Results 2,341-2,360 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (30 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: All wild birds, including seagulls, are protected under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 and the EU Birds Directive. However, there is a facility, under section 42 of the Wildlife Acts, for a person to obtain a permit, to take certain actions, including the scaring, capturing or killing of birds where they are causing serious damage to buildings and other structures, food (including human food...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Programme (30 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 152, inclusive together. Funding agreements for the implementation of the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme issued to eighteen local action groups in the week beginning 20thJune, with a view to launching the LEADER programme in these areas from early July 2016. I expect to issue further agreements to the other ten proposed local action...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Waterways Ireland has informed me that substantial upgrading and investment would be required to carry out restoration works on the dry docks facility at Mullingar Harbour. Unfortunately in view of available resources, there are no plans for such works at present.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: A feasibility study by Waterways Ireland regarding restoration of the Longford Branch of the Royal Canal was published on its website in October 2014 and may be accessed at the following link: . The recommendation from the feasibility study was as follows: “Given the current financial climate and because of the associated costs, environmental issues and uncertainty regarding planning...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Centres (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focused on enhancing the existing stock of such centres around the country. The funding is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021. It should be noted, however, that the focus of this scheme will be primarily be on arts and cultural...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 402 and 403 together. Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. Following a review of Section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties, I announced proposals in December...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Built Heritage Investment Scheme (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: There may be scope for the committee referred to by the Deputy to apply for funding under a variety of schemes operated by my Department but, in the main, this would have to be done via the relevant local authority or relevant Local Action Group in the case of LEADER. Four schemes operated by my Department could potentially be of benefit - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Structures...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Under the programme, funding will be distributed by Local Action Groups to rural communities in line with the local development strategies that have been developed within each sub-regional area in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Records (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 408 together. The following table outlines the staffing figures for the National Archives since the establishment of my Department in June 2011. I intend to bring an implementation plan to Cabinet regarding a change to the 30-year rule for the making public of Departmental Records in the National Archives. Until that implementation plan has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Archives (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In October 2015, the then Government decided that the National Archives Act 1986 should be amended to reduce the period after which Departmental records must be made available to the public in the National Archives from 30 years to 20 years. This will be done on a phased basis. My Department is preparing the Heads of Bill to give effect to this decision, which I will bring to Government shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are authorised officers, along with An Garda Síochána, in relation to ensuring that the provisions of Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts are enforced. While information is not available to me as to the number of occasions Section 40(3) of the Wildlife Acts has been invoked, I understand that this provision has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am pleased to note that I will launch the LEADER programme later this week. My Department has issued funding agreements to local action groups in 21 of the 28 sub-regional areas designated under the LEADER programme, and I expect that most, if not all, of these local action groups will be in a position to finalise their respective agreements at this event. The delivery of LEADER will...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland’s current World Heritage Tentative List has come about from a very comprehensive, thorough and inclusive process undertaken by a panel of Irish and international heritage experts specifically appointed for that purpose. The process included full public consultation and an in-depth review of all proposed candidate sites. In the meantime, my Department has engaged with local...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts as the economy continues to improve. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the forthcoming estimates and budgetary processes. The...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the main channel of the State's current expenditure on the arts and will receive over €60 million in 2016. The Arts Council’s ten-year strategy Making Great Art Work(2016-2025) set outs how it will lead the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland. My Department provides significant support for the arts and film through its funding of the Arts Council and the Film Board, as well as through its capital supports for the development of arts and cultural infrastructure. Other financial and policy supports are also provided, for example, through...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Intellectual Property Management (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Arts Council is the main channel of State current expenditure on the arts and will receive over €60 million in 2016. The Arts Council's strategy statement, Making Great Art Work,sets out the Council’s plans to lead the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Significant progress has been made in drafting the first National Cultural Policy - Culture 2025.This followed a major public consultation process in 2015, including a national cultural workshop held in October at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the publication of Culture 2025as a priority. My Department is continuing to consider inputs on...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware and supportive of the use of vacant premises by artists and arts organisation and I understand that a number of such buildings are currently being utilised by arts organisation across the country. No particular proposals for a nationwide approach have been put to my Department and, in general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers and the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (5 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 620 of 31 May 2016. The Heritage Council, in collaboration with my Department, has led the development of a best practice approach to the development of Community-Led Village Design Statements (VDS). It, in tandem with a number of local authorities and village communities, prepared a toolkit which was launched in October 2012...