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Thursday, 28 Jan 2016

Written Answers Nos. 390-394

National Parks Closures

Ceisteanna (390)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

390. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the situation in relation to Diamond Hill, Letterfrack in County Galway, the upper trail of which is currently closed due to maintenance, when it was closed, and when it will reopen; what maintenance works are being carried out; the reasons for the works; the cost of such works; who is carrying them out; how many persons visited Diamond Hill in 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3601/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In 2015 approximately 200,000 people visited Connemara National Park and most of these would have visited at least part of the Diamond Walk. The Upper Diamond Walk has been closed intermittently since December to facilitate essential health and safety maintenance work. The Lower Diamond is unaffected by the works.

This restorative work includes remediating subsidence and the general maintenance works necessary to make the walkway safe for the general public. Stone slabs and gravel are being used and due to the location, these were transported to the site by helicopter. The work has been carried out at intervals depending on prevailing weather conditions.

The work cost approximately €49,000 and is being carried out by Walsh Stoneworks. It is expected that works will be completed in the coming days and the walkway will reopen as soon it is safe to do so.

Consultancy Contracts Data

Ceisteanna (391)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

391. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the name, costs, date of commission, date or expected date of publication and name of the external consultant of all external reports commissioned by her Department since March 2011. [3761/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The details requested by the Deputy in respect of reports commissioned by my Department since its establishment in June 2011 are set out in the following table.

The Deputy may wish to note that the University of Birmingham was commissioned in 2010 by the then Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, prior to the establishment of my Department, to undertake a review relating to peatlands. The resulting report, "Review of Archaeological Survey and Mitigation Policy relating to Bord na Móna Peatlands " was published in June 2013 and the associated costs of €34,337 were met by my Department.

For completeness, I would point out that my Department commissions engineering or environmental experts from time to time to provide technical reports on specific issues, as required. While the providers of these services are consultant engineers, environmental consultants or may describe themselves in other such terms, their work is not classified as consultancy services and is not funded from my Department's Administrative Budget. Similarly, contracts for the provision of services are not classified as consultancy services and any reports produced by the contractors in the course of such contracts are not included.

Year Report Commissioned

Company

Report

Amount paid from 2 June 2011 to date

2011

Avia Solutions

Review of financial submissions relating to the PSO Air Service for the Aran Islands (not for publication)

€6,300

2012

Bonnar Keenlyside

Review of Dublin Contemporary 2011 (not for publication)

€10,959

2013

Dorgan Associates

Cost Benefit Analysis of National Archives Development Plan (not for publication at this time)

€12,669

2013

Dorgan Associates

Cost Benefit Analysis of National Gallery Redevelopment Project

(published April 2015)

€12,731

2013/14

Dorgan Associates

Examination of capital incentives to promote investment in film studio infrastructure (not for publication)

€6,765

2014

EY

Review of PSO Air Service for the Aran Islands

(published May 2014)

€41,795

2014

Fitzpatrick Associates

Updated Business Case on restoring the Ulster Canal from Lough Erne to Clones

(published February 2015)

€15,190.50

2015

Public Affairs Ireland

Review of structure and grading of senior management posts within Údarás na Gaeltachta (to be published when signed off)

€17,617

2015

Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge, NUIG

Summary report on consultative process and Open Policy Debate regarding the 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 (in preparation; to be published in due course)

€7,123 (estimated)

Public Inquiries

Ceisteanna (392)

Lucinda Creighton

Ceist:

392. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations for which she or her Department have been responsible by name; by terms of reference; by cost including the cost to date where an inquiry has not been concluded; by date including the projected date of conclusion where an inquiry has not been concluded from 1991 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3776/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Since its establishment in 2011, my Department has not been responsible for any for tribunals of inquiry, commissions of inquiry or investigations as described by the Deputy.

Ministerial Allowances

Ceisteanna (393)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

393. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expenses claimed, including the amount of mileage and the amount claimed, by her and Ministers of State of her Department, by calendar year, during the current Dáil Éireann, in tabular form. [3804/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information sought by the Deputy, which relates to my own expenses and those of my predecessor, as well as the expenses claimed by the Minister of State for the Gaeltacht and his predecessor, is set out below in tabular format.

Year

Total mileage for Ministers and Ministers of State

Total expenses (including mileage) for Ministers and Ministers of State

2011

€29,530

€32,681

2012

€46,004

€53,226

2013

€41,095

€47,097

2014

€37,547

€42,474

2015

€39,826

€51,555

2016 to date

€2,580

€2,580

All expenditure related exclusively to official business on behalf of my Department or the Government, and has been incurred in full conformity with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidance on such matters.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (394)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

394. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount she spent on media clipping and media monitoring services in each calendar year from 2011 to 2015. [3819/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested by the Deputy in respect of annual expenditure by my Department's Press Office in relation to media clipping and monitoring services since its establishment in June 2011 is as set out as follows:

Year

Expenditure

2011

€9,197

2012

€17,836

2013

€18,596

2014

€32,976

2015

€26,092

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