Written Answers Nos. 2861-2868
2861. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the details of proposals (details supplied) over the 2011 to 2018 period on an annual basis in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35138/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tables.
Table 1: Proposals in respect of which a Regulatory Impact Assessments was conducted.
|
Year |
Legislative Proposal |
RIA Published at |
|
2014 |
Amendment of the National Archives Act 1986 |
www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2017/02/regulatory-impact-analysis-20-year-rule.pdf (since enacted as the National Archives (Amendment) Act 2018) |
|
2016 |
Implementation of De-designation Proposals of the Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network under the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill |
www.ahrrga.gov.ie/app/uploads/2016/08/review-of-raised-bog-nha-network-ria-2016.pdf |
Table 2: Proposals in respect of which Regulatory Impact Assessments were not undertaken
|
Year |
Proposal |
|
2011 |
Irish Film Board (Amendment) Bill |
|
2012 |
Bille na Gaeltachta 2012/Gaeltacht Bill 2012 (since enacted as the Acht na Gaeltachta 2012/Gaeltacht Act 2012) Wildlife (Amendment) Bill 2012 (since enacted as the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2012) |
|
2015 |
National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015 (since enacted as the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Act 2015) |
|
2016 |
Heritage Bill 2016 (since enacted as the Heritage Act 2018) |
The Deputy may also wish to note the following in respect of the European Communities (Bird and Natural Habitats) Regulations were introduced in 2011. These Regulations consolidated and updated the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations of 1997 to comprehend both existing amendments to the Regulations, as well as rulings by the European Court of Justice in relation to a number of provisions under the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. As neither the EU Directives nor the Regulations introduced new provisions, the draft Regulations of 2011 did not undergo a formal Regulatory Impact Analysis. My Department, did, however, consult widely on the draft Regulations, including all Government Department, bodies under their aegis, and relevant statutory bodies.
2862. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will report on the archaeological dig under way in the Boyne Valley region; the guidance issued by her Department in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35171/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2863. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the media reports on the significant archaeological finds uncovered recently by aerial photography in the Boyne Valley region. [35172/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra2864. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the recent archaeological finds in the Boyne Valley region will be fully conserved; and if they will become open to the public to visit upon completion of the dig and associated works. [35173/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 2862 to 2864, inclusive, together.
There are a number of archaeological excavations ongoing in the Boyne Valley area, all of which have been licensed by my Department under the National Monuments Acts. These include the excavation of a newly discovered passage tomb at Dowth Hall and excavations being carried under the Royal Irish Academy Research excavation grant scheme which is part funded by my Department. Reports on the excavations will be published in due course.
Following the recent discovery of a large prehistoric enclosure close to the Great Neolithic Passage Tomb of Newgrange, my Department’s National Monuments Service has conducted aerial survey work in and around the Brú na Bóinne World Heritage Site. The survey has produced images of various known and newly identified sites, the latter having manifested as crop marks because of the dry weather conditions in recent weeks.
The results of the survey work and discoveries will increase and enrich our understanding of the Brú na Bóinne UNESCO World Heritage Site and of prehistoric society. The investigation of these sites is at an extremely early stage and further analysis is ongoing to inform future plans. As a first step, the archaeological features noted from the survey will be mapped to help assess their spatial relationship to each other and to the many other known monuments in the area.
The global interest in these discoveries is to be welcomed as it highlights to a wide audience the wealth and breadth of Ireland’s archaeological heritage. The new discoveries will also add greatly to the visitor experience for the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Brú na Bóinne centre and the great passage tomb complexes of the Boyne Valley.
2865. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding made available and allocated each year for the past five years to the national monuments service. [35174/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to my Department’s published Estimates for the years in question, which are available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The funding in Subhead B4 is distributed, as required, between the Department's Built Heritage Section and National Monuments Service.
|
2017 |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
2013 |
|
€731,365 |
€790,340 |
€926,000 |
€902,830 |
€953,900 |
Please note that the table does not include NMS operational costs (including payroll) or expenditure by OPW which is responsible for the day to day management of the state owned portfolio of national monuments.
2866. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the breakdown by project for the capital allocation of €54 million in 2018 to her Vote group; the breakdown by project for the proposed allocation of €75 million in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35274/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe capital allocation of €54.3 million for my Department this year is broken out across programme areas in the 2018 Revised Estimates published at www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2015/07/2018rev.pdf.
The detailed breakout of the capital allocation of €75 million for my Department in 2019 has not yet been finalised but the broad capital allocations for projects and programmes under Project Ireland 2040 are set out in my Department’s 10 Year Plan, “Investing in our Culture, Language & Heritage 2018 – 2027”, published at www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2018/04/capital_plan_april3-8.pdf.
More details on the individual projects and programmes will emerge as we go through the process of appraising, evaluating and planning for these investments. The final disaggregation will be completed as part of the annual Estimates process for 2019.
2867. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount paid for consultancy services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35380/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy on expenditure of consultancy services for the period 2012 to 2017 is set out in the tables below.
I would also point out that my Department also commissions engineering or environmental experts from time to time to provide technical reports on specific issues, as required. While the providers of these services are consultant engineers, environmental consultants or may describe themselves in other such terms, their work is not classified as consultancy services and is not funded from my Department's Administrative Budget.
2012
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Cost € |
|
Bonnar Keenlyside |
Review of Dublin Contemporary 2011 Commissioned to inform future consideration of any similar projects |
10,959 |
|
Total |
|
10,959 |
2013
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Cost € |
|
Dorgan Associates |
Cost Benefit Analysis of National Archives & National Gallery Development Plans and examination of capital incentives to promote investment in film studio infrastructure |
28,783 |
|
Total |
|
28,783 |
2014
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Cost € |
|
Dorgan Associates |
Examination of capital incentives to promote investment in film studio infrastructure |
3,382 |
|
Ernst & Young |
Review of PSO Air Service for the Aran Islands |
41,795 |
|
Total |
|
45,177 |
2015
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Cost € |
|
Fitzpatrick Assocs |
Updated Business Case in relation to the Ulster Canal - Lough Erne to Clones |
15,191 |
|
Public Affairs Ireland (PAI) |
Review of Management Structure of Senior Management Posts within Údarás na Gaeltachta |
17,617 |
|
The VAT Practice |
Advisory service on UK VAT Commissioned to inform administrative decisions in relation to compliance with tax obligations |
1,130 |
|
Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta Gaeilge |
Coimriú ar an tSeirbhís Rapporteur don Díospóireacht Oscailte ar Pholasaí faoin Straitéis Fiche Bliain don Ghaeilge, 2010 -2030 |
5,994 |
|
Total |
|
39,932 |
2016
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Cost € |
|
The VAT Practice |
Advisory service on UK VAT Commissioned to inform administrative decisions in relation to compliance with tax obligations |
2,514 |
|
Total |
|
€2,514 |
2868. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the amount paid for external legal services in each of the years 2012 to 2017; the details of these payments; the companies that received the payments; the amount received by each company; the hourly rates that applied to each company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35394/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that no expenditure on external legal services was incurred by my Department's Administrative Budget in respect of the period 2013 to 2017. A payment was made in 2012, the detail of which is set out in the table below.
|
Company |
Amount € |
Reason |
|
Philip Lee, Solicitors |
6,195 |
Payment was in respect of the Department's share of legal costs incurred during the process to re-open the Light House Cinema following a period in receivership |
For completeness, I note that, from time to time, my Department makes payments to the Chief State Solicitor's Office in respect of legal services provided to my Department by that Office.
