Written Answers Nos. 269-285
269. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expected cost, the number of years it would take to deliver and the amount allocated for the Ulster Canal Project. [53345/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn July 2007, the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed to a proposal to restore the section of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. Planning approvals for the project have been secured from the relevant authorities in the two jurisdictions.
Government approval to restore a 2.5 km stretch of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson near Belturbet in Co. Cavan, was secured on 24 February 2015. This work is estimated at €2.5m, including VAT.
Waterways Ireland is currently working on the first phase of reopening navigation from the Erne to Castle Saunderson on the Ulster Canal. Works are on target with completion anticipated at end of May 2018, subject to weather conditions and water levels over the 2017 /2018 winter.
In 2017 to date almost €2.6m has been spent on the entire Ulster Canal project. A further expenditure of €270k is forecast to the end of 2017. Expenditure of €1.133m is forecast to complete navigation to Castle Saunderson in 2018. The business case for the project updated for my Department in 2015 estimated provisional costs for restoration of navigation to Clones at €46m, including VAT.
The project is progressing incrementally, as resources allow, and options for moving to the next phases are being considered.
270. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the full cost for the Creative Ireland supplement that ran in a magazine (details supplied) for 12 weeks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53301/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra271. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of weeks the Creative Ireland double page spread in a newspaper (details supplied) ran and is planned to run; the weekly cost of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53302/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra272. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the dates on which two Creative Ireland supplements were contained in a newspaper (details supplied); the full cost of the feature; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53303/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra273. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the identity of the regional newspapers and radio stations in and on which Creative Ireland advertising features were run; the cost of each feature in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53304/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 273, inclusive, together.
The Creative Ireland Programme is a culture-based programme designed to promote individual, community and national well-being and has citizen engagement at the heart of it. The core proposition is that participation in cultural activity drives personal and collective creativity, with significant implications for individual and societal well-being and achievement. As with any new Programme, it takes time to develop and mobilise. The expenditure set out in Table 1 contributed to an overall effort to provide information to citizens and to engage with as broad an audience as possible. The Table sets out all costs associated with all publications referred to in the questions and the circulation dates as requested:
Table 1
|
|
Circulation Date |
Cost |
|
Irish Independent – Cruinniú na Casca 16 page news print |
Saturday, April 15th 2017 |
€27,060.00 |
|
Irish Independent – Culture and Creativity Plan Supplement-72 page magazine |
Saturday, June 10th |
€98,805.90 |
|
Irish Times – Supplement-28 page magazine |
Saturday, July 15th |
€37,523.25 |
|
Irish Independent – Summer Series Weekly 2 page Spreads |
Saturday June 17th to September 02nd |
€19,188.00 |
As the Deputy will be aware the Creative Ireland Programme is embedded throughout the 31 local authority areas in Ireland. The regional media campaign reinforced and promoted the extensive work being undertaken by the local authorities as part of the Creative Ireland Programme, using both print and radio broadcasting to make it as inclusive and accessible as possible.
The following tables detail both the regional print and regional radio broadcast media which were used as part of our citizen engagement measures:
Table 2
|
Regional Newspapers |
Cost |
|
Regional Newspapers Anglo Celt, Clare Champion, Connacht / City Tribune, Donegal Democrat, Donegal News & Derry People, Dundalk Argus, Fingal Independent, Kerryman, Kilkenny People, Leinster Express, Leinster Leader, Leitrim Observer, Limerick Chronicle, Limerick Leader, Longford Leader, Meath Chronicle , Midland & Tullamore Tribune, Munster Express, Nationalist & Munster Advertiser (Clonmel), Nationalist Series, Northern Standard, Roscommon Herald, Sligo Champion, Southern Star, The Echo (Tallaght), Waterford News & Star, Western People ,Westmeath Independent, Wexford Echo, Wexford People, Wicklow People, Southside People, Evening Echo, Galway Advertiser, Evening Herald |
€73,122 |
Table 3
|
Radio Stations |
Cost |
|
LAOIS – KCLR, KILDARE – KFM, LEITRIM - OCEAN FM , LONGFORD – SHANNONSIDE, MEATH – MIDLANDS, OFFALY – MIDLANDS, TIPPERARY - TIPP FM, CARLOW – KCLR, MONAGHAN - NORTHERN SOUND, ROSCOMMON - SHANNON SIDE, SLIGO - OCEAN FM, MAYO - MIDWEST RADIO, WESTMEATH - MIDLANDS , WEXFORD - SOUTH EAST RADIO, WICKLOW - EAST COAST FM, CORK - 96FM, CORK - C103, DUBLIN - Q102, GALWAY BAY FM, LIMERICK - L95, LOUTH-MEATH - LMFM, WATERFORD - WLR |
€170,539 |
274. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the expenditure of the €0.4 million allocated to the development and promotion of www.ireland.ie and www.creativeireland.gov.ie; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53305/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe development of the two informative and high quality websites - www.creativeireland.gov.ie and www.Ireland.ie - is essential to the long-term successful promotion and aims of the Creative Ireland Programme, including Pillar 5 which aims to unify Ireland's global reputation abroad. This is particularly relevant now in the context of Brexit
A sum of €0.4m was originally allocated for the development, maintenance and promotion of these two websites. However, this sum was subsequently increased to €0.6m to account for the specially curated and extensive range of digital content commissioned to populate both websites and associated social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram). This content has been used in particular to enhance the Ireland.ie website which aims to present a broad, compelling and inspiring image of Ireland.
The breakdown of expenditure to date in respect of the above websites is as follows:
- Website Development (layout, content production and graphic design) - €192,000
- Digital Content Creation and promotion - €391,000
The creation and dissemination of this content has proved very successful in meeting the aims of the Creative Ireland programme to provide information to citizens and to engage with as broad an audience as possible. For example some of the most viewed videos on the Creative Ireland Facebook page (not including Twitter) include Cruinniú na Cásca (67k views), Oireachtas na Samhna (45k views), Electric Picnic (88k views), Local Authority Workshops (63k views), St Patrick's Festival (107k views). The "This is Ireland" video has attracted over 2m views on Facebook and Twitter in Ireland and abroad.
275. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department is continuing to finance the cost of the event co-ordinator of the Creative Ireland programme project who is seconded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53306/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra276. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department is continuing to finance the cost of the director of the Creative Ireland programme project who is seconded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53307/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra277. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the director of the Creative Ireland programme project will return from secondment or be replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53308/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra278. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the event co-ordinator of the Creative Ireland programme project will return from secondment or be replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53309/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 to 278, inclusive, together.
Both the former Director of Creative Ireland Programme and the former event co-ordinator referred to in the question were seconded to my Department from Fáilte Ireland. They have since been seconded from Fáilte Ireland to the Department of An Taoiseach. This Department no longer covers the costs relating to these posts and any issues in relation to the term of the secondments are a matter between the Department of the Taoiseach and Fáilte Ireland.
My Department has advertised for the position of Director of the Creative Ireland Programme through the public Appointments Service and the recruitment process is ongoing. All other duties relating to the event co-ordinator are currently being managed within existing resources.
279. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the names of the two contract staff in the Creative Ireland programme project; the remuneration of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53310/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department ran an open competition on e-tenders for the provision of
- the supply of services to include the supply, design and implementation of communication strategies and other services as required by the Creative Ireland Programme. MB Arts International won this contract; and
- the supply of services to include the development and management of external partner relationships, such as with local authorities, National Cultural Institutions, etc., and other services as required on behalf of Creative Ireland. Panikos Consulting won this contract.
These services are provided on a daily cost basis and to end November the total costs incurred for the provision of these services was €175,757.
280. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the €50,000 miscellaneous costs associated with the Creative Ireland programme project office in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53311/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA provision for miscellaneous costs was initially included in the Creative Ireland Programme administrative budget as a matter of course to cover any unforeseen costs. However, no such costs have been incurred to date under this provision.
281. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of the €50,000 travel and subsistence costs associated with the Creative Ireland programme project office in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53312/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTravel and subsistence expenses incurred by my Department's Creative Ireland Programme Office to date this year relate to expenses involved in carrying out their everyday responsibilities in accordance with the rates specified in DPER circulars relating to domestic subsistence allowances and subsistence allowances abroad.
Expenses relate to a range of activities associated with the Creative Ireland programme including engagement with Government Departments and public bodies, international engagement under Pillar V of the programme and the extensive consultation programme which was undertaken nationwide earlier this year as part of Pillar II. This involved workshops which were held with all thirty-one local authorities (in some instances more than one workshop in individual counties) in respect of their Culture and Creative Plans for 2017, setting up Culture Teams in each county, launches of individual county plans, and planning for long-term Culture and Creative Strategies among other events.
282. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when she will next meet the CEO and chairperson of the National Concert Hall. [53359/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs newly appointed Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht I expect to meet the Chairs and CEOs, where appropriate, of all the relevant bodies under the aegis of my Department over the coming period.
283. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the contact her Department has had with the National Parks and Wildlife Service regarding the introduction of additional wildlife into the Wicklow National Park, in particular harrier hawks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53366/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is a unit in the Heritage Division of my Department. Its remit includes the management of six national parks, one of which is Wicklow National Park.
The Harrier-hawk is a bird of prey native to sub-Saharan Africa. There are no plans to introduce this species to Wicklow National Park.
My Department is engaged in conservation efforts nationally to improve the status of the Hen Harrier, a bird of prey native to Ireland. The Hen Harrier nowadays occurs only sporadically in the Wicklow Mountains, but there are no plans to release additional birds into the National Park.
Another bird of prey, the red kite, had become extinct in Ireland, but has been successfully re-introduced into Ireland in Co. Wicklow (though not via the National Parks and Wildlife Service) by the Golden Eagle Trust.
284. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the fund from which the eight-page supplement on creative youth in a newspaper (details supplied) of 8 December 2017 came; and the cost of same. [53478/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraNo cost was incurred by my Department for the supplement on Creative Youth in the newspaper referred to in the question.
285. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if a new recruitment drive for the Naval Service will occur in early 2018. [53358/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service.
The manpower requirements of the Permanent Defence Force are monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. As there has always been a relatively large turnover of personnel in the Defence Forces, targeted recruitment takes place on a regular basis so as to maintain personnel numbers at or near the agreed strength levels. There is significant ongoing recruitment at both enlisted and officer level and it is anticipated that 800 new personnel will have been inducted into the Permanent Defence Force during 2017. This includes general service recruits, apprentices, cadets and direct entry officers.
As the Permanent Defence Force is currently below the agreed stabilised strength of 9,500, it is intended that targeted recruitment will continue within the resource envelope allocated to Defence. The plans for a General Service Recruitment campaign in 2018 have not been finalised yet.
With the support of the Chief of Staff and within the resources available, I intend to retain the capacity of the Defence Forces to operate effectively across all roles and to undertake the tasks laid down by Government both at home and overseas.
