Results 2,561-2,580 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Irish Film Board (IFB) has primary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions. The following table shows the allocation from my Department to the Irish Film Board from 2011 to 2016: Table 1 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Grant to Irish Film Board (€million) 18,431 15,690 14,858 13,962...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together. Following the public advertising of the intention by Ireland to designate special areas of conservation, these sites were transmitted to, and subsequently adopted by, the European Commission as sites of community importance or European sites. Once adopted by the Commission, these sites are known as candidate special areas of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I indicted in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 30 June 2016 that 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 products), agricultural crops, forestry...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My reply to Parliamentary Question No. 465 of 12 July 2016 indicated that while Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the Birds Directive, there are circumstances under which member states can derogate from certain provisions of the Birds Directive in cases where there is no other satisfactory solution. These applications can be made by individuals and public...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Advisers Data (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Details are provided below regarding staff paid from my Department’s Vote whose appointments are coterminous with my term of office as Minister or coterminous with the terms of office of the two Ministers of State at my Department. In relation to my two special advisers, both have Degrees in Journalism and extensive experience relevant to their role and both are paid in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Road Projects Status (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has had extensive engagement, including significant pre-planning engagement, with Galway County Council in regard to this road project and most recently my colleague, Mr. Sean Kyne, T.D., Minister of State, chaired a meeting of Galway west elected representatives, officials of Galway County Council and officials of this Department. As the Deputy knows, it was agreed that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Expenditure (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The total allocation for the LEADER 2007-2013 and LEADER 2014-2020 programmes in 2016 is €40m. To date in 2016, approximately €1.2m has been expended on projects under LEADER 2007-2013, with a further estimated €0.7m to be spent before year-end. The remaining allocation, some €38m, was earmarked to cover preparatory support for the development of LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cross-Border Projects (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Government approval to restore a 2.5km stretch of the Ulster Canal from the Shannon-Erne Waterway to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson, Co. Cavan was granted on 24 February 2015. The project, which comprises three work phases, is being undertaken by Waterways Ireland, who have an allocation of €2.7 for the project in 2016. Phase 1, the site investigation work,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hedge Cutting Season (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: 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 2015 to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge cutting...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Recruitment (19 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the information sought on the number of staff who entered the civil service in Professional, Technical and Administrative grades is being provided to the Deputy by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. In relation to State Industrial staff, I am advised that a total of two were recruited to work in my Department since it was originally established in June 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland Staff (20 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 to 284, inclusive, together. As of 31 December 2008 Waterways Ireland employed 335 staff, comprised of 118 Professional, Technical and Administration staff (who are primarily office based although Waterways Ireland does not classify staff by such a category) and 217 Operational (Industrial) staff, including 9 fixed term operational (industrial) staff...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Titles (20 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Government, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 6(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1939 (No. 36 of 1939), made the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (Alteration of Name of Department and Title of Minister) Order 2016 - Statutory Instrument No. 357 of 2016 - on 5 July 2016. The Order came into effect on 7 July 2016 and provides that the title of my...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 410 and 411 together. In 1999, a voluntary bog purchase scheme was introduced under which domestic turf cutters could sell their plots at agreed rates. These rates were subsequently increased in 2004, following agreement with the farming organisations under the Partnership talks. In May 2010, the then Government announced the closure of the voluntary bog...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Centres (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Cork Events Centre is a project being developed and managed by Cork City Council. My Department has allocated €12 million to Cork City Council towards the cost of the Centre. Of this, the City Council has drawn down €1 million to date.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware that there is a growing public awareness and concern about the impact of invasive species here, including Japanese Knotweed. In this regard, I wish to advise that my Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The requested totals, in respect of the period 2011-2015, are set out in the following table. Year Certified Uncertified 2011 3.40% 0.23% 2012 3.51% 0.25% 2013 3.95% 0.22% 2014 3.71% 0.15% 2015 3.45% 0.18%

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The three monitoring reports in question by officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department were not released under a Freedom of Information request as the records concerned were the subject of on-going discussions between my Department and the Irish Coursing Club. The reports will be released to the applicant following completion of these deliberations in the next few...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks Projects (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 418 and 423 together. My Department is currently examining a proposal to repair the bridge in question.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Living Wage (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that, based on current staffing and pay levels, the estimated additional annual cost of introducing an hourly wage of €11.50 for all employees, employed both directly in my Department and in agencies under its aegis and who are not already paid that amount or more, would be in the order of €250,000.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Living Wage (21 Jul 2016)

Heather Humphreys: While, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, I have no statutory role in relation to either the Living Wage or the National Minimum Wage, I am advised that my Department adheres to all relevant public procurement guidelines. I am also advised that suppliers and service contractors to my Department are required to confirm that they have taken account of their...