Written Answers Nos. 77-84
77. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the impact she expects the funding for the action plan for rural development will have in the 300 towns and villages earmarked for this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27566/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 13 th April last. The scheme will see €20 million being invested in rural towns and villages over the next 12 months as part of the Action Plan for Rural Development.
Up to 300 towns and villages will benefit under the scheme, which is targeted at towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. At least 60% of the funding will be available for towns and villages with a population of less than 5,000 people.
The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme places a particular emphasis on supporting measures which will have a clear economic impact on rural towns and villages. Projects which demonstrate linkages with other initiatives in areas such as heritage, tourism, arts, culture, the re-use of vacant premises, or business improvement schemes to increase the overall impact on town and village rejuvenation are strongly encouraged. Applications are welcome from projects which stimulate economic activity between a town and its neighbouring townlands.
Grants will range from €20,000 to a maximum of €100,000. Funding of up to €200,000 will also be considered for a limited number of projects which can deliver exceptionally strong economic benefit to a town and/or its outlying areas.
I anticipate that successful applications under the Scheme will demonstrate clear and measureable economic impacts on the towns and villages in which they are implemented. Investing in our towns and villages and strengthening their economic activity and tourism offering will help to retain existing employment and create new jobs. It will make rural Ireland a better place in which to live, work and visit.
The closing date for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is 30th June and it is anticipated that the successful applicants will be announced before the end of July.
78. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of prosecutions that have been achieved by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service relating to fires that were lit in 2016 and since 2012 in view of the fact that only one application was made for controlled burning in 2016. [27588/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2007, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has taken some eleven prosecution cases for breaches of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts relating to illegal burning of vegetation. Fines were imposed in most cases with, in some cases, the defendants being ordered by the Court to pay legal costs and expenses.
My Department does not maintain records nor does it have information in relation to prosecutions taken by An Garda Síochána.
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the degree to which she has made contact with the various local authorities with a view to identifying projects to upgrade the facilities in various towns and villages with a view to enhancement of the locations both economically and visually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23rd January last, contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.
From my own Department’s perspective, I launched the 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 13th April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. Funding of €20 million has been made available under the scheme, which will support up to 300 towns and villages over the next 12 months. The scheme will be delivered through the Local Authorities.
All Local Authorities were invited to the launch of the scheme in Moate, Co. Westmeath in April. They were also invited to attend an information session with staff of my Department directly after the launch, where the scheme details were outlined and any questions relating to the operation of the scheme were addressed. Three further information sessions were held in Sligo, Tullamore and Thurles, and Local Authorities and other stakeholders were invited to attend.
The closing date for receipt of applications under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is 30th June 2017. It is envisaged that the successful applicants will be announced before the end of July.
There is also ongoing contact between Local Authorities and my Department in relation to other rural schemes under my Department’s remit, including CLÁR and the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure scheme. My officials are available at all times to provide guidance to Local Authorities with regard to applications and to assist with any queries arising.
80. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress that has been made on the initiative to encourage increased residential occupancy in town and village centres as outlined in the action plan for rural development, by county; when the initiative is expected to commence; the funding made available for the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27614/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23rd January, contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential.
I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 13th April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. Funding of €20 million has been made available under the scheme, which will support up to 300 towns and villages over the next 12 months.
It is intended to separately launch a pilot scheme later this year to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot will examine ways in which properties that are currently not in use in town centres can be renovated to allow them to be used for residential purposes. The scheme will be aimed at owner-occupiers.
Details of the initiative are being developed in consultation with relevant Departments and full particulars will be announced when the pilot is launched. I expect to make initial funding of €2 million available for the scheme in 2017. Funding will not be allocated on a county basis under this initiative.
81. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she has received correspondence from a group (details supplied) regarding the sale of Luggala Estate, County Wicklow, the adjoining lands of the estate and its future use; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27514/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 62 of 2nd May 2017.
82. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her plans to reconstitute a new all-party decade of commemorations committee; the timeframe for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27286/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to re-establishing the Oireachtas All Party Consultation Committee on Commemorations. I intend to put in place the practical arrangements to re-constitute the group very shortly.
In the period leading up to the 1916 centenary commemorations, the All Party Consultation Committee on commemorations was instrumental in promoting an open, consensus-based and honest approach, which allowed all narratives to be heard and ensured that the State reflected appropriately on all of the major historical events as they unfolded. The work of the Committee complemented the work of the Expert Advisory Group on Commemorations which also advised the Government on the approach based on the authentic history of the period.
The Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the second half of the Decade of Centenaries. This includes the Easter Commemorations ceremonies to mark the Easter Rising and events to mark the progress of World War I. For example, two weeks ago I attended commemorations of the Battle of Messines Ridge at the Island of Ireland Peace Park in Messines, which were jointly led by the Governments of Ireland and the UK, in partnership with the Mayor of Messines. On the Sunday of that week, I was honoured to lay a wreath on behalf of the Irish Government at the War Memorial, Armagh, in memory of the men of the 16th Irish Division and the 36th Ulster Division who fought side by side in that Battle. Last weekend I attended a special ceremony to mark the centenary of the foundation of Leopardstown Park Hospital as a convalescent home and hospital for the treatment of soldiers, injured in World War I.
I believe that both the All Party Committee and the Expert Advisory Group have a significant contribution to make in relation to the second half of the Decade of Centenaries and I am looking forward to continued positive engagement and consultation with both groups over the coming period.
83. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of times NPWS officials attended hare coursing meetings in the 2016-17 coursing season; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27349/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department monitored seventeen hare coursing meeting during the 2016/17 coursing season. It is intended that these reports along with the Irish Coursing Club reports which range over 70 coursing meetings will be published on the NPWS website over the coming weeks.
84. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Ealaíon, Oidhreachta, Gnóthaí Réigiúnacha, Tuaithe agus Gaeltachta cá mhéad foirgneamh de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta atá folamh; cé chomh fada agus atá siad folamh; cén áit a bhfuil siad; cad iad na pleananna atá ag an Údarás maidir leo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [27611/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá curtha in iúl ag Údarás na Gaeltachta go bhfuil 517 foirgneamh i seilbh na heagraíochta, 117 de chuid atá folamh i láthair na huaire. I gcomhréir leis na mBuanorduithe Seasta, cuirfear na sonraí maidir leis an staid reatha mar a bhaineann leis na bhfoirgnimh ar fad atá folamh faoi láthair díreach chuig an Teachta i bhfoirm tábla gan mhoill. Tá deimhnithe ag Údarás na Gealtacha go bhfuil an eagraíocht ag cur críoch lena plean straitéiseach don tréimhse trí bliana amach romhainn i láthair na huaire. Beidh úsáid inmharthanach mhaoin an Údaráis lárnach sa straitéis seo agus leagfar amach clár oibre chun an mhaoin seo a uasghrádú agus a chur in oiriúint d’fhiontraithe ar mhaithe le fostaíocht a chruthú.
Úsáidfear an mhaoin seo chun leanúint ar aghaidh le fiontraithe áitiúla a spreagadh agus le hinfheisteoirí sheachtracha a mhealladh isteach sna ceantair Gaeltachta éagsúla le fostaíocht a chruthú thar réimsí earnálacha ábhartha. Beidh cuid den mhaoin seo á húsáid mar ionaid don ghréasán de Mhoil Digiteacha a bheidh á bhforbairt sna Gaeltachtaí éagsúla agus a fheidhmeoidh mar áiseanna d’fhiontar nuálaíoch chun réimse cianoibre an Údaráis a chur chun cinn.
Tábla
Léiríonn an tábla thíos an staid reatha mar a bhaineann leis na bhfoirgnimh ar fad atá folamh faoi láthair:
