Written Answers Nos. 274 - 284
274. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his views on the operation of Eircode to date; if the system is being fully used by An Post; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43245/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraEircodes are an essential piece of the national postal infrastructure. Public sector bodies, particularly those with large customer facing operations, have started using Eircodes in customer engagement and this process will continue over the coming months. In accordance with the contract for the development and maintenance of Eircodes, my Department has put in place reporting structures with Capita which will, inter alia, include information on the commercial use of the Eircode system. Since the launch, a total of 23 Value Added Resellers have been signed up to develop and sell products and services using Eircode databases.
An Post, as universal service provider, was engaged in the design phase of the national postcode project and the Eircodes are fully integrated with An Post mails sortation systems. An Post were also heavily involved in the dissemination of the Eircode to 2.2 million residential and business addresses following the project's launch.
Both the CEO and Mails Operations Director of An Post have stated publicly that An Post will use Eircodes in their mail operations.
275. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the provision of traffic route lighting on the Bandon bypass in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43248/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including lighting) is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.
In view of this, I would suggest to the Deputy that he pursue the matter directly with the Local Authority as I have no function in respect of this matter.
276. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of discussions between his Department, Kildare County Council and the authorities at Maynooth College in County Kildare regarding proposals for a new swimming pool in north Kildare; if it will be a public pool or if it will provide shared facilities with ready public access; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43421/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme grant aid to a maximum of €3.8 million is provided to local authorities towards the capital costs of new swimming pools or the refurbishment of existing pools. The current round of the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme was closed to new applicants on 31 July 2000. Since 2000, 58 projects have or are being dealt with under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme of which 50 have been completed and the other 8 projects are at various stages of the Programme. I wish to commence the process of opening a new limited round of swimming pool allocations and I have asked my departmental officials to report back to me on this proposal as soon as possible.
As the Deputy is aware I met with Kildare County Council and a number of public representatives, including Deputy Durkan, in mid July. It was agreed that Kildare County Council would write to my Department on the matter but no submission has yet been received.
277. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when a decision will be made on the applications under the voluntary bog purchase scheme regarding sites in category 2 natural heritage areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43306/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network, published in January 2014, provides detail on future arrangements regarding turf cutting on each of the 75 current raised bog natural heritage areas. The Review has concluded that Ireland could more effectively achieve conservation of threatened raised bog habitat through focused protection and restoration of a reconfigured network. This will entail the phasing out of turf cutting on certain natural heritage areas by 1 January 2017 and the partial or complete de-designation of certain natural heritage areas.
46 raised bog natural heritage areas (including parts of 7 natural heritage areas) are scheduled for de-designation. These sites are also known as category 2 natural heritage areas.
Regulatory change will be required to give full effect to the de-designation of the sites. The appropriate form of this change is being considered within my Department and I expect that the process will be completed by early 2016.
The position of applicants under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme, with bog plots in category 2 natural heritage areas, is also being considered within my Department.
278. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht why she has not advertised the vacant position on the board of the Irish Film Board; when she intends to do it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43333/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis vacancy is now advertised on the Public Appointments Service website at http://www.stateboards.ie/stateboards/campaignAdvert/24939.htm. The closing date is 4 January 2016.
279. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if women producers are adequately represented in the Irish film industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43334/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility 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 (IFB). The IFB recently acknowledged that an under-representation of women exists in Irish Film and I would be happy to support any initiatives suggested by the IFB to address this imbalance.
280. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad airgead a íocadh amach faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i 2010 le hais 2015; cén soláthar atá ann don scéim seo i 2016; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [43348/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá sonraí maidir leis an méid airgid a íocadh amach faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i 2010 le hais 2015 sa tábla thíos.
|
Contae |
2010 |
2015 |
|
Co. Dhún na nGall |
€762,845.20 |
€697,816.00 |
|
Co. Mhaigh Eo |
€381,728.00 |
€289,900.00 |
|
Co. na Gaillimhe |
€2,548,891.00 |
€2,162,230.00 |
|
Co. Chiarraí |
€442,014.85 |
€321,808.00 |
|
Co. Chorcaí |
€273,630.00 |
€81,638.00 |
|
Co. Phort Láirge |
€231,660.00 |
€85,577.00 |
|
Co. na Mí |
€40,820.00 |
€57,000.00 |
|
Co. an Chláir |
€46,260.00 |
€9,998.00 |
|
IOMLÁN |
€4,727,849.05 |
€3,705,967.00 |
Faoi fo-mhírcheann C3 beidh soláthar de €6m ar fáil do mo Roinn i 2016 le haghaidh Scéimeanna Tacaíochta sa Ghaeltacht ina measc Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge.
281. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé na comhráite a bhí aici le páirtithe leasmhara go dtí seo maidir leis an gconradh nua don tSeirbhís Aeir go dtí Oileáin Árann a bheidh á chur amach ar tairiscint an bhliain seo chugainn; cé leis a raibh na comhráite; cén toradh a bhí orthu; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [43349/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá mo Roinn i ndáil leis an Oifig um Sholáthar Rialtais le tabhairt faoi phróiseas soláthar poiblí d’fhonn conradh do sheirbhís aeir d’Oileáin Árann a aontú. Tá an réamhullmhúchán don phróiseas sin tosaithe cheana féin agus mar chuid dó beidh cruinniú idir oifigigh na Roinne agus ionadaithe ó na hoileáin inniu, an 3ú Nollaig. Is é seo an chéad cruinniú leis na hionadaithe maidir leis an bpróiseas úr agus táim muiníneach go mbeidh sé tairbhiúil don dá thaobh.
282. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Chun a fhiafraí den Aire Gaeltachta cad é an líon post i Roinn na Gaeltachta atá folamh, cad iad na poist atá i gceist, cé chomh fada is atá siad folamh agus cad iad na céimeanna atá á nglacadh aige chun na folúntais a líonadh. [43350/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá curtha in iúl dom nach bhfuil líon áirithe post ag mo Roinn. Déantar bearna a mheas, de réir mar a thagann siad chun cinn ar fud na Roinne, trí phróiseas pleanála don fhórsa oibre, ag féachaint go cuí do threoracha, treoirlínte agus ciorcláin ar sholáthar foirne ón Roinn Caiteachais Phoiblí agus Athchóirithe. Faoi láthair tá 50 ball foirne sannta do Rannán na Gaeltachta i mo Roinn. Tá soláthar foirne an rannáin faoi réir athbhreithnithe leanúnaigh tríd an bpróiseas pleanála don fhórsa oibre lena chinntiú go mbaintear leas cuí agus éifeachtach as na hacmhainní atá ar fáil i bhfianaise na riachtanas agus tosaíochtaí gnó atá ag teacht chun cinn.
283. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad é an líon post i bhForas na Gaeilge atá folamh, cad iad na poist atá i gceist, cé chomh fada is atá siad folamh agus cad iad na céimeanna atá á nglacadh aici chun na folúntais a líonadh. [43351/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI dtosach báire, ba chóir dom a mheabhrú don Teachta go bhfuil Foras na Gaeilge mar áisíneacht den fhoras forfheidhmithe trasteorann, An Foras Teanga. Dá réir sin, tá na socruithe foirne cuí leagtha amach san Acht um Chomhaontú na Breataine-na hÉireann 1999. Go hachomair, tá Foras na Gaeilge freagrach as an gcúram earcaíochta faoi réir an líon agus struchtúr foirne atá ceadaithe ag na hAirí Airgeadais sa dá dhlínse agus an Chomhrúnaíocht Aireachta Thuaidh Theas.
Tuigtear dom ó Fhoras na Gaeilge go bhfuil folúntas ag leibhéal oifigeach feidhmiúcháin san áisíneacht ó mhí Lúnasa 2015 agus go bhfuil na céimeanna cuí ar bun chun an post sin a fhógairt tar éis na Nollag.
284. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad é an líon post in Údarás na Gaeltachta atá folamh, cad iad na poist atá i gceist, cé chomh fada is atá siad folamh agus cad iad na céimeanna atá á nglacadh aici chun na folúntais a líonadh. [43352/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuigim ó Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil líon iomlán foirne na heagraíochta ag an leibhéal atá údaraithe dóibh faoin gCreat um Rialú Fostaíochta agus dá réir sin níl aon fholúntas inlíonta san eagraíocht faoi láthair.
