraí scríofa
I refer the Deputy to my answer to priority question no. 1 today.
Film Industry Promotion
Ceisteanna (40)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:40. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans that are being implemented to promote Ireland as a film location and, in particular, to highlight all locations of panoramic and aesthetic significance similar to the way Sceilg Mhichíl was for the Star Wars film; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39259/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions, is the responsibility of the Irish Film Board. This includes assistance in the identification of locations for the making of films. The Film Board has a good track record of using Irish scenery as a major asset in attracting film makers to Ireland and the recent Star Wars film featuring Sceilg Mhichíl is a prime example of this. Detailed information on the supports available from the Film Board, including further information on film locations, can be found on its website www.irishfilmboard.ie.
Seirbhísí Eitilte
Ceisteanna (41)
Michael P. Kitt
Ceist:41. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Michael P. Kitt den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sí sásta leis an aersheirbhís go hOileáin Árann; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [39505/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Mar is eol don Teachta, rinne mo Roinn athbhreithniú a choimisiúnú anuraidh ar an tseirbhís aeir i gcomhréir leis an Rialachán AE. Léirigh an t-athbhreithniú a rinne EY go raibh cás socheacnamaíoch ann don tseirbhís aeir. Léiríodh fosta go raibh sé riachtanach sábháiltí a bhaint amach i gcomhthéacs an mhéadaithe de 136% a bhí tagtha ar chostas na seirbhíse aeir le linn na tréimhse athbhreithnithe 2003-2013 a bhí faoi chaibidil sa tuarascáil. Bhí an tuarascáil seo iomlán cuimsitheach agus bhí dualgas ar mo Roinn an tuarascáil a chur san áireamh agus í i mbun phróisis tairisceana don tseirbhís aeir. Bunaithe ar mholtaí an athbhreithnithe, cuireadh próiseas tairisceana ar bun chun conradh a aontú don tseirbhís aeir don tréimhse ón 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2015 go dtí an 30 Meán Fómhair 2019. Is í an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais a bhí i mbun an phróisis tairisceana a reáchtáil thar ceann mo Roinne i gcomhréir leis an Rialachán AE.
Le linn an phróisis tairisceana, tháinig sé chun solais go raibh éiginnteacht ag baint le hAerfort na Gaillimhe a bheith ar fáil don tairgeoir roghnaithe don tréimhse iomlán ceithre bliana den chonradh a bhí beartaithe. Tar éis do mo Roinn soiléiriú a fháil maidir leis seo, tógadh an cinneadh go raibh údair oibiachtúla ann chun deireadh a chur leis an bpróiseas tairisceana. Cuireadh an cinneadh sin in iúl do na tairgeoirí agus chuaigh mo Roinn i mbun idirbheartaíochta leis an soláthraí reatha chun conradh eatramhach bliana a aontú go 30 Meán Fómhair 2016. Rinneadh é seo ar mhaithe le cinntiú go leanfadh an tseirbhís aeir. Tá na téarmaí agus na coinníollacha céanna ann faoin gconradh reatha is a bhí ann faoin gconradh roimhe seo.
Le linn na tréimhse atá amach romhainn, beidh mo Roinn, i gcomhar leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais, ag tabhairt faoi phróiseas tairisceana úr chun conradh ceithre bliana a aontú don tréimhse ó 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2016. Déanfar é seo i gcomhréir leis na riachtanais dhlíthiúla faoi na rialacha náisiúnta soláthair agus an Rialachán AE ábhartha. Chun cloí leis an Rialachán AE, caithfear nóta eolais faoin bpróiseas tairisceana a fhoilsiú in Iris Oifigiúil an AE faoin 30 Márta 2016. Tá agus beidh mo Roinnse i ndáil chomhairle le pobal Oileáin Árann agus páirtithe leasmhara eile mar chuid den phróiseas seo.
National Library
Ceisteanna (42)
Catherine Byrne
Ceist:42. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps she will take to address the challenges at the National Library of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39497/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Library is one of our foremost National Cultural Institutions, charged with collecting, preserving, promoting and making accessible the documentary and intellectual record of the life of Ireland. I am acutely aware of the challenges facing the National Library, and indeed other cultural institutions, following the significant reduction of resources available to the Exchequer as a result of the economic crisis. These are significant challenges which will not be fixed overnight and will most likely take a number of years to address.
Thanks to the fact that the economy has improved, I was in a position to secure an additional €2 million in once-off funding for our National Cultural Institutions in late 2014, as part of the 2015 Revised Estimates. This included an increased allocation of €600,000 for the National Library.
The funding was aimed at addressing specific issues in a number of key institutions, including the National Library. While this funding was originally secured on a once-off basis, I was pleased to retain it again for 2016. It should be noted that the Library will also benefit from additional funding under the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme next year.
In relation to the security of the collection, I am aware that the Library gives this issue the highest priority and, where incidents have arisen, they have brought in appropriate expert advice to assist them. I was also pleased to recently approve a new post in the National Library for a security and facilities manager, which will be key to managing and planning the storage and security of the Library’s collection.
It is widely acknowledged that the Library holds a significant amount of its collection in an historic Victorian era building, which would not meet modern standards in terms of environmental and other controls.
I will shortly be making a positive announcement about the development of a capital investment plan for the Library's Kildare Street building. I am confident that those plans will allow the Library to continue to deliver on its core objectives, including the protection and conservation of its collections.
Commemorative Events
Ceisteanna (43)
Maureen O'Sullivan
Ceist:43. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans, if any, to mark the role played in the Easter Rising 1916 by the original Carrisbrook House on 122 Northumberland Road in Dublin, D04 A295; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39536/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are no current plans to mark the role played by Carrisbrook House, 122 Northumberland Road, Dublin in the Easter Rising 1916.
Fisheries Protection
Ceisteanna (44)
Denis Naughten
Ceist:44. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason her Department has not performed an assessment of the impact the Asian Clam infestation in the Shannon River at Lanesborough in County Longford may have on the Lough Ree special area of conservation and special protection area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39263/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is concerned about the possible impact of Asian Clam in Lough Ree, but also aware of the great practical difficulty in eradication and/or prevention of its spread once it has arrived in any river system, as is the case in this instance. I understand that the Asian Clam has been found in surveys by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in Lough Ree. It is currently unclear to what extent the clam is likely to colonise the lake and to what extent it might affect the lake biodiversity over and above the impact of other invasive species already present there. My Department will continue to liaise with IFI on this matter.
Departmental Consultations
Ceisteanna (45)
Bernard Durkan
Ceist:45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the status of the consultation process for Culture 2025; when the document will be finalised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39498/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
At its meeting on 20th June 2014, the Government approved the drafting of a National Cultural Policy, Culture 2025, which will set out the high level aims and policies of the Government in this area in the period up until 2025. The broad aim of Culture 2025 will be to reinforce the crucial role of culture in society by supporting the cultural sector and providing the conditions which will allow the sector to develop and flourish across all sectors of society. Culture 2025 will seek to reflect the modern multi-cultural Ireland and will be uplifting, accessible, relevant and easy to communicate.
To facilitate public consultation on the proposed policy my Department published a discussion document on 8th August last.
My Department followed this up by holding a series of local workshops to enable people across the country to have their views heard. Meetings took place in Cavan, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny and Dublin.
The Dublin event followed the participative World Café model and was held under the Open Public Debates programme. Over 600 people have attended the consultation events and over 200 written submissions have been received. The closing date for receipt of submissions was 31st October 2015.
My Department also established both an Experts Group and a Steering Group made up of cultural stakeholders who are inputting into the consultation and drafting process.
The feedback from the regional meetings and the submissions received will now be examined in detail as part of the process of drafting the cultural policy. I intend that this will be a high level and living document to set out the framework of cultural policy for the next decade.
I intend to submit the policy document to Government in due course with the intention of publishing it early in the New Year.
Carer's Allowance Applications
Ceisteanna (46)
Pat Breen
Ceist:46. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when a decision on an application for a carer's allowance will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare. [39793/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person concerned was in receipt of carer’s allowance (CA) up to 30 September 2015 when, following a review of entitlement, it was determined that the care recipient no longer required full-time care and attention and that CA was no longer payable.
Recently, additional evidence has been submitted by the applicant and is being reviewed. Once the review is completed, the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.
Invalidity Pension Appeals
Ceisteanna (47)
Brian Walsh
Ceist:47. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if an appeal in respect of an invalidity pension will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39799/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 1 October 2015. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. When these papers have been received from the Department, the case in question will be referred to an Appeals Officer who will make a summary decision on the appeal based on the documentary evidence presented or, if required, hold an oral appeal hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements.
Disability Allowance Eligibility
Ceisteanna (48)
Michael Creed
Ceist:48. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection when the entitlement to a disability benefit of a person (details supplied) in County Cork will expire; the entitlements the person will then have to a disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39809/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Since January 2009 illness benefit is payable for a maximum of two years, i.e. 624 days.
The person concerned made a claim to illness benefit from 20 Jan 2014 and is currently receiving illness benefit at a graduated rate, plus a top up of supplementary welfare allowance. Their entitlement for payment of illness benefit will expire on 16 Jan 2016. Notification confirming the expiry date issued to the person concerned this week. According to our records, my department received a claim for invalidity pension from the person concerned on 19 June 2015.
The person concerned was refused invalidity pension on the grounds that, based upon the evidence supplied, the medical conditions for the scheme were not satisfied. This claim is currently under appeal.
Disability allowance is a weekly allowance for people with a disability aged between 16 and 66. The disability must be expected to last at least one year. The person concerned must pass a medical exam, a means test and be habitually resident in Ireland to get the allowance. No application for disability allowance from the person concerned has been received in my department to date. Further information on disability allowance is available on my department's website www.welfare.ie.
If the person concerned is still unable to meet their needs or the needs of their household, when their illness benefit expires, they may be entitled to an increase in their supplementary welfare allowance. The person concerned may wish to discuss this matter with the department's community welfare service at their local Intreo centre.