Written Answers Nos. 2821-2840
2821. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the report by the EU monitoring committee in regard to Galway 2020 following the meeting with the ECOC monitoring panel on 28 June and 29 June 2018 will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33244/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe second meeting of Galway 2020 with the European Capital of Culture monitoring panel took place in Rijeka, Croatia, on 28 and 29 June 2018, and I understand that the report of the monitoring panel will be available in August.
2824. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the detail of service level agreements signed by local authorities excluding Galway City Council and Galway County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33247/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, my Department enters into Service Level Agreements with recipients of funding across the range of its schemes. Typically, these encompass
- the purpose for which funding is provided,
- public procurement procedures
- legal matters
- procedures for drawdown of funding, and
- reporting and accounting procedures
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of service level agreements between my Department and Local Authorities under various schemes is summarised in the following table.
|
Scheme |
Local Authorities currently funded under scheme |
|
Arts & Culture Capital Scheme 2016-2018 |
Cavan County Council Donegal County Council Galway County Council Kerry County Council Leitrim County Council Mayo County Council Meath County Council Monaghan County Council Roscommon County Council Wexford County Council |
|
Other Capital Projects |
Mayo County Council Offaly County Council |
|
ACCESS II |
Cork County Council Kilkenny County Council Offaly County Council |
|
Culture Night |
Carlow County Council Cavan County Council Clare County Council Cork City Council Cork County Council Donegal County Council Galway City Council Galway County Council Kerry County Council Kildare County Council Kilkenny County Council Laois County council Leitrim County Council Limerick City and County Council Mayo County Council Monaghan County Council Offaly County Council Roscommon County Council Tipperary County Council Waterford City & Council Westmeath County Council Wexford County Council Wicklow County Council |
2825. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of each political appointment to her Department since she was appointed; the pay grade, experience and qualification of each person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33318/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince my appointment as Minister on 30 November 2017, and as provided for by the Public Service Management Act 1997, I have appointed two Special Advisers. My Media Adviser was appointed from 8 January 2018 and my Policy Adviser from 15 March 2018. In addition, I have appointed two Civilian Drivers. Both Civilian Drivers are paid on the Civilian Driver single-point scale, €691 per week.
My Media Adviser has extensive experience as a senior editor with over twenty years’ experience in both traditional and digital media. He was Director of News at Newstalk for 13 years, Managing Editor of the Network news (which supplies news to every radio station in the country) for 8 years and was a senior producer at Sky News. Over his career he has also worked for TV3 news and many local radio stations both here in Ireland and in the UK. He is paid on the third point of the Principal Officer (Standard Scale).
My Policy Adviser has eighteen years’ experience in corporate communications and public affairs. He previously worked as Senior Client Director in MKC Communications and also has previous experience as Communications Advisor in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (on secondment during the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union). From 2000 to 2006 he was Policy and Communications Manager in the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He has a Masters of Arts (European Studies) and a Batchelor of Arts in Politics, Sociology and French from UCD. He is paid on the second point of the Principal Officer (Standard Scale).
All of the above appointments are made in accordance with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Instructions to Personnel Officers – Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil, which is available on the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's website.
2826. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will meet a group (details supplied) with a view to her Department co-ordinating a cross-departmental task force including Departments such as the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and the Department of Justice and Equality in regard to supporting a project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33410/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has met with this group and is happy to continue to engage with the group.
2827. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 475 of 1 May 2018, when she will publish the economic analysis of the film, television and animation sector carried out by companies (details supplied) and commissioned in 2016; the reason for the delay in publishing this study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33437/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the economic analysis of the film, television and animation sector carried out by the companies referred to is published on my Department's website and is available at the following link
www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/economic-analysis-of-the-audiovisual-sector-in-the-republic-of-ireland.pdf.
2828. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when recipients of the small-scale local festivals and summer schools funding scheme 2018 will be informed. [33551/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates a Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools Scheme, designed to support local cultural festivals and summer schools which are not in receipt of other public monies and which may not be eligible for funding from those bodies.
The total amount of current funding available to this fund for 2018 is €76,000. 71 applications were received in 2018 and 50 projects were considered to be eligible under the scheme.
Full details of the scheme are available at: www.chg.gov.ie/minister-madigan-announces-funding-for-small-scale-local-festivals-and-summer-schools/.
2829. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a company (details supplied) has received funding from Screen Ireland since March 2017; her views in regard to a connection between Screen Ireland board members and the company and the perception of unfairness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33648/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2830. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a company (details supplied) has received funding from Screen Ireland since March 2017; her views in regard to a connection between Screen Ireland board members and the company and the perception of unfairness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33649/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2831. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a company (details supplied) has received funding from Screen Ireland since March 2017; her views in regard to a connection between Screen Ireland board members and the company and the perception of unfairness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33650/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2832. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if a company (details supplied) has received funding from Screen Ireland since March 2017; her views in regard to a connection between Screen Ireland board members and the company and the perception of unfairness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33651/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2829 to 2832, inclusive, together.
Screen Ireland works within the framework of the Irish Film Board Acts, 1980 to 2011.
Screen Ireland is statutorily independent in its funding decisions and neither I as Minister nor my officials have any role on such matters. In situations where there is a possibility of a conflict of interest involving Board members, I am advised that Screen Ireland adopts procedures in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
I understand from Screen Ireland that in the normal course of business, Screen Ireland may approve grants or enter into other contractual arrangements with entities in which Screen Ireland Board Members are employed or are otherwise interested. In cases of potential conflict of interest, I am advised that Board members do not receive Board documentation or otherwise participate in or attend discussions regarding these transactions. A register is maintained of all such instances and is available on request.
2833. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number and name of the groups she met each month to date in 2018 that fall under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33706/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Regulation of Lobbying Act, 2015, provides that the Standards in Public Office Commission establish and maintain an online Register of lobbying activity.
Under the Act it is the responsibility of Lobbyists to provide details of their interactions with Designated Public Officials to the Standards in Public Office Commission. There is no onus on Designated Public Officials to maintain a record of such interactions.
My Ministerial Diary is published on my Department’s Website on a quarterly basis and details of my engagements up to the end of June this year are available at www.chg.gov.ie/about/ministers/ministers-diary/.
My ministerial engagements subsequent to that date are listed in the following table.
|
Date |
Venue |
Event/Meeting |
|
2nd July |
Coole Park, Connemara |
Launch of Tourism Masterplan with MOS Brendan Griffin |
|
4th July |
College Green, Dublin 2 |
Opening of the Bank of Ireland Exhibition Centre |
|
6th July |
Minister’s Office |
Meeting with The National Campaign for the Arts and Officials |
|
7th July |
Islandbridge, Dublin 8 |
Annual commemoration and wreath laying ceremony |
|
9th July |
Lir Theatre, Dublin 2 |
Launch of Gender Equality in Practice in Irish Theatre |
|
10th July |
Minister’s Office |
Meeting with First Fortnight, MOS Helen McEntee and Officials |
|
10th July |
Sandyford, Dublin 18 |
Reception at the residence of the British Ambassador, Robin Barnett |
|
11th July |
Minister’s Office |
Meeting with Subset and Officials |
|
12th July |
Minister’s Office |
Meeting with Dr Manning, Dr Mansergh and Officials |
|
16th July |
Dowth Hall, Co. Meath |
Photo call and visit at Dowth Hall |
|
16th July |
Ardee, Co. Louth |
Visit to Ardee Castle |
|
16th July |
Drogheda, Co. Louth |
Visit to St. Laurence’s Gate |
|
16th July |
Drogheda, Co. Louth |
Visit to Highlane Gallery |
|
17th July |
Dept Offices Kildare St |
Ministerial Management Board meeting |
|
19th July |
NMI, Kildare St |
Photo call and launch of Heritage Week programme |
|
19th July |
Minister’s Office |
Meeting with Professor Tom Collins and Officials |
|
19th July |
Minister’s Office |
Meeting with Professor Yvonne Buckley and Officials |
2834. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 51 of 9 May 2018, if her Department has completed its analysis of the project; if it has been referred to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; if legal advice is being provided in regard to extra public funding; when a final decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33785/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, as the sanctioning authority, must ensure the project is robust, complies with the public spending code and will deliver value for money for the Exchequer. Due to its size and cost, this project has significant procurement, state aid, legal and matched funding complexities, all of which is currently under consideration. Allocations of funding are a matter for me, as Minister, in the first instance, but are also subject to the sanction of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received a revised cost benefit analysis for the project at the end of June. The report is currently under review in the Irish Government Economic & Evaluation Service (IGEES) Unit in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
2835. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to deny hare coursing licences to coursing clubs this season (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33855/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) requires Ireland to make a detailed report every six years on the conservation status of all listed species, including the hare. Ireland’s most recent report in 2013 included a comprehensive assessment of the range, population status, habitat and threats for the Irish hare. The report can be downloaded at www.npws.ie/article-17-reports-0/article-17-reports-2013. The next report is due in 2019.
The 2013 report stated that the Hare is found throughout the country from coastal habitats to upland heath and bog. The Hare is widespread and common in Ireland with a broad habitat niche. None of the identified threats are considered likely to impact on its conservation status in the foreseeable future and the Overall Conservation Status was assessed as Favourable. My Department is not aware of any expert reports which indicate a national decline in the population of hares.
In addition to the reporting requirements of the EU Habitats Directive, data on the distribution of the hare is being collected continuously by the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the recent Atlas of Mammals in Ireland 2010-2015 provided a summary of the species’ range, demonstrating that it remains widespread across the country.
My Department recently commissioned a new assessment of the status of hare’s population in Ireland. The survey work to inform this population assessment has already begun with the main survey work to occur over the 2018/19 winter period. The final report is due in mid-2019.
In relation to hare coursing meetings, the recent 2017/18 hare coursing season finished at the end of February last. All reports in relation to the season will be considered in the context of licenses for the 2018/19 coursing season.
2836. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cad iad na critéir a úsáidfear chun a chinneadh cé acu an €100,000 nó €150,000 a thabharfar do na grúpaí pleanála teanga. [33877/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá cistíocht suas le €100,000 thar thréimhse 12 mhí iomlán curtha ar fáil i leith gach Limistéir Pleanála Teanga Gaeltachta ina mbeidh feidhmiú plean teanga aontaithe. Ina theannta sin, tá allúntas breise ar fiú suas le €50,000 thar tréimhse 12 mhí á chur ar fáil faoin bpróiseas i leith 5 limistéir faoi leith. Is de bharr dúshlán faoi leith atá bainteach le ceithre cinn de na ceantair seo a tógadh an cinneadh seo. Is iad na ceantair atá i gceist ná:
- Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire & Loch an Iúir;
- Cois Fharraige;
- Conamara Láir; agus,
- Ciarraí Thiar.
Is ar an mbunús go sásaíonn na limistéirí thuas trí chinn den ceithre chritéar a leanas atá an t-allúntas breise á chur ar fáil:
1 Achar an Limistéir Pleanála Teanga a bheith os cionn 200km2;
2 Daonra d'os cionn 5,000 duine níos sine ná trí bliana d’aois sa limistéir;
3 Líon cainteoirí laethúla Gaeilge taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais sa limistéir a bheith circa nó ós cionn 1,500 duine;
4 Céatadán chainteoirí laethúla Gaeilge an limistéara a bheith circa nó os cionn 50% de dhaonra iomlán an limistéara.
I bhfianaise go bhfuil dúshlán tíreolaíoch ar leith ag na trí Oileáin Árann, atá aitheanta mar limistéir pleanála teanga amháin, cuirfear an t-allúntas breise ar fail don limistéir sin chomh maith.
2837. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an soláthróidh sí eolas i dtábla maidir leis na hiarratais éagsúla a fuarthas ar mhaoiniú le haghaidh pleananna teanga agus maidir le stádas na n-iarratas sin faoi láthair. [33878/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá ocht bplean teanga ceadaithe faoin bpróiseas pleanála teanga go dáta. Is iad na limistéir atá ceadaithe ná:
- Cois Fharraige;
- Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire & Loch an Iúir;
- Cloch Chionaola, Gort an Choirce, An Fál Carrach & Machaire Rabhartaigh;
- Na Déise;
- Muscraí;
- Chiarraí Theas;
- Dúiche Sheoigheach & Tuar Mhic Éadaigh; agus,
- Ciarraí Thiar.
Tá cúig phlean eile á meas ag an Roinn faoi láthair. Is iad sin:
- An Cheathrú Rua;
- Maigh Eo Thuaidh;
- Conamara Láir;
- Árainn Mhór; agus,
- Ráth Chairn agus Baile Ghib.
Beidh suas le €100,000 á chur ar fáil do gach ceann de na limistéir a cheadaítear agus beidh allúntas breise suas le €50,000 ar fáil i gcás na limistéir - Cois Fharraige; Gaoth Dobhair, Rann na Feirste, Anagaire & Loch an Iúir, Ciarraí Thiar, Conamara Láir agus na trí Oileáin Árann - toisc go dtagann siad faoi chritéir cáilithe faoi leith.
2838. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Peadar Tóibín den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta ráiteas a dhéanamh ar na coinníollacha oibre, lena n-áirítear tuarastal, teideal, pinsean, laethanta saoire agus laethanta tinnis, a bheidh ag na hoifigigh pleanála teanga atá le fostú sna 26 limistéar pleanála teanga; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [33879/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBeidh an tOifigeach Pleanála Teanga freagrach as stiúradh agus bainistiú éifeachtach a dhéanamh ar fheidhmiú an phlean teanga dá Limistéar Pleanála Teanga agus as an gclár oibre a eascróidh as a chur i bhfeidhm i gcomhar leis an gCeanneagraíocht agus an gCoiste Stiúrtha Pleanála Teanga cuí.
Is ag an gCeanneagraíocht a bheidh an toifigeach fostaithe agus, dá bhrí sin, is ceist do gach Ceanneagraíocht ar leith coinníollacha fostaíochta an oifigigh a leagan síos.
Tá an scála pá seo a leanas leagtha síos do na hOifigigh Pleanála Teanga:
€35,000; €37,500; €40,000; €42,500; €45,000; €47,500; €50,000.
Tabharfar solúbthacht don Cheanneagraíocht an tOifigeach a fhostú ag tosú amach ag aon cheann de na pointí ar an scála sin, ag brath ar cháilíochtaí, taithí, méid an limistéara; castachta teanga an limistéara agus clár feidhmithe an phlean teanga.
2839. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost of insurance under headings (details supplied) for her Department and each body under its aegis; the cost of the premium for 2018 or the premium paid in 2018 if the policy year straddles two calendar years; the comparable premium amount paid in 2017; the number of outstanding insurance claims against her Department or bodies under its aegis; the estimated cost of those claims; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33995/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn light of the volume of information requested by the Deputy, arrangements are being made for this information to be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy, in accordance with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
2840. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications for the national heritage areas designation received in 2017 (details supplied). [34044/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for active turf cutters arising from the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. This scheme is comprised of a payment of €1,500 per annum, index-linked, for 15 years, or relocation, where feasible, to a non-designated bog, together with a once-off incentive payment of €500. In 2014, the scheme was extended to active turf cutters from 36 raised bog natural heritage areas.
Three hundred and forty-one applications under the scheme for raised bog natural heritage areas were received in 2017.
