Written Answers Nos. 618-630
618. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 7 March 2019, the scheme operated by her Department under which each previous scheme (details supplied) was subsumed, in tabular form. [14778/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy has been outlined in tabular format:
|
Former Scheme |
Current Scheme |
|
Ciste na Gaeilge |
Irish Language Support Scheme |
|
Islands – Infrastructure |
No change |
|
Gaeltacht Improvement Schemes |
Community and Language Supports Programme |
|
Gaeltacht Cultural and Social Schemes |
Community and Language Supports Programme |
|
Gaeltacht Community and Recreational Facilities |
Community and Language Supports Programme |
619. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of participants annually in the Gaeltacht housing grant scheme in the three years prior to its being suspended. [14779/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by my Department that while the number of participants under the Gaeltacht Housing Scheme for the each of the years 2006 to 2009 is not available, the number of applications was as follows:
|
Year |
No. of applications |
|
2006 |
968 |
|
2007 |
1,490 |
|
2008 |
1,133 |
|
2009 |
660 |
The total expenditure on this programme over the period in question was €19.043m.
620. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the present open season for duck shooting and hunting; her further views on whether opening the season on 1 September is appropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15159/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe hunting season for duck species extends from 1 September to 31 January of the following year and is set out in legislation in the Wildlife (Wild Birds) (Open Seasons) Orders 1979 to 2011. I have no current proposals to change the dates for the hunting of duck species.
621. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the proposed plan for the Clonshaugh sewage plant for the greater Dublin drainage project, which will see an outfall pipe located off the coast of Portmarnock near Ireland's Eye bird sanctuary and special area of conservation in north County Dublin; her views on whether the pumping of this wastewater into feeding grounds of vulnerable seabird species is in keeping with the EU birds directive; if she has raised concerns regarding the matter with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and-or the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15269/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter which is before An Bord Pleanála at this time. Officials from my Department gave evidence at the Oral Hearing. It would be inappropriate for me to comment further while An Bord Pleanála is making its determination.
622. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans for the reintroduction of the Irish hare to the North Bull Island special area of conservation, from which Dublin City Council reports they are all but extinct; the additional measures that will be taken to protect the species on the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15270/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that date of the last sighting of hares from Bull Island reported to the National Biodiversity Data Centre was in 2012.
Although the reason for the decline and disappearance of hares from Bull Island is unclear, it is likely that disturbance by people and dogs would have been a source of ongoing stress to hares on the Island and may be the best explanation. Isolated populations, such as at the Bull Island, are especially vulnerable to extinctions, given the absence of connectivity with neighbouring populations.
International best practice on reintroductions is provided in the IUCN Guidelines for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations. [https://www.iucn.org/content/new-guidelines-conservation-translocations-published-iucn]
The National Parks and Wildlife Service of this Department rely on those guidelines when considering licence applications for reintroductions and translocations. Those Guidelines outline the requirements that need to be met to ensure that reintroductions “yield a measurable conservation benefit at the levels of a population, species or ecosystem.” Moving animals to Bull Island at this time would not meet those criteria.
There are therefore no plans to reintroduce hares to the North Bull Island. My Department will however continue to liaise with Dublin City Council on the management of Bull Island and have not ruled out the potential for a translocation of hares to Bull Island sometime in the future should conditions become more favourable for a long-term, sustainable hare population.
623. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to complete the work of her predecessor in the banning of the sale of the activity of hunting woodcock here (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15275/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the hunting of woodcock is allowed under the Wildlife (Wild Birds) (Open Seasons) Orders 1979 to 2011 from 1 November to the following 31 January. However, the European Communities (Wild Birds) (Woodcock) Regulations 2015 provides for the addition of woodcock to the list of species of wild birds in respect of which the sale, transport for sale, keeping for sale and offering for sale is prohibited, in the interests of conservation. I have no current proposals to change these dates.
624. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her plans to save a building (details supplied) from destruction. [15329/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe building mentioned by the Deputy is in the ownership and management of the local authority, and is, in the first instance a matter for it. It is recorded in my Department’s National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and is rated there as of Regional Importance. As such it was recommended to the local authority for inclusion in its Record of Protected Structures and it is a protected structure within the meaning of the Planning and Development Acts.
My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.
Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to planning authorities (i.e. local authorities) to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including particular structures on their Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.
Under Section 59 of the Planning and Development Acts, the serving of endangerment notices on protected structures is a reserved function of the local authority. As the owner of this protected structure, the local authority has a duty under Section 58 of the Acts to ensure the structure does not become endangered. I am informed that there is considerable work underway by the County Council to identify a course of action that would see this element of the town’s history saved and protected into the future. I understand that this will require a significant investment.
In terms of the support that my Department can offer, my role in relation to protected structures is mainly advisory. The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage identifies, records, and evaluates the post-1700 architectural heritage of Ireland, as an aid to its protection and conservation. As Minister, I recommend structures rated as being of regional importance or above to the planning authorities for inclusion on their Record of Protected Structures. However, the making of an addition to, or a deletion from, a Record of Protected Structures remains a reserved function of the relevant planning authority.
My Department also provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), which are administered by local authorities. On Thursday 28 March, I announced funding of €4.3m for 478 projects under these schemes in 2019. Details of these projects and the funding are available on my Department's website and local authority websites.
625. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has undertaken procurement processes in relation to consultancy agencies, media or otherwise, to assist it with formulating or contributing to policy messaging on social media or videos relating to her departmental strategies or policies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15385/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is subject to Public Procurement Procedures as set out by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. These are available on the Office of Government Procurement’s website at www.ogp.gov.ie.
Within this context value for money is a critical consideration in assessing whether external firms should be engaged to provide services.
The information requested by the Deputy in respect of payments made to consultancy agencies assisting with policy messaging on social media on behalf of my Department is set out below.
Following a competition in 2017 through e-tenders, Culture Ireland Unit engaged Mr. Nik Quaife on a 1 year contract for the provision of services including a communications strategy for its GB18 programme, to celebrate and renew Ireland’s cultural relationship with Britain.
My Department engaged D’Arcy Marketing and BigO in 2018 to promote awareness of the 2018 European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) campaign for the recruitment of Irish language translators to the institutions of the European Union.
BigO Media were awarded a contract through e-tenders in 2017 for the creation of digital content to generate awareness of the Creative Ireland Programme, including awareness of events across Ireland for Cruinniú na nÓg. This includes social media and videos and is centred on creativity and culture. That contract has now just expired and a new procurement process for digital content services is currently underway.
A separate procurement process was run in 2018 for media buying services which was awarded to Mindshare. This essentially involves developing strategic plans to promote specific elements of the Creative Ireland Programme (for example the forthcoming Cruinniú na nÓg) using curated content, features and editorial, across all media channels, including social and digital platforms.
626. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the way in which her departmental officials have been contributing to and taking part in Government of Ireland social media messages; the way in which they are co-ordinated in each of the policy areas of her Department; the lead Department in regard to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15402/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver the past year my Department has participated in the dissemination of messaging in relation to Project Ireland 2040, the annual Getting Winter Ready campaign and the ongoing Getting Ireland Brexit Ready campaign which is headed by the Department of Foreign Affairs And Trade.
Priority campaigns for my own Department have been the Creative Ireland Programme and Bliain na Gaeilge which were coordinated by my Department's Communications Unit with the assistance of the relevant line units within the Department. Currently my Department is highlighting the Heritage Ireland 2030 consultation process which came to a close on 31 March. A conference in relation to this will be held in May, details of which will be announced shortly.
627. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta an bhfuil sé i gceist aici líon na scoláireachtaí atá ar fáil do scoláirí le freastal ar mheánscoileanna ar na hoileáin a mhéadú go dtí os cionn 30 má bhíonn éileamh ar sin; mura bhfuil, cén chúis atá leis sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15425/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraD’fhógair mé le déanaí go bhfuil allúntas suas le €450,000 in iomlán thar tréimhse 3 bliana ceadaithe agam ar leas na niar-bhunscoileanna ar na hOileáin Árann agus ar leas an bhirt faoi leith a bhfuil tagairt déanta dó sa cheist ach go háirithe.
Faoin allúntas seo, íocfar deontas ar fiú €27 in aghaidh an scoláire in aghaidh an lae, faoi Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge de chuid na Roinne le teaghlaigh cháilithe ar na hOileáin Árann a chuireann lóistín ar fáil do scoláirí ón mórthír a chaitheann scoilbhliain ar cheann de na hoileáin.
Faoin socrú seo, atá i bhfeidhm ó 2007, baineann suas le 30 scoláire iar-bhunscoile leas as an scoilbhliain iomlán a chaitheamh ag freastal ar cheann de na hiar-bhunscoileanna ar na hOileáin Árann: Coláiste Naomh Éinne, Inis Mór, Coláiste Ghobnait, Inis Oirr, nó Coláiste Naomh Eoin, Inis Meáin.
Is cinnte go bhfuil tábhacht agus tairbhe ar leith leis an mbeart seo ó thaobh inmharthanacht na scoileanna agus, dá réir, inmharthanacht na n-oileán. Ní amháin sin ach, de thoradh an bhirt seo, tugtar an deis do scoláirí nach bhfaigheadh an deis sa ghnáthbhealach bliain iomlán a chaitheamh ag fáil oideachais trí Ghaeilge ar na hoileáin Árann. Is chun sochair na Gaeilge agus na n-Oileán Árann atá an beart seo, dá réir.
Ár ndóigh, is gá tosca teanga a chur san áireamh mar is cuí sa socrú seo trí chéile ar mhaithe le féachaint chuige go bhfanfaidh an Ghaeilge mar theanga fheidhmiúil in uachtar sna scoileanna i gceist. Ar an údar sin, níl i gceist aon leasú a dhéanamh ar an uaslíon de dheichniúr scoláire in aghaidh na scoile atá i bhfeidhm faoi láthair.
628. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Cultúir, Oidhreachta agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta le pleananna teanga na gcúig Líonra Gaeilge; cad iad na foinsí maoinithe atá aitheanta chun cur i bhfeidhm na bpleananna sin a mhaoiniú, idir thuaidh agus theas; cé mhéad airgid in aghaidh na bliana a chuirfear ar fáil chun na pleananna a chur i bhfeidhm; cathain a bhfuiltear ag súil leis go ndéanfar na pleananna sin a cheadú; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [15460/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs sa dlínse seo amháin atá feidhm le forálacha Acht na Gaeltachta 2012, faoina n-aithnítear Líonraí Gaeilge reachtúla. Tuigtear dom, áfach, gur aithníodh dhá líonra i dTuaisceart Éireann faoi scéim neamhreachtúil de chuid Fhoras na Gaeilge, an eagraíocht tras-teorainn atá comhaoinithe ag mo Roinn agus ag an Roinn Pobal ó thuaidh ar mhaithe leis an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn. Is aitheantas é seo ar an obair thábhachtach atá ar bun ag na pobail seo agus ag pobail éagsúla eile ar an taobh ó thuaidh den teorainn chun úsáid na Gaeilge a leathnú amach sa tuaisceart.
Maidir leis an dlínse seo agus an trí Líonra atá ábhartha don phróiseas ag an bpointe ama seo, cuireadh dréacht de phlean teanga Líonra Chluain Dolcáin, i gCo. Bhaile Átha Cliath, faoi bhráid mo Roinne le fíor-ghairid agus tá an plean sin á bhreithniú faoi láthair.
Táthar ag súil freisin go mbeidh pleananna teanga i leith Líonraí Baile Loch Riach, Co. na Gaillimhe agus Inis, Co. an Chláir curtha faoi bhráid mo Roinne chun críche breithnithe ag Foras na Gaeilge go luath.
Tá ciste iomlán de €3.2m ar fáil don phleanáil teanga trí chéile sa bhliain reatha. Scrúdófar gnóthaí airgeadais na bpleananna i leith na Líonraí Gaeilge i gcomhthéacs an tsoláthair airgid sin agus na n-éileamh éagsúla air.
629. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the discussions she or her officials have with the Minister for Education and Skills, An Foras Pátrúnachta and An Coimisinéir Teanga regarding the way in which parental preferences for Irish medium education can be further reflected in future patronage processes; and the number of meetings she has had with each one of these offices since becoming Minister on this issue in tabular form. [15481/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraSenior officials from my Department have already had informal discussions with interested parties, including the umbrella body for Irish medium schools, Gaeloideachas Teo., An Coimisinéir Teanga and Conradh na Gaeilge regarding the public demand for Irish medium education and the process for recognition of gaelscoileanna, in particular. This issue is of particular importance to the work of my Department in the delivery of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030 and, in light of this, as committed to in the debate on the Irish Language in this House during Seachtain na Gaeilge, it is my intention to raise the matter again with my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.
630. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department has an operating language scheme in accordance with the Official Languages Act 2003; and the date when such a scheme was introduced. [15487/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department's Irish Language Scheme under the Official Languages Act 2003, was introduced on 12th May 2016. A copy of the Scheme is available on my Department's website at the following link.
https://www.chg.gov.ie/about/customer-service/the-departments-language-scheme-2012-2015-2/
