Written Answers Nos 212-231
212. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount provided under the capital plan for the 1916 commemorations, Ireland 2016; the amount spent to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18830/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra213. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount provided under the capital plan for the national cultural institutions; the amount spent to date; the progress made to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18831/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra214. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount provided under the capital plan for regional arts and cultural centres; the amount spent to date; the progress made to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18832/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 212 to 214, inclusive, together
The Exchequer Capital Investment Framework published in 2015 Building on Recovery Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2016-2021 provides for a capital envelope for my Department in its then configuration of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht of €302 million. This envelope includes provision of €178 million on aggregate for the Arts, Culture and Film Programme area of my Department over the duration of the plan.
This provision includes the dedicated funding for the wide ranging Ireland 2016 capital programme as well as capital infrastructure funding for the National Cultural Institutions and regional arts and cultural centres.
2016 was the first year of the 5 year framework covered by the capital plan and the provisional capital outturn for the Arts, Culture and Film programme area is €35 million.
215. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she travelled abroad as part of the St. Patrick's Day celebrations; the locations she travelled to; the duration of the trip; the cost of the trip, including travel and accommodation in addition to other expenses incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18889/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI travelled to Sweden and Denmark on a five day trade and culture mission as part of the St Patrick's Day celebrations, accompanied by my Special Adviser. During the course of the mission, I visited Gothenburg, Stockholm and Copenhagen where I undertook a range of cultural, tourism and economic engagements.
St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of publicity and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country. Ministerial visits around this period are organised to ensure that we use this exposure to maximise the promotion of Ireland’s trade, tourism and investment interests and to spread a positive message about Ireland remaining a committed member of the EU.
A full itinerary was planned in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to this end. Details of the full itinerary of this visit are available on my Department's website at the following link:
http://www.ahrrga.gov.ie/minister-humphreys-begins-trade-and-culture-mission-to-sweden-and-denmark/
The total cost of the flights was €1,672. No other transport costs were incurred by my Department. The total cost of gifts was €80. I am advised that details of some other costs in respect of this visit are not currently to hand. I will arrange for these to be collated and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they become available.
216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if funding is available to renovate an old thatch cottage (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18995/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFinancial support is provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings, including the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Structures at Risk Fund and other initiatives operated by the Heritage Council.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures (i.e. structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures). The scheme is expected to support over three hundred projects across the country in 2017 and to create employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas.
The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. Structures must be on the local authority Record of Protected Structures. The fund, administered through the local authorities, seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost.
While both of the above schemes were open for applications throughout the month of February and the closing dates have now passed, my Department will work closely with the local authorities throughout the year in order to ensure that the best possible use is made of all funds within the schemes, including by reallocating funds where necessary when projects do not proceed within agreed timeframes.
The circulars setting out the terms and conditions of the schemes are available on all local authority websites, and on my Department’s website. Any enquiries should be directed to the relevant local authority.
In the context of a particular building, especially one which is on the Record of Protected Structures, the best advice for the owner may be to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer of the local authority who will be able to advise on the various types of funding available to assist with the building.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually having regard to competing priorities for limited resources. Grant schemes for 2017 are advertised by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie .
My Department does not administer a funding scheme specifically for thatched structures. However, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government administers a grant scheme for the renewal or repair of thatched roofs of owner occupied houses. Full details are available from their website or by contacting the Thatching Grants Section of that Department.
217. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an gcuirfidh sí faisnéis ar fáil i bhfoirm tábla maidir leis an leibhéal maoinithe a dáileadh ar an bhForas Teanga go bliantúil thar an tréimhse 2014-2016 agus maidir leis an leithdháileadh maoinithe le haghaidh 2017; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [19015/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, tá an Foras Teanga mar cheann de na 6 chomhlacht forfheidhmithe a bunaíodh faoin Acht um Chomhaontú na Breataine-na hÉireann 1999 agus tá sé comhdhéanta de dhá áisíneacht ar leith, eadhon, Foras na Gaeilge agus Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise.
Sa chomhthéacs sin, cuirtear maoiniú ar fáil don bhForas Teanga ó mo Roinnse agus ón Roinn Pobal i dTuaisceart Éireann de réir bhuiséid a bhíonn ceadaithe ag an gComhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas. Déantar Foras na Gaeilge a chómhaoiniú ar bhonn 75% ó mo Roinn agus 25% ón Roinn Pobal. Déantar Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise a chómhaoiniú ar bhonn 25% ó mo Roinn agus 75% ón Roinn Pobal. Anuas air sin, cuireann mo Roinn maoiniú breise ar fáil d'Fhoras na Gaeilge i ndáil le nithe imfhálaithe mar a bhaineann le Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge agus Colmcille.
Tá briseadh síos ar mhaoiniú mo Roinne sna blianta 2014-2016 á léiriú sa tábla seo a leanas. Maidir leis an mbliain 2016, is fiú dom a shoiléiriú gur chuir mo Roinn maoiniú breise €260,681 ar fáil d’Fhoras na Gaeilge agus €20,976 ar fáil do Ghníomhaireacht na hUltaise in 2016 lasmuigh de na buiséid a bhí ceadaithe ag an gComhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas.
|
- |
2014 € |
2015 € |
2016 € |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
11,518,979.99 |
11,395,124.00 |
11,347,865.00 |
|
Clár na Leabhar Gaeilge |
1,117,395.00 |
1,105,380.00 |
1,061,165.00 |
|
Colmcille |
74,715.14 |
113,645.91 |
118,518.37 |
|
Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise |
758,282.36 |
853,719.39 |
721,862.35 |
|
Iomlán |
13,469,372.49 |
13,467,869.30 |
13,249,410.72 |
Is é €13.989m an soláthar táscach sna Meastacháin Athbhreithnithe 2017 ó dheas chun freastal ar na búiséid a bheidh ceadaithe ag an gComhairle Aireachta Thuaidh Theas amach anseo don bhForas Teanga, mar aon le maoiniú imfhálaithe do Chlár na Leabhar Gaeilge agus Cholmcille.
218. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an gcuirfidh sí faisnéis ar fáil i bhfoirm tábla maidir leis an leibhéal maoinithe a dháil Údarás na Gaeltachta ar cheantair Ghaeltachta de réir contae go bliantúil thar an tréimhse 2014-2016 agus maidir leis an leithdháileadh maoinithe le haghaidh 2017; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [19016/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFoilsíonn Údarás na Gaeltachta an t-eolas atá á lorg ag an Teachta ina dTuarascáil Bhliantúil agus Cuntais a leagtar faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais gach bliain. Tá Tuarascáil Bhliantúil agus Cuntais na heagraíochta do na blianta 2014 agus 2015 leagtha faoi bhráid Tithe an Oireachtais cheana féin agus tá siad ar fáil ar an idirlíon ag: http://www.udaras.ie/faoin-udaras/foilseachain/tuarascalacha-bliantula-agus-raitis. Leagfar na cinn a bhaineann leis na blianta 2016 agus 2017 faoi bhráid Thithe an Oireachtais in am trátha.
219. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta an gcuirfidh sí faisnéis ar fáil i bhfoirm tábla maidir leis an leibhéal maoinithe a dáileadh ar an straitéis 20 bliain don Ghaeilge go bliantúil thar an tréimhse 2014-2016 agus maidir leis an leithdháileadh maoinithe le haghaidh 2017; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [19017/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAr mhaithe le tacú le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge agus leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga mar a leagtar amach é in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, cuireadh soláthar airgid faoi leith ar fáil sna blianta 2014-2017 briste síos mar seo a leanas:
|
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
€499,000 |
€546,000 |
€1,000,000 |
€1,250,000 |
De thoradh an ardaithe in 2017, fágfaidh sé go mbeidh sé ar chumas mo Roinne leanúint ar aghaidh agus raon leathan bearta faoi leith a thacóidh ar bhealach praiticiúil le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise agus an phróisis phleanála teanga araon a mhaoiniú in 2017. Chuige sin, d'fhógair mé le gairid go raibh allúntais gur fiú €735,000 ceadaithe agam d'Údarás na Gaeltachta agus €115,000 d'Fhoras na Gaeilge chun cur ar a gcumas an próiseas pleanála teanga a bhrú chun cinn. Mar thoradh ar an allúntas sin, beidh ar chumas Údarás na Gaeltachta:
- Tús a chur le feidhmiú pleananna i suas le 13 limistéar sa Ghaeltacht;
- Tacú le fostú Oifigeach Gaeilge le cúram a dhéanamh d'fheidhmiú phlean teanga i ngach limistéar.
- Tús a chur leis an bpróiseas sa trí Limistéar Pleanála Teanga Ghaeltachta atá fanta: Bearna agus Cnoc na Cathrach, Oirthear Chathair na Gaillimhe agus an tEachréidh.
- An próiseas a bhrú chun cinn mar a bhaineann sé le hullmhú pleananna teanga sna Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta: Daingean Uí Chúis, Béal an Mhuirthead agus An Clochán Liath.
Ina theannta sin, beidh ar chumas Fhoras na Gaeilge:
- Tús a chur le próiseas ullmhúcháin na mBailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta i gCathair na Gaillimhe, i gCathair Chorcaí, i Leitir Ceanainn, i dTrá Lí agus i nDún Garbhán chomh maith leis na Líonraí Gaeilge i gCluain Dolcáin, Inis, Co an Chláir agus Baile Loch Riach, Co na Gaillimhe a bhrú chun cinn.
Beidh an fuílleach den €1.25m á chaitheamh ag mo Roinn i mbliana ar bheartais ar leith san earnáil dhigiteach chun cabhrú le cur i bhfeidhm na Straitéise.
Is mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta chomh maith nach bhfuil an chistíocht atá curtha ar fáil ón Státchiste chun an Straitéis 20-Bliain a chur i bhfeidhm teoranta don mhaoiniú atá luaite sa tábla thuas. Is tionscadal tras-Rialtais í an Straitéis 20-Bliain don Ghaeilge a bhfuil réimsí seirbhísí Stáit luaite inti. San áireamh anseo, tá na scéimeanna Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta uile atá á riaradh ag mo Roinn fhéin, ag Foras na Gaeilge agus ag Údarás na Gaeltachta chomh maith le seirbhísí chuimsitheacha an stáit, in earnálacha an oideachais, an luathoideachais agus an chraolacháin ach go háirithe.
220. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount provided under the capital plan for the information technology infrastructure across her Department; the amount spent to date; the progress to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19283/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo funding is provided in the Department’s Vote under the capital plan for IT infrastructure other than a modest annual provision of €602,000 within the Department’s administration budget for its own IT requirements.
221. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the reorganisation of maternity services; the amount spent; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18765/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra222. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the national maternity hospital at St Vincent’s Hospital; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18766/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra223. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the reorganisation of maternity services (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18767/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra224. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for the reorganisation of maternity services (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18768/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra225. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for reorganisation of maternity services (details supplied); the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18769/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 221 to 225, inclusive, together.
The model of stand-alone maternity hospitals is not the norm internationally. Government policy is therefore to co-locate all remaining maternity hospitals with adult acute services in order to provide optimal clinical outcomes. Co-location of maternity services with adult services provides mothers with access to a full range of medical and support services should the need arise. Tri-location with paediatric services ensures immediate access on-site to paediatric services when foetal or neonatal surgery is required. The availability of these services helps ensure the delivery of an optimum, safe service, particularly for high risk mothers and babies.
On 10 March, a planning application for the new National Maternity Hospital was submitted to An Bord Pleanála (ABP). As such, it is not possible to provide definitive time frames at this early stage. However, I expect that, subject to a positive determination by ABP, the project will be completed in 2021/2022. In any event the tendering process has not been completed or contracts signed and for reasons of commercial sensitivity it is not considered appropriate to disclose the estimated funding required to complete this project at this time.
The other three maternity hospital projects are at a very early stage in development and it would be premature to project any indicative time frames for completion, or cost estimates, at this point. Costs will of course differ from project to project and will be determined, in part, by any requirement to upgrade facilities at the host hospital
To date no Exchequer capital has been expended on the Rotunda, Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital and University Maternity Hospital Limerick relocation projects. As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure incurred to date on the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital to the St Vincent's University Hospital campus.
My Department is working with the HSE to inform our submission for the Midterm Capital Review and the maternity strategy will be addressed in the context of the work being undertaken in this regard.
226. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for national forensic mental health services PPP; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18770/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra227. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for new specialist intensive care rehab units at Galway; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18771/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra228. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for new specialist intensive care rehab units at Cork; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18772/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra229. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for new specialist intensive care rehab units at Galway and Portrane; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18773/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 226 to 229, inclusive, together.
The provision of new facilities, or other non-capital initiatives, to enhance forensic mental health provision nationally is central to modernising mental health services in line with the strategy document A Vision for Change. The delivery of the replacement facility for Central Mental Hospital at Portrane and the ICRUs is a phased project. The approved HSE Capital Programme supports the completion of the development at Portrane with the feasibility study to be progressed on Phase II - the relevant ICRUs. Nevertheless, my Department and the HSE will continue to assess delivery strategies and progress as appropriate the ICRU initiatives in the context of evolving service priorities and resource availability.
No national forensic mental health services project is funded as a PPP project. The HSE is responsible for the construction of replacement national forensic mental health facilities at Portrane. This project would comprise the bulk of funding allocated for national forensic mental health services over the multi-annual period 2016-2021. The award process for the contract to construct the Portrane development is not yet complete, but is expected to be completed shortly. At this time, for reasons of commercial sensitivity it is not considered appropriate to disclose the funding required to complete this project. Assuming that there are no construction related issues encountered, it is currently projected that construction will be completed in 2019 with a view to the new facility opening in early 2020, following equipping, commissioning and final fit-out stages.
The HSE has advised that the capital expenditure to date on this project is €7.8m
230. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for new cancer research departments at Cork University Hospital, including five linear accelerators; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18774/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra231. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the amount provided under the capital plan for new cancer research departments at University Hospital Galway, including four linear accelerators; the amount spent to date; the expected completion date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18775/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together.
The provision of new facilities, or other non-capital initiatives, to enhance cancer services nationally is central to modernising cancer care and ensuring that all patients who require cancer treatment in Ireland receive high quality care. There is an on-going need to develop radiation oncology facilities in line with the National Plan for Radiation Oncology. This will include new facilities in both Cork and Galway, including the provision of one extra linear accelerator in each hospital.
Work on the new radiation oncology facility at Cork University Hospital is underway. Assuming that there are no construction related issues encountered it is currently projected that the new facility could be fully operational by the end of 2019. As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure to date and the projected expenditure to complete the project.
Planning permission has been granted in respect of the facility at University Hospital Galway. Construction of the project must await the completion of the replacement acute mental health service department which is currently underway, as the NPRO project will be constructed on the site of the existing mental health building. Enabling works including the construction of the replacement mental health building are on-going. Again, assuming that there are no construction related issues encountered it is currently projected that the new facility could be fully operational by mid-2021. At this time the tendering process has not been completed or contracts signed and for reasons of commercial sensitivity it is not considered appropriate to disclose the estimated funding required to complete this project. As the Health Service Executive is responsible for the delivery of health care projects, the Executive has been requested to reply to you in relation to expenditure incurred to date on this project.
