Written Answers Nos. 602-612
602. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific projects which will receive the €21 million in extra capital expenditure in 2019 as outlined in annex 1 of the National Development Plan 2018-2027; the amount each project will receive of this €21 million in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31271/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe broad capital allocations for projects and programmes are set out in my Department’s 10 Year Plan, “Investing in our Culture, Language & Heritage 2018 – 2027”, at https://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2018/04/capital_plan_april3-8.pdf which explicitly recognises that our culture, language and heritage are an essential part of the sustainable development of the country. The break out of the additional €21 million in capital expenditure for my Department under the National Development Plan has not yet been finalised as investments over the period are subject to appraisal and evaluation in line with the Public Spending Code.
More details on the individual projects and programmes will emerge as we go through the process of appraising, evaluating and planning for these important investments. The final disaggregation will be completed as part of the annual Estimates process for 2019.
603. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific projects which will receive the €75 million in capital funding allocated in 2019; the amount each project will receive of the €75 million in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31286/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe broad capital allocations for projects and programmes are set out in my Department’s 10 Year Plan, “Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027”, at this link which explicitly recognises that our culture, language and heritage are an essential part of the sustainable development of the country. The break out of the €75 million in total capital expenditure for my Department in 2019 has not yet been finalised as investments over the period are subject to appraisal and evaluation in line with the Public Spending Code.
More details on the individual projects and programmes will emerge as we go through the process of appraising, evaluating and planning for these important investments. The final disaggregation will be completed as part of the annual Estimates process for 2019.
604. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific reason for the underspend in gross voted expenditure of €7 million as outlined in appendix V of the June 2018 fiscal monitor; the specific projects that have an underspend; the value of the underspend on each project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31303/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe underspend against profile within my Department's Vote largely relates to timing issues in relation to the drawdown of funding across a number of projects and subheads which it is anticipated will rectify by year end.
All expenditure within my Department's Vote continues to be carefully monitored to ensure the best use of available financial resources. While it is too early at this point in time to accurately forecast the full end of year outturn, I can advise that no significant savings are envisaged at present.
605. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén uair a fuarthas iarratas ar mhaoiniú ó Chumann Traenach na Gaeltachta Láir; cén tsuim airgid a lorgaíodh; cén tsuim airgid atáthar a mholadh a cheadú; cén uair a bheidh cinneadh déanta ina leith. [31443/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBeidh áthas ar an Teachta a chloisteáil go bhfuil deontas de €5,756 ceadaithe aige do Chumann Traenach na Gaeltachta Láir chun cur ar a gcumas deisiúcháin agus obair chothabhála a dhéanamh ar uirlis stairiúil de chuid an Chumainn. Is aitheantas é seo go bhfuil an tseirbhís a chuireann an Cumann Traenach ar fáil an-tábhachtach mar áis ar leith, ní amháin do mhuintir an cheantair, ach do thurasóirí ar Shlí an Atlantaigh Fhiáin freisin.
606. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the changes she has made to allow access by persons to their own data held by her Department and bodies under its aegis following the introduction of GDPR; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31467/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra607. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the staffing complement and resources of her Department's data protection officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31491/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra608. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the data protection impact assessments her Department has commenced since 15 May 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31508/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra612. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the measures she has taken in her Department further to the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's statement (details supplied) that the Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018 is needed to provide a legal basis for certain data transfers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31619/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 606 to 608, inclusive, and 612 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, in common with other Government Departments, my Department was subject to existing Data Protection legislation prior to the coming into effect of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) on 25th May 2018. This legislation included provision for Data Subject Access requests and for the use of Data Sharing Agreements for the transfer or sharing of data between bodies.
In February of this year, my Department appointed a Data Protection Officer (DPO) in line with the requirements of Article 37 of the GDPR. This officer was appointed at Assistant Principal Officer level and is based in the Corporate Governance & Services Unit of my Department and is responsible for overseeing the ongoing programme of work to ensure that the Department meets its obligations under the GDPR and the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018.
My Department has reviewed and updated its Data Protection webpage to ensure compliance with the GDPR and the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018, and has published a “Right to Access” webpage to assist persons who wish to submit a data access request. This webpage includes the contact details for our Data Protection Officer and the Data Protection Commission.
In line with Article 35 of the GDPR, the Department is required to undertake a data protection impact assessment where it intends to perform a new type of processing, in particular using new technologies, which is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons. No requirements for a DPIA have been identified as yet since 15 May 2018.
With regard to data sharing and/or data transfer, while my Department continues to operate a number of Data Sharing Agreements in line with Data Protection legislation, the Data Protection Officer is overseeing a review of these to ensure compliance with best practice under the new legislative regime, including the adoption of a standardised template for Data Sharing Agreements entered into by this Department. I am advised that my Department is not currently engaged in data sharing or transfer arrangements of the kind referred to by the Deputy.
609. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of projects and the value of arts capital funding for theatres over the past three years from her Department, the Arts Council and Culture Ireland by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31553/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2016 my Department announced a new capital investment scheme for arts and culture centres, including theatres. The scheme, which was open to not-for-profit organisations with a defined arts and cultural remit, is focussed on enhancing the existing stock of arts and culture centres including theatres throughout the country. Under the Scheme a total €10.214m has been allocated to 134 arts and culture organisations and theatres across the State. The funding is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021.
In addition to this my Department has from time to time provided funding for Other Capital Projects including theatres. The Arts Council does not make Capital Grants. All payments, including those of Culture Ireland which is part of my Department, are set out on my Department’s website at the following link.
610. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans in respect of an estate (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if her attention has been drawn to the potential of the amenity for tourism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31570/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), manages a property portfolio in respect of national parks and reserves of approximately 87,000 hectares. These important biodiversity areas are located all around the country. The current focus of capital investment within the National Parks and Nature Reserves, is on managing existing Parks and Reserves' lands, as well as upgrading visitor and trails facility as part of Experiencing the Wild Heart of Ireland a Tourism Interpretative Master Plan for the National Parks and Reserves. As the Deputy is already aware, my Department has no direct role in the sale process of the estate in question as it is a commercial matter between the owners of the property and any parties interested in the purchase. While the estate in question would be a significant addition to my Department’s stock of publicly owned heritage lands, I could only consider acquiring this property if the price fell to within a certain range, or in the context of a donation or bequest. This is known to the vendors.
611. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the working group to undertake the transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from RTÉ to the NCH; when it will report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31573/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the publication of the report by RTÉ that it commissioned from independent consultants Helen Boaden and Mediatique on the RTÉ Orchestras entitled RTÉ Orchestras Ensuring a Sustainable Future, the Government has recently agreed in principle that the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra should come within the remit of the National Concert Hall (NCH). The Government also authorised the initiation of discussions on the implementation of the recommendations of the report.
I will now establish an oversight group to begin discussions on the implementation of the Boaden Report's recommendations. My Department will chair the Oversight Group and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment will also participate along with representatives from the NCH and RTÉ. The purpose of the group will be to identify and address the relevant issues to enable the successful transfer of the NSO from the remit of RTÉ to the remit of the NCH. There will also be a working group which will consider the various operational and technical issues involved. It is expected that there will be extensive consultation with the employees of both orchestras.
I intend to establish both groups as soon as possible.
