Written Answers Nos. 1203-1221
1205. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of homeless persons in County Kildare who have been offered and received accommodation from the local authority in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1742/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department publishes reports on a monthly basis regarding the number of individuals in emergency accommodation. These reports include a county breakdown of the homeless adult population and are available on my Department's website at: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/homelessness/other/homelessness-data.
The administration of homeless services is organised on a regional basis as this approach is considered more effective, bringing a strategic perspective to bear on action to address homelessness. In this regard, Kildare County Council is included in the Mid-East Region along Meath County Council and Wicklow County Council. As part of the funding arrangements in place, each region provides my Department with a quarterly performance report which includes details of the number of individuals exiting homelessness in that quarter. The most recently submitted reports to my Department indicate that at the end of September 2018, 116 adults in the Mid-East region were supported by the housing authorities to exit from homelessness into independent tenancies during the first 9 months of 2018.
1206. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the customer complaints received by his Department in each of the years since 2016; if the complaints are grouped into categories; the nature of the complaints; the resolution of same; and the number progressed to the relevant ombudsman in each of the years since 2016. [1875/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is currently being collated within my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy in accordance with Standing Orders.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A :
My Department is committed to providing a high quality service to all our customers. On occasion, it receives complaints from members of the public in relation to their interaction with the Department and we welcome these insofar as they may lead to service improvements. My Department considers every complaint received and aims to resolve it within 15 working days, in accordance with our Quality Customer Service Charter, unless there are particular reasons why this cannot be done. The complaints are not grouped into categories and none have progressed to the Office of the Ombudsman.
The number of complaints received in my Department (other than Met Éireann) are set out in the first table below. Since the introduction of GDPR, my Department’s policy in relation to correspondence received in its Quality Customer Service office is to retain emails and letters for no longer than 12 months unless the issue is not resolved within that time. Accordingly, insofar as complaints received directly by the QCS Office are concerned, only 2018 data is available.
|
Year |
No of complaints |
|
2017 |
4 |
|
2018 |
11 |
The following table gives the number of complaints recorded by Met Éireann (a Division of my Department) on its customer service system and refer to a range of issues relating to its high profile service to the public. While there was a significant increase in complaints to Met Éireann in 2018, the extreme weather last year impacted on the number received, as did the introduction of Met Éireann’s new website and app, which would be expected in the early period following the introduction of new services of this kind.
|
Year |
No of complaints |
|
2016 |
107 |
|
2017 |
120 |
|
2018 |
840 |
1207. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of Údarás na Gaeltachta supported jobs at 31 December in each of the years 2016 to 2018, inclusive, by county and in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54278/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of the years 2016 and 2017 is outlined in tabular format below. In relation to 2018, I understand from Údarás na Gaeltachta that this information will be available shortly.
|
County |
Year ending 31/12/2016 |
Year ending 31/12/2017 |
|
Dún na nGall |
2,090 |
2,193 |
|
Maigh Eo |
640 |
648 |
|
Gaillimh |
2,932 |
2,933 |
|
An Mhí |
211 |
219 |
|
Ciarraí |
671 |
688 |
|
Corcaigh |
675 |
684 |
|
Port Láirge |
129 |
138 |
|
Total |
7,348 |
7,503 |
1208. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 15 November 2018, the number of appeals regarding special area of conservation, SAC, designations lodged in each of the years 2000 to 2013, inclusive, in County Galway; the number of appeals that were 100% successful; the number that were partially successful, by percentage; if landowners were officially informed that their land was designated as an SAC; the average waiting time for appeals of an SAC designation to take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54064/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhen lands are being proposed for inclusion within a special area of conservation, special protection area or natural heritage area, each landowner is notified in writing of the proposed designation and is sent an information pack on the relevant site. The information pack explains the scientific reasons for the proposed designation, sets out the activities requiring my prior consent, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and includes information on how to appeal against the proposed designation. A map showing the boundaries and extent of the site is also sent to landowners to help them to determine whether or not their land is located within the site proposed for designation.
Notice of the proposed designation is also:
1. published in at least one newspaper with circulation covering the area in which the site is located, in one national newspaper and on the website of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department;
2. broadcast on a radio channel generally available in the area in which the site is located; and
3. provided for display in local Garda stations, local authority offices, public libraries, local offices of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and offices of Teagasc.
My Department also notifies the relevant Ministers and public authorities of the proposed designation of a site.
Landowners are also notified of the final formal designation of a site, which takes effect with the signing by me, as Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, of a Statutory Instrument.
Once a site is proposed for designation, a landowner may appeal against the proposed inclusion of the land in question within the site by submission of an appeal in writing within three months of the notification of the proposal to designate the site.
While in most cases appeals are to remove land from a site proposed for designation, a small number of appeals have been received to have lands included within the site.
There were 320 appeals submitted to my Department, in relation to sites proposed for designation as special areas of conservation in County Galway, during the years 2000-2013, of which 60 were successful and 72 were partially successful (the number of appeals submitted includes four appeals to have land included within the site proposed for designation). Details of this information per year are outlined in the table below.
|
Year |
No. of appeals submitted |
No. of successful appeals |
Percentage of appeals submitted that were successful |
No. of partially successful appeals |
Percentage of appeals submitted that were partially successful |
|
2000 |
27 |
8 |
29.6% |
9 |
33.3% |
|
2001 |
16 |
4 |
25.0% |
2 |
12.5% |
|
2002 |
22 |
2 |
9.1% |
1 |
4.5% |
|
2003 |
11 |
5 |
45.5% |
3 |
27.3% |
|
2004 |
12 |
5 |
41.7% |
4 |
33.3% |
|
2005 |
12 |
3 |
25.0% |
3 |
25.0% |
|
2006 |
14 |
4 |
28.6% |
4 |
28.6% |
|
2007 |
179 |
23 |
12.8% |
44 |
24.6% |
|
2008 |
0 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2009 |
12 |
2 |
16.7% |
2 |
16.7% |
|
2010 |
0 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2011 |
5 |
4 |
80.0% |
0 |
0 |
|
2012 |
0 |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
2013 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
320 |
60 |
18.8% |
72 |
22.5% |
Based on the information available, the average time taken to process an appeal, from the date of submission of an appeal to the date the appeal was closed, was 20.4 months. For some of these appeals the landowners were notified of the outcome but the appeal was not marked as closed within the Department until some time later. This brings up the figure for the average time taken to process an appeal.
In the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 239 of 15 November 2018 it was set out that the number of appeals, in relation to sites proposed for designation as special areas of conservation, submitted to my Department in 2013 was 1. Due to an administrative error in the compilation of this information in the short time available marine site appeals were inadvertently excluded and the figure should have been 55.
1209. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the 1926 census can be viewed before its release in 2026 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54098/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware that the 1926 Census is the next full set of Census records available to the State following the 1911 returns. The 1926 Census was the first undertaken by the independent State, just four years after the Treaty was signed and three years after the Civil War. I understand that this is a historic collection of great value and interest for historians, researchers, the general public and the Diaspora.
Census collection and census records are provided for in the Statistics Act 1993. Responsibility for this legislation falls under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach. Under sections 33 and 35 of that Act, information gathered by the Census which relates either directly or indirectly to an identifiable person cannot be released until 100 years after the date of the relevant census.
I have been informed that making the 1926 Census available to the public will require a significant volume of work which will involve both the conservation and the digitisation of the data in the individual 1926 Census forms. This will take several years. Nevertheless, I hope that it will be ready for public release at the end of the statute period in 2026.
I am pleased to advise that my Departments website, www.irishgenealogy.ie contains Civil Records of Births over 100 years old, Marriages over 75 years old and Deaths over 50 years old. It is also possible to search for death records from that period on www.irishgenealogy.ie . There is also a feedback mechanism on the website along with plenty of useful advice and tips to assist in carrying out searches on the website.
1210. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the cost incurred by her Department in 2018 for the use of taxi services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54206/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that expenditure by my Department on taxi services in 2018 was €7,556.
In general, taxi services may be hired by officers while on Departmental business where public transport is not available or suitable. Officers are instructed that, when travelling to and from the same destination, shared taxis should be availed of, where possible.
1211. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if course trials are held simply to familiarise hares with the venue as the licence stipulates (details supplied); the reason greyhound owners are expected to pay €30 each just to observe the alleged familiarising process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54251/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department issued the Irish Coursing Club with licences in August 2018 on behalf of its affiliated clubs to capture and tag hares for the 2018/19 coursing season which included conditions relating to the reporting of coursing trials.
It is my understanding that it is normal practice for some coursing clubs to "trial" or familiarise hares with the course in advance of coursing meetings. This involves releasing the hares from the same location from which they will be released at the actual coursing meeting with the intention that they would become familiar with the route to the escape in a live coursing scenario.
Where resources allow, local National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) conservation rangers and other staff attend coursing meetings to conduct on the spot-checks and to monitor compliance with licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club and its affiliated clubs. I have no role in relation to the payment of any fees relating to these trials.
1212. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dara Calleary den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cé mhéad airgid breise atá curtha ar fáil don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht ó bunaíodh an Rialtas seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [54276/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTugtar briseadh síos sa tábla thíos ar an méad airgid breise atá curtha ar fáil don Ghaeilge agus don Ghaeltacht ó bunaíodh an Rialtas seo:
|
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
€64.407m [1] |
€60.602m |
€62.595 [2] |
€69.095 |
[1] San áireamh i bhfigiúr 2016, bhí allúntas aon-uaire de €6m le h-íoc as fhorbairt chéanna farantóireachta ar na hoileáin.
[2] Is é seo an figiúr a foilsíodh sna Meastachain Athbhreithnithe i leith 2018. Cuirfear figiúr deimhnithe ar fáil sa Chuntas Leithreasaithe a bheidh iniúchta ag an C&AG.
Is ionann iomlán an mhaoinithe don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus do na hOileáin don bhliain 2019 agus €55.772m. Nuair a chuirtear leithdháileadh an Fhorais Teanga san áireamh, is ionann an maoiniú iomlán agus €69.095m - méadú de €6.5m ar ar an allúntas don earnáil i Meastacháin Athbhreithnithe 2018. San áireamh i leithdáileadh 2019 tá:
- €0.6m sa bhreis chun tacú le cur i bhfeidhm an Phróisis Pleanála Teanga dá ndéantar foráil in Acht na Gaeltachta 2012;
- €2.7m breise d’Údarás na Gaeltachta chun infheistíocht a dhéanamh i gcothabháil agus i gcruthú post i gceantair Ghaeltachta, rud a fhágann gurb é €9.7m an leithdháileadh iomlán caipitil don eagraíocht, €0.7m atá tugtha ar aghaidh ó 2018 san áireamh. ;
- €0.5m sa bhreis i maoiniú reatha d’Údarás na Gaeltachta chun tacú le comharchumainn agus eagraíochtaí forbartha pobail sa Ghaeltacht den chuid is mó;
- Leithdháileadh breise de €1.18m do Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Gaeltachta mo Roinne chun tacú tuilleadh le Próiseas Pleanála Teanga na Gaeltachta;
- Leithdháileadh breise de €0.75m do Scéimeanna Tacaíochta Teanga na Roinne lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht chun scoláireachtaí Gaeltachta a chur ar fáil do dhaltaí ó scoileanna DEIS agus chun dul chun cinn a dhéanamh i ndáil le gréasán d’Ionaid Gaeilge agus Cultúir a fhorbairt ar fud na tíre;
- Leithdháileadh breise de €1m chun forbairt a dhéanamh ar infreastruchtúr calafoirt a fhreastalaíonn ar na hOileáin Árainn agus ar Thoraigh; agus,
- Leithdháileadh breise de €0.433m chun seirbhísí riachtanacha iompair a sholáthar chuig na hoileáin.
Rachaidh an infheistíocht mhéadaithe seo don Ghaeilge, don Ghaeltacht agus do na hOileáin in 2019 i bhfeidhm go mór ar phobail Ghaeltachta, go háirithe, mar go bhfuil an chuid is mó den leithdháileadh á tabhairt do chruthú post, forbairt pobail agus pleanáil teanga sa Ghaeltacht, agus, chomh maith leis sin, d’fhorbairt na gcalafort agus na seirbhísí iompair a bhaineann leis na hoileáin.
Is fiú a nótáil chomh maith go mbeidh maoiniú caipitil de €2.8m á chur ar fáil faoin gCiste um Athghiniúint agus Forbairt Tuaithe do thograí de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta i nGaeltachtaí Dhún na nGall, Mhaigh Eo agus na Gaillimhe. Tá an maoiniú ceadaithe do thrí thogra rathúil de chuid Údarás na Gaeltachta mar seo leanas:
- €1.5m ceadaithe chun an t-urlár bairr neamhfhorbartha de gteic @Gaoth Dobhair ar Pháirc Ghnó Ghaoth Dobhair a fhorbairt agus 1,725 sq.m de spás oibre/oifigí nua a chur ar fáil;
- €548,000 chun Ionad Nuálaíochta agus Mol Digiteach gteic @An Spidéal a fhorbairt i gConamara; agus,
- €795,000 chun 8 nIonad Nuálaíochta/Moil Dhigiteacha/Láthair Barrfeabhais a fhorbairt i nGaeltacht Mhaigh Eo ag áireamh Béal an Mhuirthead, An Eachléim, Gaoth Sáile, Acaill agus Tuar Mhic Éadaigh.
Ní miste a rá gur soláthar breise é seo d’Údarás na Gaeltachta anuas ar an soláthar méadaithe de €9.7m atá curtha ar fáil ag mo Roinn don eagraíocht do 2019.
Táim sásta, mar sin, go bhfuil neart dul chun cinn déanta ag an Rialtas mar a bhaineann sé leis an réimse cúraimí atá orm i mBuiséad 2019.
1213. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Dara Calleary den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén soláthar airgid a cuireadh ar fáil i meastacháin 2018 agus i meastacháin 2019 d’Údarás na Gaeltachta, agus an méid sin briste síos idir soláthar caipitil agus reatha; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [54277/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLéiríonn an tábla thíos an soláthar airgid a cuireadh ar fáil don Údarás in 2018 agus an soláthar do 2019:
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
2018Reatha€000 |
2018Caipitil€000 |
2019Reatha€000 |
2019Caipitil€000 |
|
C6 - Reatha Riarachán |
€9,637* |
€9,442 |
||
|
C7 - Reatha (Teangabhunaithe) |
€3,350 |
€3,850 |
||
|
C8 – Caipiteal |
€7,638** |
€9,700*** |
||
|
Iomlán |
€12,987 |
€7,638 |
€13,292 |
€9,700 |
* C6 2018 - Fuarthas ciste reatha breise de €0.4m don Údarás in 2018 mar thoradh ar shábháiltí in áiteanna eile i Vóta na Roinne agus tá sé san áireamh sa bhfigiúr thuas.
**C8 2018 Fuarthas leithdháileadh caipitil breise de €0.638m don Údarás in 2018, mar thoradh ar shábháiltí in áiteanna eile i Vóta na Roinne agus tá sé san áireamh sa bhfigiúr thuas.
*** C8 2019 Maidir leis an soláthar caipitil do 2019, tá suim de €0.7m nár chaith an Roinn in 2018 tugtha ar aghaidh go 2019 a chuirfear ar fáil do bhuiséad caipitil an Údaráis. Ciallaíonn sé seo go mbeidh buiséad iomlán caipitil de €9.7m á chur ar fáil ag mo Roinn don Údarás in 2019 le caitheamh ar chlár forbartha fiontraíochta agus fostaíochta na heagraíochta agus tá sé seo san áireamh sa bhfigiúr thuasluaite.
Is figiúirí sealadacha iad cinn 2018 a dheimhneofar i gCuntas Leithreasaithe na Roinne faoi réir iniúchadh an Ard-Reachtaire Cuntas agus Ciste.
1214. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the budget and spend in her Department for marketing, media and social media in each of the years 2016 to 2018, inclusive; the projected spend for 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54460/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the reply given to Parliamentary Question Number 596 and 597 of 18th December 2018 which sets out the up-to-date position in relation to these matters.
1215. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of staff in her Department employed to work on marketing, media and social media in 2018. [54477/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that there are three members of staff in my Department in 2018 employed to work on marketing, media and social media as part of their Press Office duties.
1216. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she expects to achieve an amicable resolution of issues between Waterways Ireland and traditional dwellers and recreational users of the Grand Canal, County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1027/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWaterways Ireland continues to work closely with boat owners using the canals, adjacent land owners and local committees. Meetings are also held with the key stakeholder interest groups, the Royal Canal Amenity Group, Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) and the Heritage Boat Association (HBA).
In addition, Waterways Ireland works alongside the Friends of the Grand Canal and Royal Canal Clean-Up Group in Dublin and the newly established Grand Canal Dock Group, who like many of the communities throughout the waterways support the maintenance of our waterways. Waterways Ireland Operational staff, lockkeepers and waterway patrollers meet canal users on a daily basis and provide a wide range of services to all our recreational users.
Inspectorate staff manage boat use on the canals in accordance with the 1988 Canal Bye-laws. In this regard, Waterways Ireland continues to concentrate on boats which consistently remain in breach of the Bye-laws. Where a boat owner fails to respond to requests to comply, after notification by letters, telephone calls and formal notice, a programme of boat removal continues.
The Heritage Act 2018 was signed into law by the President on 18 July 2018 and Waterways Ireland will consult with its stakeholders in the drafting of additional Byelaws to ensure proper regulation of craft on the waterways.
1217. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if funding is available to promote an Irish-made film in North America; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1059/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraScreen Ireland (formerly the Irish Film Board) is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry. Its statutory remit is to assist and encourage the making of film in the State and the development of a film industry in Ireland. Screen Ireland has a vision for a vibrant, creative and sustainable Irish film, television and animation industry, with diverse voices, talent and opportunities which speaks to and connects Irish film culture with audiences at home and abroad. In Budget 2019, an additional €2 million was allocated to Screen Ireland to build on its vital work in supporting Irish film, television drama, documentary and animation. This increases its annual budget by 11% overall to €20 million.
Screen Ireland has a presence at a number of A-list international festivals & markets including a number in North America where it promotes Irish film and Irish animation as well as promoting Ireland as a location for internationally mobile film production. Screen Ireland liaises with IDA Ireland and Tourism Ireland to maximise opportunities for the promotion of Ireland as a location for film productions as well as a tourism destination. Further information on its funding scheme is available on its website at the following links: https://www.screenireland.ie/promoting; https://www.screenireland.ie/promoting/international-festivals
1218. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reason open coursing clubs that hold meetings are not subject to hare netting licence conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1118/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1219. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of open coursing meetings which have been monitored by National Parks and Wildlife Service rangers in the past ten years. [1119/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1218 and 1219 together.
My Department issued the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) with licences in August 2018 on behalf of its affiliated clubs to capture and tag hares for the 2018/19 coursing season. The majority of coursing meetings organised by the ICC relate to regular coursing where hares are captured under licence, are kept in a hare park, are released to course over a designated track and then re-released back into the wild. It is my understanding that in open coursing hares are not captured but are already present in the countryside, and therefore a netting licence would not arise.
Where resources allow, local National Parks and Wildlife Service conservation rangers and other staff attend coursing meetings to conduct on-the-spot checks and to monitor compliance with licences issued to the Irish Coursing Club and its affiliated clubs. My Department has concentrated its efforts on monitoring regular coursing meetings, including more recently on monitoring coursing trials. My Department is actively re-evaluating its approach to open coursing events.
1220. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to promote the importance of a person (details supplied); if funding will be made available locally to acknowledge his or her life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1356/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraLast week I published the guidance of the Expert Advisory Group on Centenary Commemorations, which sets out a series of principles on which the remainder of the decade of centenaries might be approached (available here: https://www.chg.gov.ie/app/uploads/2019/01/guidance-from-the-expert-advisory-group-on-commemorations-over-the-remainder-of-the-decade-of-centenaries-eng-1.pdf).
There is a particular focus on the role of Local Authorities and communities in the Guidance, and Local authorities will continue to have a key role in developing appropriate commemorative initiatives over the remainder of the Decade of Centenaries and in supporting meaningful, respectful and authentic engagement by local communities.
In 2018, I approved a funding allocation of €5,000 for each local authority under the Decade of Centenaries programme to support the development of inclusive, appropriate and citizen-focused initiatives to encourage people of all ages to explore significant aspects of the political historical social and cultural context of the period. Funding allocations for local authorities in 2019 will be announced shortly.
While my Department has no specific plans to commemorate the life and legacy of the person to whom the Deputy refers, it is open to the relevant local authority - in this case Sligo County Council - to consider an appropriate commemorative initiative.
1221. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to reintroduce compensation, which was previously paid to farmers affected by the designation and associated restrictions up to 2012, regarding agricultural losses incurred in respect of the permanent designation of special areas of conservation and special protected areas under the national farm plan scheme; and when she envisages its implementation. [1562/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Farm Plan Scheme, administered by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of this Department, is currently operational albeit on a limited basis, for farmers whose management of designated areas incurs costs or requires actions over and above payments received through other schemes. It is not compensation for designation as such, but it addresses costs or losses which might arise.
It continues to be my intention to increase the scope of the Scheme on a targeted and prioritised basis as funding permits. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) is also operating many targeted schemes for farmers in designated areas. The DAFM GLAS scheme has provided prioritised entry into GLAS and elevated GLAS payments in certain designated areas. It is important that the Farm Plan Scheme is coherent with these schemes and the Basic Payment Scheme.
Funding for the Natura 2000 network is currently available from existing financial instruments, as foreseen in Article 8 of the Habitats Directive. This includes, but is not limited to, CAP funding. My Department has access only to national exchequer funding and at present this funding is limited.
My Department has recently commenced an in-depth, site-by-site analysis of the measures required to achieve good status for the habitats and species that we collectively are protecting in SACs. This will include a review of measures currently operating through GLAS, the NPWS farm plan scheme, LIFE etc. This process will take a number of months but will enable us to set priorities for action and to seek funding for such actions through the budgetary process.
