Results 2,601-2,620 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Fisheries (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Inland Fisheries Ireland have been working intensively for some years on the control of Lagarosiphon majorin Lough Corrib with funding and other supports from the EU LIFE fund, my Department, the OPW and Galway County Council. Like most invasive species, especially aquatic species, it would be extremely difficult to eradicate Lagarosiphoncompletely, and continuing effective control is likely...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: As indicated in previous replies to the House, the inception of the National Famine Commemoration was announced by the then Minister of State for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs at an event held in the Custom House in Dublin in 2008. However, the first National Famine Commemoration to include both local input and formal State ceremonials was held in Skibbereen in 2009. Since then,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (16 Sep 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 last year to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge cutting and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Lease Agreements (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In general, matters relating to the acquisition and leasing of property for my Department are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. However, I am advised that my Department is itself currently renting one property. This is the Burren Information Point in Corofin, owned by Clare Heritage Centre. The annual rent payable in each of the past three years is €8,370. In...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 972 and 973 together. The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am informed by Waterways Ireland that a brick culvert under the Barrow Line of the Grand Canal collapsed suddenly early in the morning of July 11thlast. A survey of the culvert determined that it would have to be replaced as it was not possible to repair it due to the extent of the damage and the poor condition of the remaining brickwork. Following consultations with the Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My role, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets. As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s Culture Ireland grant funding scheme is designed to support the presentation and promotion of Irish arts internationally. The scheme is currently operated on the basis of three grant rounds per year. Applications are considered in relation to all forms of the arts as defined in the Arts Act 2003. The following basic eligibility requirements apply: 1. Applicant must...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland is required, under the EU Habitats Directive, to formally designate its special areas of conservation and a project is in place within my Department to oversee this process. This involves the adoption of a Statutory Instrument for each site. These are not new sites – most have been legally protected for 15 years or more. The making of Statutory Instruments is the final step...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Postal Codes (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has carried out a review of its name and address databases to identify the amendments required in those computer systems to accommodate the use of Eircodes. Arising from this review, work is ongoing in implementing measures to integrate the use of Eircodes into the work of my Department. The efforts employed by bodies under the aegis of my Department to use Eircode are part...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Shooting Rights (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Officials of my Department have become aware of a potential historical agreement relating to the lease of the relevant shooting rights to a local gun club as part of a then initiative to protect a wildfowl sanctuary. The matter is being investigated further with a view to bringing more clarity on the position.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Appointments to State Boards (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The information sought by the Deputy is provided in the Table below. None of the appointments required the approval of Government. It may be noted that the National Archives of Ireland has an Advisory Council, rather than a Board. The Public Appointments Service operates a dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, through which it advertises vacancies on State Boards. Arrangements are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Budget 2017 (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The overall spending allocations for my Department for 2017 will be announced in the forthcoming Budget. As part of the ongoing budgetary process, I will seek to enhance, to the greatest extent possible, my Department's now expanded core functions and services provided to the public. Against that background, my Department will, within the resources available in 2017, continue to place...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The original allocation for the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 was approximately €400m. The initial allocation to each Local Action Group under this programme is provided in Table 1. The allocations were revised when the EU co-financing rate changed due to the financial crisis and this resulted in a decrease in the overall programme allocation. This...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Concert Hall (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 985 and 986 together. My Department is supportive of the development of an overall plan to advance and manage the development of National Concert Hall within the overall Earlfort Terrace complex and has been engaging with the Office of Public Works and the National Concert Hall in this regard. The proposed development of Exploration Station, a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has issued the necessary consent to the Office of Public Works in this case under section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together. I am very aware of the growing public 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...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Planning Issues (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is a statutory consultee in relation to any proposed development under consideration by a planning authority, which may have an effect on the built or natural heritage. In such cases, my Department may make observations or recommendations, as appropriate, on referrals from the relevant planning authority. From 2011 to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Community Development Initiatives (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a suite of commitments for delivery across Government relating to the protection of local services in rural Ireland. The measures detailed in the Programme include the provision of next-generation broadband coverage, addressing the renewal of the Post Office network, supporting local jobseekers, and the provision of other services in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Officials of my Department and I have met with landowners representing the special protection area in question. My Department also wishes to move forward with a management plan for the site, to be developed in full consultation with landowners and the relevant local authority. My Department has recently been in contact with a representative of the landowners with a view to arranging another...