Written Answers Nos. 673-696
673. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the position on the requirement for air vents in new housing; the recourse which homeowners have in cases in which these have not been provided; the penalties for house builders who fail to provide them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11604/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of the Building Regulations is to provide for the safety and welfare of people in and about buildings. The Building Regulations apply to the design and construction of a building or to an extension or material alteration of a building. The minimum performance requirements that a building must achieve are set out in the Second Schedule to the Building Regulations. These requirements are set out in 12 parts classified as Parts A to M. Part F - Ventilation, requires that adequate means of ventilation shall be provided for people in buildings.
Technical Guidance Documents (TGDs) provide technical guidance on how to comply with the building regulations in practical terms. TGD F contains guidance, compliance with which will, prima facie, indicate compliance with Part F.
Under the Building Control Acts 1990 to 2014, primary responsibility for compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations rests with the designers, builders and owners of buildings. Enforcement of the Building Regulations is a matter for the 31 local building control authorities, who have extensive powers of inspection and investigation under the Acts.
The Building Regulations are subject to ongoing review in the interests of safety and the well-being of persons in the built environment and to ensure that due regard is taken of changes in construction techniques, technological progress and innovation. Directive 2010/31/EU on the Energy Performance of Buildings requires that by 31 December 2020 all new buildings are nearly zero-energy buildings. Part F - Ventilation, will shortly be reviewed to take account of changes in air permeability standards required in nearly zero energy buildings.
675. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the roll-out of the rent pressure zone system; the areas covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11614/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 24A of the Residential Tenancies Acts 2004-2016 sets out the procedure for the Minister to prescribe, by order, an area as a Rent Pressure Zone. It provides that the Housing Agency, in consultation with the relevant housing authority, may make a written proposal to the Minister that an identified area be prescribed as a Rent Pressure Zone. Within one week of receipt of such a proposal, the Minister shall request the Director of the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to furnish him, within two weeks, with a report on whether the proposed area satisfies the criteria specified in subsection 24A(4) for designation as a Rent Pressure Zone.
The criteria to be satisfied by an area under section 24A(4) of the Residential Tenancies Acts for designation as a Rent Pressure Zone are as follows:
(a) the information relating to the area, as determined by reference to the information used to compile each quarterly RTB Rent Index report, shows that the annual rate of increase in the average amount of rent for that area is more than 7% in each of at least 4 of the 6 quarters, preceding the period immediately prior to the date of the Housing Agency's proposal.
(b) the average rent for the area in the last quarter, as determined by reference to the information used to compile the RTB Rent Index, is above the average national rent (commonly referred to as the Rent Index national standardised rent) in the last quarter.
The Housing Agency will continue to monitor the rental market and may recommend further areas for designation. Where, following the procedures set out in the Act, it is found at a future date that additional areas meet the criteria, they will be considered for designation as Rent Pressure Zones.
The RTB's news page link in relation to its Rent Index - https://onestopshop.rtb.ie/news/latest-data-from-rtb-quarterly-rent-index-q3-2017/ - provides access to the most recent RTB Rent Index quarterly report (for Q3 2017) and summarises its key findings. Information is also provided as part of the RTB's education and awareness campaign relating to Rent Pressure Zones.
Table 9 in the RTB Rent Index report illustrates the recent rent changes at Local Electoral Area (LEA) level. The table outlines for each LEA the number of quarters within the last 6 Quarters where the annualised rent increases have been greater than or equal to 7% and how rent levels in each LEA compare to the Rent Index national standardised rent.
RPZ designations are listed in the following table.
|
24 December 2016 |
27 January 2017 |
30 March 2017 |
20 Sept 2017 |
|
Cork City Council |
Ballincollig-Carrigaline, Cork |
Cobh |
Drogheda |
|
Dublin City Council |
Galway City Central |
Maynooth |
Greystones |
|
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown |
Galway City East |
||
|
Fingal County Council |
Galway City West |
||
|
South Dublin County Council |
Celbridge - Leixlip, Kildare |
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|
Naas, Kildare |
|||
|
Kildare – Newbridge |
|||
|
Ashbourne, Meath |
|||
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Laytown-Bettystown, Meath |
|||
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Ratoath, Meath |
|||
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Bray, Wicklow |
|||
|
Wicklow |
676. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and amount of water charge refunds paid to date; Irish Water's plans for further repayments; the purpose to which unspent money will be put; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11616/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn keeping with the spirit of the provisions for the refund of domestic water charges under the Water Services Act 2017, and the earlier recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services on this matter, all reasonable efforts have been made to refund in full relevant domestic Irish Water customers the amounts due to them.
My Department provided funding of €177,535,103 to Irish Water in 2017 to cover the costs involved in issuing a refund to some 995,000 domestic customers of Irish Water, who paid water charges in full or in part. This included a provision of €5,869,630 in respect of administration costs.
Irish Water has recently reported to my Department that as of 28 February 2018, it has issued cheques to some 947,812 customers at a total value of approximately €165,680,086. Irish Water is continuing to actively encourage remaining customers to provide details necessary to enable payments to be made. This would include customers that have changed address, where the name on the account has changed, accounts that are in the name of 'the Occupier' or 'the Owner', those who have moved abroad without a forwarding address and rental properties where the tenant has moved on.
While there is no cut-off date for the making of refunds, the low level of engagement by the remaining customers to be refunded at this stage suggests that Irish Water may not be able to refund many of these customers.
My Department is currently liaising with Irish Water in relation to the arrangements to close out the funding provision for making refunds and a mechanism will be agreed with Irish Water that will enable it to meet its ongoing liability to relevant customers who seek a refund at a future date.
678. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number and date of meetings of the national emergency committee from 26 February to 5 March 2018; the Ministers that attended; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11618/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is the Lead Government Department for coordinating the response to severe weather emergencies. On foot of weather forecasts from Met Éireann indicating that an episode of severe cold weather with potential for snowfall was likely to impact the country, my Department’s National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management decided to convene a National Emergency Co-ordination Group for Severe Weather (NECG).
The NECG first met on Monday 26 February, again on Tuesday 27 February and has met twice daily between Wednesday 28 February and Sunday 4 March, and once daily since then. The NECG is attended by all Government Departments and relevant Agencies and brings a “Whole of Government” response to bear in dealing with major emergencies.
The following is a breakdown of the NECG meetings by date and Ministers who attended either in person or by teleconference.
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26 Feb |
Minister Murphy, Minister English |
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27 Feb |
Minister Murphy, Minister English, Minister Harris |
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28 Feb |
Minister Murphy, Minister English |
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1 March |
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Murphy, Minister English, Minister Ross, Minister Kehoe |
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2 March |
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Murphy, Minister English, Minister Ross, Minister Kehoe, Minister Moran |
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3 March |
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Murphy, Minister English, Minister Ross, Minister Naughton, Minister Moran |
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4 March |
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Murphy, Minister English, Minister Ross, Minister Kehoe, Minister Phelan, Minister Moran |
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5 March |
An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, Minister Murphy, Minister English, Minister Ross, Minister Kehoe, Minister Harris, Minister Moran |
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6 March |
Minister Murphy, Minister English |
680. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the status of the investigation into certain planning matters in County Donegal; the timeframe involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11632/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received a report from Senior Counsel in June 2017 regarding his Review Into Certain Planning Matters In Respect Of County Donegal.
My Department is currently reviewing and assessing the contents of Senior Counsel’s report and I have requested the advice of the Attorney General in respect of a number of points in relation to publication of the report among other matters.
I have asked the Attorney General's Office to expedite this advice. Once received, my Department will finalise a submission for my consideration regarding what further appropriate actions are open to me and the associated timelines.
681. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to fast track planning processes for much-needed community services in view of the delays the HSE is experiencing in the delivery of primary health care centres due to complexities in planning processes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11637/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no proposals to introduce fast-track planning procedures for the provision of primary health care centres.
682. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans in terms of a directly elected mayor for County Cork. [11644/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to consider directly elected mayors in cities as part of a broader range of local government reform measures aimed at strengthening local democracy. In accordance with this commitment, my Department's focus to date has been on developing policy proposals in relation to cities only.
683. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of staff assigned in his Department to the press office, public relations or communications roles in each year since 2015; the positions by staffing grade and designated role; when each new position came into existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11706/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra684. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if a panel has been established in his Department for communications officers; if a Civil Service position of head of communications or similar role or description has been appointed in his Department; if so, when the appointment occurred; the grade at which it occurred; the reason for same; the policy basis for same; the person that approved the appointment; his plans to make such an appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11722/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 683 and 684 together.
There are currently 8 staff assigned to press office and communications roles in my Department. This area is managed by a Principal Officer who also has additional duties as part of his role. This number has been broadly consistent since 2015.
Staff in this area have a wide range of responsibilities including dealing with media queries and other standard press office duties and supporting public and stakeholder consultations. In addition, these staff are responsible for issues related to both internal Departmental and external communications, desktop publishing, quality customer service, social media and other general communications functions. To this end, the Department's Intranet site and the Department's website have both been redesigned in this time period. The communications area was restructured at the start of 2018 and this is reflected in the tables below.
In 2016, a Communications Officer at Assistant Principal grade was appointed to cover the area of the Water Framework Directive and Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This role had previously been filled on a contract basis. This role has now been subsumed into a role encompassing wider communications duties.
All appointments are made in line with the appropriate guidelines set out by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. Workforce planning is carried out in my Department on an ongoing basis which enables the HR team to manage the overall staffing numbers and individual assignments in consultation with managers across the organisation.
The information sought in relation to the staff numbers, grades and roles is set out in the following tables. It is important to note that team members will often be called upon to assist wherever the priority applies at a given time and, therefore, it is possible that functions will be carried out by any of the officials, as necessary.
|
End of 2015 |
Number of Staff |
Role |
|
Assistant Principal |
2 |
1 - Head of Communications and Media 1 - Communications Officer in relation to the implementation of EU Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
3 |
1 - Press Office duties 2 - Internal and external communications including redesign of Departmental intranet, management of Department Website, public and stakeholder consultations, desktop publishing. |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
Press Office duties |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
1 - Press Office duties 1 - General Communications |
|
Total |
8 |
|
|
End of 2016 |
Number of Staff |
Role |
|
Assistant Principal |
2 |
1 - Head of Communications and Media 1 - Communications Officer in relation to the implementation of EU Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
3 |
1 - Press Office duties 2 - Internal and external communications including redesign of Departmental intranet, management of Department Website, public and stakeholder consultations, desktop publishing. |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
Press Office duties |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
1 - Press Office duties 1 - General Communications |
|
Total |
8 |
|
|
End of 2017 |
Number of Staff |
Role |
|
Assistant Principal |
2 |
1 - Head of Communications and Media 1 - Communications Officer in relation to the implementation of EU Water Framework and Marine Strategy Framework Directives. |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
1 - Press Office duties 1 - Internal and external communications including management of Departmental intranet and Website, public and stakeholder consultations, desktop publishing. |
|
Executive Officer |
1 |
Press Office duties |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
1 - Press Office duties 1 - Internal Communications |
|
Total |
7 |
|
|
End of Feb 2018 |
Number of Staff |
Role |
|
Assistant Principal |
2 |
1 - Internal Communications and Departmental engagement including public consultations, stakeholder engagement, social media. 1 - Development of longer term communications approach for the Department. |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
2 |
1 - Press Office duties 1 - Internal and external communications including management of Departmental intranet and Website, public and stakeholder consultations, desktop publishing. |
|
Executive Officer |
2 |
Press Office and other general communications duties |
|
Clerical Officer |
2 |
1 - Press Office duties 1 - General Communications |
|
Total |
8 |
|
685. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the criteria enabling participants to be in both the National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine agri-environmental scheme in certain circumstances; the reason there are restrictions in place to subscribe to both schemes; and if regulations pertaining to subscribing to both schemes are laid down in EU or national regulations. [11089/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOwing to operational issues relating in particular to the recent bad weather event, the information sought is not readily available, but will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy, in accordance with the timeline set out in Standing Orders.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
686. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if participants were able to fully draw down a payment under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine agri-environmental scheme in addition to the National Parks and Wildlife Service farm plan scheme in each of the years from 2006 to 2010. [11090/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOwing to operational issues relating in particular to the recent bad weather event, the information sought is not readily available, but will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy, in accordance with the timeline set out in Standing Orders.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
687. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the criteria enabling agri-environmental payments under the NPWS farm plan scheme on land that has been deemed ineligible under the basic payment scheme. [11091/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks & Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme is operated by my Department in accordance with the criteria outlined in the NPWS Farm Plan Scheme Terms & Conditions document (found at www.npws.ie) and is entirely national exchequer funded.
There is no automatic prohibition on payments under the National Parks & Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme on lands deemed ineligible under the Basic Payment Scheme, provided the lands are managed in compliance with an approved plan and the conditions support the targeted habitats or species.
In a broader EAFRD context, under Article 28 of Regulation 1305/2013, ineligible features under Pillar 1 can where appropriate be paid under Pillar 2, provided this is agreed at Member State level.
688. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason payments cannot be claimed in the NPWS farm plan scheme in respect of land included in a forestry scheme including the native woodland scheme. [11092/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Parks & Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme operated by Department is targeted at the maintenance, enhancement and creation of habitats on farmed land. The habitats and species that have been the subject of plans thus far e.g. sand dunes, hay meadows, corncrake, breeding waders, hen harrier, etc. are typically not compatible with woodland or forestry.
689. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the flat payment rate per hectare in addition to the results based payment scale that has operated in each year since the NPWS farm plan scheme was established in 2006, in tabular form. [11093/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn most cases a flat rate does not, or did not apply. The full details are set out below.
|
Farm Plan Type |
Feature/habitat |
Results-based scale (€/ha) (100% score = multiplier of 1.0; min score for payment = 40% i.e. multiplier of 0.4) |
Flat rate payment per hectare (€/ha) |
|
Results-based Hen Harrier |
Wild Bird Cover |
900 x percentage score |
N/A |
|
Scrub |
200 x percentage score |
N/A |
|
|
Rough Grassland |
370 x percentage score |
N/A |
|
|
Improved Grassland |
250 x 1 for delayed mowing and leaving headlands
Or
250 x 0 if farmer opts to mow early and not leave headlands |
N/A |
|
|
Results-based Breeding Wader |
Various features relevant to breeding wader ecology |
366 x percentage score |
|
|
Flat Rate Hen Harrier |
Various |
Eligible areas up to 40 hectares were paid at a rate of €350 per hectare. Eligible areas from 40 hectares to 120 hectares were paid at a rate of €25 per hectare. Eligible areas in excess of 120 hectares shall were paid at a rate of €5 per hectare. |
|
|
Flat Rate Chough |
Various |
Payments were made at a rate of €250 per hectare. Anything above 40 hectares was paid at a reduced rate of €25 per hectare |
|
|
Corncrake (dynamic) |
Successful creation of an Early and Late Cover plot(s) |
|
Once off, spread over the five year plan payment: €1.75 per m2 for the first 0.1 ha €1.50 per m2 is payable for areas greater than 0.1 ha (noting that the maximum area payable under this Measure is 0.5ha) |
|
Maintaining the newly created Early and Late Cover plot(s). |
|
Up to 0.1 ha @ €880 per ha 0.11 – 0.25 ha @ €440 per ha Greater than 0.26 ha @ €275 per ha |
|
|
Maintenance and enhancement of existing Early and Late Cover plot(s) - provided the required cover is present throughout the breeding season of each year (i.e. Late April to Late September). |
|
Up to 0.1 ha @ €880 per ha 0.11 – 0.25 ha @ €440 per ha Greater than 0.26 ha @ €275 per ha |
|
|
Delayed grazing of nominated fields |
|
Delayed grazing until 15 July: €275 per hectare Delayed grazing until 20 August: €450 per hectare |
|
|
Shannon Callows |
Maintenance of wet grassland in favourable condition
Delayed mowing for Corncrake |
|
€450 per hectare |
|
Commonage Destocking plans |
Farmers who joined the NPWS farm plan scheme were compensated in accordance with agreed offwintering and destocking rates. These rates were not the same in both areas. Farmers in REPS and AEOS also received top-ups of €2,000 per annum. |
|
|
|
Geese and Swan |
Creation and enhancement of grasslands for grazing geese and swans October-March |
|
Varied depending on farm specifics and income foregone/costs incurred (i.e. individually costed per farm). |
|
Esker |
Specific requirements in regard to Non-Productive Investments, stocking rates, grazing regime, etc. |
|
Individually costed per farm |
|
Sand Dune |
Specific requirements in regard to Non-Productive Investments, stocking rates, grazing regime, etc. |
|
Individually costed per farm |
|
Fen |
Specific requirements in regard to Non-Productive Investments, stocking rates, grazing regime, etc. |
|
Individually costed per farm |
|
Turlough |
Specific requirements in regard to Non-Productive Investments, stocking rates, grazing regime, etc. |
|
Individually costed per farm |
690. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the threat response plan for hen harrier areas will be completed; and her views on permitting afforestation in hen harrier areas under guidelines. [11094/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe draft Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan is nearing completion and is currently being refined in consultation with Departmental stakeholders. The draft will be circulated to the Consultative Committee shortly with a view to publication for public consultation after Easter.
691. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of persons who participated in the NPWS farm plan scheme in each of the years 2006 to 2017; and the funding allocated and expended on the programme in each year since the scheme was established. [11095/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details of the expenditure under the National Parks & Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme from 2006-2017 are provided below. Details of the budgetary allocation and number of contracts are not readily available for the years 2006 to 2009. The budgetary allocation is based on an estimate of take-up and delivery in the following calendar year, and so actual expenditure is subject to change as the year unfolds.
|
Year |
Number of contracts |
Budgetary allocation |
Actual expenditure |
|
2006 |
€1.18m |
||
|
2007 |
€1.73m |
||
|
2008 |
€2.01m |
||
|
2009 |
€2.44m |
||
|
2010 |
546 |
€5.10m |
€3.75m |
|
2011 |
667 |
€5.38m |
€4.4m |
|
2012 |
616 |
€5.14m |
€3.96m |
|
2013 |
415 |
€4.44m |
€3.45m |
|
2014 |
361 |
€3.14m |
€2.67m |
|
2015 |
176 |
€1.74m |
€1.3m |
|
2016 |
53 |
€1.00m |
€0.44m |
|
2017 |
45 |
€0.56m |
€0.41m |
692. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an mbeidh sé ina mhíbhuntáiste do chainteoirí Gaeilge agus do dhaoine sa Ghaeltacht nach mbeidh Nuacht RTÉ i nGaeilge ar fáil beo dóibh a thuilleadh; an dtugann sé seo comhionannas do dhá theanga oifigiúla an Stáit nuair atá an Nuacht as Béarla ar fáil beo do mhuintir na tíre, ach nach bhfuil an Nuacht as Gaeilge ar fáil dóibh ach ar bhonn réamhthaifeadta amháin; an dtagann an míchothromas seo salach ar mhisean a Roinne, úsáid na Gaeilge a bhrú chun cinn agus forbairt inbhuanaithe réigiúnach agus tuaithe, lena n-áirítear forbairt na Gaeltachta agus na n-oileán, a éascú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [11107/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraNíl aon ról reachtúil agam maidir le cinntí oibríochtúla RTÉ.
Creidim go láidir, áfach, go bhfuil féidearthachtaí móra ann cuidiú le seirbhísí nuachta a sholáthar do phobal na Gaeilge trí níos mó úsáid a bhaint as an teicneolaíocht nua-aimseartha. Is cúis sásaimh agus dóchais é, mar sin, an chaoi go bhfuil an Ghaeilge le fáil go forleathan cheana féin ar na meáin dhigiteacha, agus go bhfuil obair ceannródaíoch ar bun san earnáil seo. Tóg mar shampla na hardáin éagsúla ilmheáin atá forbartha ag RTÉ (le cúnamh mo Roinne), TG4 agus RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta agus an tábhacht ar leith le nuachtáin agus irisí Gaeilge ar nós Tuairisc.ie, a bhfuil tacaíocht Stáit á fáil aige ó Fhoras na Gaeilge.
693. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an dtabharfaidh sí briseadh síos ar an maoiniú breise ar fad a bheidh ar fáil don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus do na hOileáin faoi 'Tionscadal Éireann 2040' don bhliain 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021; cá háit a rachaidh an maoiniú breise seo sna cláir éagsúla atá faoi scáth na Roinne; cé mhéad a bheidh ar fáil i gcomhair gach clár sna blianta atá luaite; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [11143/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá sé fógartha ag an Rialtas sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta 2018-2027 go mbeidh €178m in airgead caipitil ar fáil le caitheamh ar thograí Gaeilge, Gaeltachta agus oileán as seo go ceann 10 mbliana. Sin €78m in airgead nua anuas ar an mbonnshuim de níos mó ná €10m in aghaidh na bliana atá á chaitheamh ar na nithe céanna faoi láthair.
San áireamh sa Phlean Forbartha Náisiúnta seo, tá gealltanas go méadófar buiséad caipitil Údarás na Gaeltachta go €12m in aghaidh na bliana, go gcaithfidh an Roinn Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta €4m ar Lárionad Gaeilge i gCathair Bhaile Átha Cliath agus go ndéanfar forbairt ar ghréasán d'áiseanna turasóireachta sa Ghaeltacht agus d’Ionaid Gaeilge timpeall na tire, sna Líonraí Gaeilge agus sna Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta ach go háirithe.
Déanfar cinntí maidir le hamchlár an mhéadaithe seo le linn an ghnáthphróisis meastachán sna blianta atá amach romhainn.
694. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding provided for capital projects for scouting organisations by her Department in the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11189/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed that no funding for capital projects has been provided to scouting organisations by my Department in the past five years.
695. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that has been set aside in each of the past five years to address the issue of loneliness and social isolation in the Gaeltacht region; if her Department or agencies under the remit of her Department have funded research on the topic of loneliness and social isolation; if her Department or agencies under the remit of her Department have projects planned which would address the issues of loneliness or social isolation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11257/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s remit, insofar as the Gaeltacht is concerned, is to support and promote the Irish language as its primary household and community language. The Department discharges this remit in the context of the language planning process, as set out under the Gaeltacht Act, which represents a key component in support of the overarching implementation of the Government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030.
In support of this objective my Department directly implements a range of measures, programmes, schemes and initiatives directed at supporting the Irish language as a vibrant community and household language in Gaeltacht regions. The Department also supports a range of Gaeltacht-based organisations engaged in language support activities, all of which positively impact on Gaeltacht communities.
In addition to direct funding within Gaeltacht communities, the Department funds and works closely with Údarás na Gaeltachta as the regional development agency for the Gaeltacht which is tasked inter alia with supporting and developing industry and enterprise in Gaeltacht regions as well as with the implementation of a number of schemes aimed specifically at reducing the impact of social exclusion. These schemes include the Leader Programme, the Community Enterprise Scheme, the Rural Social Scheme and the Scheme of Grants to Community Development Groups. Further details regarding the implementation and funding of these schemes are available in the organisation's Annual Report and Accounts at www.udaras.ie .
Notwithstanding the fact that the issues raised by the Deputy in his question are not uniquely confined to Gaeltacht regions and that they do not form part of my Department’s direct area of responsibility, it is my view that an indirect impact of my Department's operations and those of Údarás na Gaeltachta can have a positive impact in relation to the issues of loneliness and social isolation in Gaeltacht regions.
696. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the plans for Newgrange and Tara as mentioned briefly in Project Ireland 2040 regarding the national development plan. [11341/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Development Plan recognises the importance of conserving our archaeological and built heritage by making provision for significantly increased levels of capital investment in conservation and visitor facilities at Ireland’s key heritage sites. A new conservation management plan currently being developed for the state-owned lands at the Hill of Tara will identify objectively areas in need of attention, including actions to support sustainable visitor access and necessary conservation interventions to ensure the sites are preserved for future generations. A new management plan has also been prepared for Brú na Bóinne and helps identify priorities for future investment at this World Heritage inscribed site, where under my Department’s strategic partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the Office of Public Works, there is considerable government investment earmarked for revitalised visitor facilities, including at the main visitor centre.
