Written Answers Nos 690-706
690. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has satisfied herself that an altered application by Inland Fisheries Ireland (details supplied) complies fully with all current national, EU, and international legislation relating to such foreshore licence applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19223/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra691. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if Inland Fisheries Ireland is the competent authority under the current EU Appropriate Assessment Directive to conduct the appropriate assessment screening of its own project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19224/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 690 and 691 together.
I understand that the matters raised in the questions relate to a foreshore application by Inland Fisheries Ireland in connection with the continuation of a research study on the movements and migrations of juvenile salmon and sea trout into and through Galway Bay. As consideration of foreshore licenses is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government under the relevant legislation, questions in relation to compliance with legislation are not a matter for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs but for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.
692. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the scheme which is planned to encourage persons to take up residential occupancy of premises in towns and villages as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19244/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 13 April 2017. This Scheme will focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. A fund of €20 million has been made available under the Scheme to support the rejuvenation of up to 300 rural towns and villages over the next 15 months. The closing date for applications is 30 June 2017. I strongly believe that if we want to breathe life back into our rural towns and villages, we need to support more people to live in town and village centres. In this context, I plan to launch a pilot scheme in the second half of the year to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages.
Details of this initiative are being finalised in consultation with relevant Departments. The pilot will examine ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town and village centres can be restored or renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes.
693. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when she envisages rolling out the share value post office pilot scheme to post offices across the country; when a review will be carried out on the four post offices currently participating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19293/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI recently presented the final report of the Post Office Hub Working Group to the Government, in line with a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government. This report examined the potential for Post Offices to act as hubs of economic and social activity, particularly in rural communities.
It recommended that a project to test the concept of Shared Value Co-located Post Offices should be piloted, initially at four locations, with a view to the further roll out of the model if proven successful.
It will be a matter for An Post, in collaboration with the Irish Postmasters Union, to identify and agree the details of any such pilot and the specific offices to be included in the trial.
There have been a number of developments in relation to the postal services generally since the Programme for a Partnership Government was agreed last May, including the commissioning by An Post of a root and branch review of the company.
Overall responsibility for the postal sector, including the governance of An Post, falls under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and, in light of developments in the sector, it has been agreed that all aspects of the postal services, including the Post Office network, should now be under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment.
694. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of investigations into illegal gorse fires taking place in 2017; the procedures her Department currently follows to ensure section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1975, as amended, is adhered to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19320/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant environmental damage is caused by wildfires and the issue has become more acute in recent years. The primary responsibility in terms of fire fighting lies with the Fire Service and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. With regard to gorse fires in particular, my Department is one of a number of agencies represented on the Inter-Agency Gorse Fire Group that explores issues surrounding such fires. An Garda Síochána is also represented on the Group and leads any criminal investigation. My Department, of course, cooperates fully with any Garda investigations and any other investigations that may be initiated by other statutory bodies.
The main source of wild gorse fires is thought to be the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the consequences. Aside from such malicious activities, one of the main challenges is to encourage members of the public, (including landowners, farmers and recreational users of publicly accessible land), to act responsibly at all times, to be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, to be mindful of the need to protect property, both publicly owned and privately owned and to appreciate the value of our natural heritage, particularly in our National Parks, Nature Reserves and Designated (Natura 2000) Sites.
With regard to the National Parks in particular, on an on-going basis, officials from my Department are in close liaison with both the Gardaí and the Fire Service. My staff remain ever-vigilant when conditions exist that might result in fires in the National Parks.
695. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of all projects in County Tipperary that applied for funding in 2016 and to date in 2017 under the rural development programme; the projects which have had their funding applications rejected in 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19393/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am interpreting the Deputy’s question as relating to the LEADER programme which forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Rural Development Programme is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and is coordinated by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My Department operates the LEADER programme, which supports rural economic development, social inclusion and the environment.
The agreement for delivery of the new LEADER 2014-2020 Programme in the Tipperary LEADER sub-regional area was signed on 8 July 2016, with approved funding of approximately €10.103 million over the lifetime of the programme. The Local Action Group which is responsible for LEADER in the Tipperary sub-regional area is Tipperary Local Community Development Committee, with North Tipperary LEADER Partnership and South Tipperary Development CLG delivering the programme as Implementing Partners.
I understand that a total of 300 Expressions of Interest for LEADER funding have been submitted by potential project promoters to the Local Action Group to date – 20 were submitted in 2016 and 280 have been submitted in 2017. Project promoters who are successful at Expressions of Interest stage are invited to submit a formal application for funding.
The approval or otherwise of applications under the LEADER programme is an operational matter for the Local Action Group. However, I understand that the Local Action Group in Tipperary has not as yet approved any formal applications, although those successful in the Expressions of Interest phase are progressing through the various stages of the process.
In addition to the LEADER programme, in 2016, 43 projects in Co. Tipperary were approved for funding under the 2016 CLÁR programme, 5 were approved under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and 3 were approved under the Rural Recreation Scheme. I will forward details of the successful projects under these schemes directly to the Deputy. It is not feasible, given the number of applications made to some of these programmes, to provide details of all unsuccessful applications.
2017 funding rounds of CLÁR, Town and Village Renewal and the Rural Recreation Scheme are currently open for applications and further details of these schemes are available on my Department’s website, www.ahrrga.gov.ie.
696. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if her attention has been drawn to plans for development at a location (details supplied); if her attention has been further drawn to the significant natural beauty, flora and fauna, recreational value and archaeological sites involved; her plans to ensure conservation of the heritage value of this location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19401/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply today to Question No. 84.
697. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if funding will be made available to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19433/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn general, the Arts Council is the primary source of funding for the arts in Ireland. The Arts Council is statutorily independent in relation to the performance of its functions in funding of the arts. Full details of all its funding schemes are available on the Council's website at www.artscouncil.ie.
I was pleased to secure significant additional funding for the Arts Council in Budget 2017. This will see an increase of € 5million or 8%, in the Council's allocation. It will allow the Council to enhance supports to artists and arts organisations. The Arts Council’s Strategy Making Great Art Work sets out the Council’s plans to lead the development of the arts in the decade to 2025. The Strategy prioritises the professional artist as well as public engagement and outlines a range of actions that will be taken to deliver on its vision.
My Department has been unable to locate the email referred to by the Deputy. The email could be resent to ministers.office@ahg.gov.ie and my Department will consider it. If the application for funding to which the Deputy is referring is for a capital grant, I hope to announce a new small capital grants Scheme in the coming weeks which will be geared towards providing grants of up to €20,000 to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit. I recently announced details of more than €9 million in capital funding for 56 arts and culture centres across the country. This is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and creative spaces. A full list of organisations to benefit from funding under Stream 1 and 2 of the Arts and Cultural Capital Scheme 2016-2018 is available on my Department's website.
698. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 454 and 455 of 11 April 2017, the detail of the document being referred to as the proponents report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19509/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe document referred to is the “Appropriate Assessment Stage 1 Screening Report for the Marine and Renewable Energy Test Site in Galway Bay” which was prepared by the Marine Institute.
699. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the nature conservation unit of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS, declined to participate in the marine licence vetting committee assessing the Galway Bay marine and renewable energy test site in An Spidéal, County Galway (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19510/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in reply to previous questions, my Department provided observations on this application and I am satisfied that these observations were appropriate. For this reason, and given constraints of staffing resources, my Department was unable to attend the meeting referred to.
700. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if street lighting needed in a village will be considered for funding under the village and town renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19515/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 13 April, I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2017 as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. This scheme will see €20 million in funding being invested in towns and villages across rural Ireland over the next 15 months. The scheme is targeted at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 people. Projects which have clear positive economic impacts on the town/village or which stimulate economic activity between a town/village and its neighbouring townlands will be particularly welcome, as will projects which demonstrate leveraging of, or linkages with, other schemes operated by Government Departments or agencies (e.g. in the areas of heritage, arts, culture, tourism, tidy towns, recreational facilities, re-use of vacant premises, vacant sites, energy efficiency schemes, etc.).
The objective of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is to add value over and above any works which Local Authorities might carry out as part of their regular service. Improved street lighting for a village would not necessarily be excluded from the scheme, but I would expect that any such measure would be part of a wider proposal to support the rejuvenation of the village.
701. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will report on her Department's involvment in Creative Ireland. [18286/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Taoiseach and I launched the Creative Ireland Programme/Clár Éire Ildánach 2017 – 2022 on 8 December 2016 as the Government Legacy Programme for Ireland 2016 and as the main implementation vehicle for the priorities identified in Culture 2025/Éire Ildánach, the draft cultural policy which I published in July 2016.
This is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. The Creative Ireland Programme embraces the whole cultural sector, bringing together all those involved in the arts, film, broadcasting, visual arts, cultural heritage, the Irish language and Gaeltacht, with Government Departments and State agencies.
The core proposition of this programme is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal wellbeing and achievement. The programme is based on five pillars:
- Enabling the creative potential of every child
- Enabling creativity in every community
- Investing in our creative and cultural infrastructure
- Establishing Ireland as a centre of excellence in media production
- Unifying our global reputation
In Budget 2017, I secured €5m to commence the implementation of the Creative Ireland programme which includes an ambitious plan to deliver 10 major initiatives by the end of this year. Further details of these initiatives are available on http://creative.ireland.ie
Delivery of the Programme is overseen by the Cabinet Committee on the Arts, Irish, the Gaeltacht and the Islands chaired by the Taoiseach, and a Senior Officials Group led by the Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach and comprising senior civil servants from relevant Departments.
Within my Department, I have responsibility for the Creative Ireland Programme, which is being delivered through a dedicated Creative Ireland Programme Project Office. Officials in the Project Office work in partnership with existing agencies, local authorities, cultural institutions and State bodies to deliver the Programme .
704. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta leis an réamhobair chun síneadh a chur le céibh Inis Oírr; cad iad na socruithe ina leith seo atá déanta go dáta ag an Roinn; cé mhéid airgid atá ceadaithe don obair seo; cén caiteachas a mheastar a bhainfidh leis an togra seo i mbliana; cad iad na céimeanna a chaithfear a ghlacadh sula mbronnfar conradh don obair seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [19637/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraScríobh mo Roinn chuig Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe tamall ó shin mar gheall ar an tionscadal seo. Ag eascairt as sin, tá aontaithe ag mo Roinn leis an gComhairle go rachfar ar aghaidh le hathfhostú chomhlacht comhairleoireachta ar mhaithe leis an tionscadail a thabhairt chun cinn. Mar chéad chéim den chur chuige seo, tá i gceist iarraidh ar na comhairleoirí luacháil a dhéanamh ar chostas iomlán an tionscadail. Beidh i gceist chomh maith plean oibre chun é a chur i gcríoch a ullmhú. Ní féidir, dá réir, an caiteachas a dhéanfar ar an tionscadal in 2017 a mheas ag an bpointe seo.
705. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cad iad na socruithe atá déanta idir a Roinn agus Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe maidir le tuilleadh oibre a dhéanamh ar chéibh Inis Meáin; an mbeidh comhcomhairliúchán roimh ré ann leis na hoileánaigh agus le lucht úsáidte na céibhe maidir leis an obair atá i gceist; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [19638/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAr mhaithe le dlús a chur le forbairt Chéim III de Ché an Chalaidh Mhóir in Inis Meáin, tá scríofa ag mo Roinn le déanaí chuig Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe ag lorg soiléirithe uathu maidir le staid reatha an tionscadail. Cuimsíonn sé seo cur síos ar an obair atá déanta go dáta, soiléiriú maidir leis na ceadúnais faighte atá fós bailí agus cur síos ar amchlár imlíneach na gcéimeanna atá le tógáil chun an tionscadail a chur i gcríoch. Ach an fhaisnéis seo bheith faighte ón gComhairle Chontae, beidh mé in ann cinneadh a dhéanamh maidir le maoiniú an chéad céim eile den tionscadal.
Tuigtear dom go bhfuil oifigigh mo Roinne ag casadh le hionadaithe ó Inis Meáin an tseachtain seo chun na féidearthachtaí i ndáil leis an tionscadal seo a bhrú chun cinn a phlé agus go bhfuil i gceist cruinniú le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe a eagrú ina dhiaidh sin.
706. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans for the airstrips in Inishbofin and Cluain Leacht an Abba, Cleggan; her plans to keep them in public ownership; her further plans to provide a scheduled air service from these facilities; the estimated cost of providing a service to these airstrips on a three day a week basis originating in Aerphort Conamara, Indreabhan; her plans to proceed with the development of air terminals at each site; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19642/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is currently seeking submissions from interested parties in relation to use of the airstrips and surrounding sites at Cleggan and Inishbofin, with submissions due by 19 May. Submissions received will inform my Department as it deliberates about the future of the facilities. Deliberations will include a range of issues including the matters raised by the Deputy.
