Written Answers Nos. 1670-1674
1670. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in her Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16426/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that 15 Temporary Clerical Officers were appointed to my Department from 01/01/2017 to date. The duration of the contracts was a minimum of 8 weeks to a maximum of 50 weeks, with no contract exceeding a year in duration. No permanent position was offered following these temporary contracts as the work was for a fixed period of time to meet business needs within particular units.
1671. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the stage the development plan for Brú na Bóinne is at; when it will be published; the necessary investment in this regard; and the timescale for development. [16464/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 11341/18 on 8 March 2018. The matter is unchanged in the interim.
1672. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding will be provided for a project (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16466/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) supports conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. The Fund encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure protected structures which might otherwise be lost.
Local authorities were invited to put forward up to four projects for funding under SRF in 2018. A fifth application was permitted if it related to an Irish Historic House in Private ownership.
In total my Department received 128 applications from 30 local authorities.
The structure referred to by the Deputy was not successful on this occasion. The full list of successful projects is on the Department's website.
Eleven projects in Sligo have been approved for funding under BHIS and SRF this year.
Applications were assessed by an expert panel in accordance with the terms of the Circular governing the scheme. Due to the volume of applications received this year, and the high standard of applications generally, it was not possible to fund every eligible project.
76 projects have been approved for funding under SRF 2018. Details of the scheme, together with a list of the successful projects and grants awarded are available on my Department's website and each participating local authority has been informed in writing of the outcome of the assessment process. If any applicant would like feedback on how their application performed at assessment, they should contact their local authority who will liaise with my Department in this regard.
1673. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the assessment, priority ranking, indicative costs, duration and exact scope of research required, which was to be developed by her Department and the Environmental Protection Agency, in respect of eight areas of peatland research to be pursued under the national peatlands strategy. [16670/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the information sought is not complete at this time. It 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.
1674. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding staffing at Killarney National Park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16729/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that since 2016 my Department has invested over €3 million in Killarney National Park. This spend represents a large proportion of my Department's overall budget for our six national parks and 80 reserves and reflects our commitment to the park. There has been significant investment in the upkeep of the park, the upgrading of its roads and of course the multi-million refurbishment of Killarney House and Gardens. My Department continues to manage Killarney National Park in order to abide by the strict criteria and standards for national parks as set by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature in 2015. At present there are 49 permanent staff and 4 seasonal staff based in Killarney National Park and its environs.
Staffing levels across my Department are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Of my Department’s total staff, I understand that some 330 work in the area of natural heritage through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS). In addition, my Department takes on in the region of 70 seasonal staff during the year to assist the NPWS. Conservation Rangers are deployed through a regional structure and assignments are determined in light of Departmental business needs and priorities.
