Results 3,541-3,560 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Gallery (21 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: In accordance with the Government's policy for appointments at CEO/Director level in State agencies, the Board of the National Gallery of Ireland was given sanction to appoint a Director, on a fixed term basis, for five years. I am advised that the position has been advertised as such.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies Board Appointments (21 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that due to the level of recruitment currently underway, the Public Appointments Service (PAS) did not have the capacity to manage the recruitment campaign for the position of Director of the National Gallery of Ireland within the timeframe required. To assist in reaching the widest possible audience, PAS did, however, advertise the post on their website. The post of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Built Heritage Investment Scheme Applications (21 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 687 to 690, inclusive, together. My role, as Minister, 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 as regards heritage assets. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Allowances (21 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that, prior to clarification in recent weeks from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, there were 4 claims for overnight expenses for staying in Dublin, outside of Dáil sitting days, from the current Ministers of State in my Department. Overnight expenses have not been paid since the position was recently clarified with the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Topical Issue Debate: Arts Funding (22 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this matter. The arts and culture capital scheme is the most significant investment in regional arts and cultural centres in a decade. This kind of investment goes to the very heart of what I am trying to achieve through Creative Ireland and the Action Plan for Rural Development. Creative Ireland aims to place culture and creativity at the heart of every...

Topical Issue Debate: Arts Funding (22 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I know the Deputy is very committed to and passionate about the Moat Theatre and the good work it does in Naas and the surrounding communities in Kildare. Volunteers are the backbone of communities right across the country, doing much work while giving up their time. I acknowledge that. This theatre underwent major upgrade works in 2003 and it has a 200-seat auditorium with retractable...

Business of Dáil (22 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I move:That notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders, any division which would normally be taken at the weekly division time tomorrow, Thursday, 23 March 2017, shall be taken immediately following Topical Issues on Tuesday, 28 March 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Archaeological Sites (23 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 426 on 7 March 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (23 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Works to fully conserve the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, which were acquired on behalf of the State in July 2015, and to open the buildings as a 1916 Commemorative Centre, have been suspended since early last year on foot of proceedings in the High Court. A limited scheme of works approved by the Court to preserve and protect the buildings until a permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (23 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: In light of the volume of information concerned it is not possible to provide these details to the Deputy in the time available. Arrangements are therefore being made for the information requested in respect of both the Department and the bodies under its aegis to be collated and forwarded to the Deputy in line with the timelines set out in Standing Orders.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Monitoring Committee for the Action Plan for Rural Development has been established and held its first meeting on 23 March 2017. The membership of the Monitoring Committee, which I myself chair, includes senior representatives from key Government Departments and agencies, other public bodies and rural stakeholders, as well as representatives from the business community. The role of the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Archaeological investigations have been in progress on Montpelier Hill since 2015 as part of the ‘Hellfire Club Archaeological Project’. The investigations have been licensed by my Department under the National Monuments Acts and funded by the local authority under the South Dublin County Heritage Plan. The archeological investigations have examined the remains of a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Protected Disclosures Data (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Details of my Department's policy in relation to Protected Disclosures together with the Annual Reports published in accordance with Section 22 of the Act are available on my Department's website at The Policy provides that concerns will be treated seriously and investigated where that is considered appropriate. The Policy provides that if a discloser has a reasonable belief that a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (28 Mar 2017)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland Remit (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Heritage Bill 2016 includes provisions to amend the Canals Act 1986. The amendments to the Canals Act 1986 are primarily enabling provisions to allow for the making of bye-laws to regulate boating on the canals and to manage the use of the canals. The 1988 Canal Bye-Laws have been in force for almost 30 years and need to be revised to reflect changes in the use of the canals over the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Insurance Costs (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department and a number of the bodies under its aegis operate under State Indemnity, a self-insurance model whereby the State bears the financial risk associated with the cost of claims. This approach is set out in the Public Financial Procedures at C8 Section 11 whereby the general rule is that no insurance should be effected against the risk of any loss which, if it arose would fall...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Administration (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Expenditure of approximately €1.35 million has been incurred to date in 2017 under the LEADER 2014-2020 programme. This represents expenditure incurred on administration and animation costs by the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme. While no project expenditure has yet been incurred under the LEADER 2014-2020 programme, the LAGs are currently concluding calls for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Oireachtas provides approval for the carryover amounts through its approval of the Appropriation Bill and the Estimates. Provision is made in the Revised Estimates Volume for the capital carryover amount by subhead and in a Ministerial Order to be made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform before 31 March in the year of carryover. Since the making of the relevant Order by...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Administration (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The approval of LEADER funding for individual projects is a matter for the Local Action Groups (LAGs) which administer the LEADER programme in their respective areas and I have no function in relation to those matters. When a project promoter submits an application for funding to a LAG, it is assessed having regard, inter alia, to the nature of the project and its compliance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Administration (28 Mar 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Following a competitive process for the implementation of the LEADER 2014-2020 programme in Co. Galway, a Local Development Strategy submitted by Forum Connemara was selected for delivery by an Independent Selection Committee in 2016. The selected strategy covers the municipal district of Connemara, including Inisbofin and the Aran Islands. The new LEADER Programme has been operational in...