Results 3,921-3,940 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (17 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. In general, matters relating to the acquisition and leasing of property for my Department and the bodies under its aegis are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. I am advised that no expenditure was incurred by my Department on renting car park spaces during the period in question. The information requested by the Deputy in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (17 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts currently 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 and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Archives (17 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently working on a draft Bill, in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Draftsman, which will reduce the time limit for the release of certain departmental records after 20 years rather than the current 30 years. The Bill will propose to implement the change on a phased basis starting with the Departments of Taoiseach, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Archives (17 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The following table outlines the staffing figures for the National Archives since the establishment of my Department in June 2011. Year End Headcount WTE 2011 47 45.5 2012 48 46.3 2013 48 46.3 2014 46 44.2 2015 44 42.4 2016 48 47.2 2017 (end April) 53 51.53I am advised that staffing levels in the National Archives and across my Department are kept under regular review and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Archives (17 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I have earmarked €8 million in funding for the first phase in a capital development plan at the National Archives. The OPW has appointed a design team to the project and I expect it to go to tender later this year. This significant capital investment will address many of the long-standing infrastructural issues that face the National Archives. Thanks to improvements in the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Data (17 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. I am advised that currently there is nobody in my Department that was recruited through an agency. The information in respect of the bodies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the following tabular format. Body Number of agency staff Arts Council 12 Ulster Scots Agency 0 Irish Film Board 2 Chester Beatty Library...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Contracts Data (17 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that no Human Resource or Industrial Relations work was contracted out by my Department to external agencies this year. Four agencies under the aegis of my Department contracted out such work to a total monetary value of €100,174 in 2017 to date. This relates to work contracted out by the Chester Beatty Library (€3,099), the National Gallery of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Firearms Licences (18 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: While I have no proposals to amend the Wildlife Acts, it is my understanding that a report has been produced by a working group set up by the Firearms Consultative Panel of the Department of Justice and Equality which recommends best practice guidelines on the issue of shooting and hunting at night. The report is now with the Firearms Consultative Panel itself and it is a matter for that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Greenways Development (18 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The progression of any proposals in relation to the development of such a pedestrian and cycle route is a matter for consideration, in the first instance, by Irish Rail and Fingal County Council.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Thatching Grants Expenditure (18 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Financial support is provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings, including the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, the Structures at Risk Fund and other initiatives operated by the Heritage Council. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures (i.e....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together. The corncrake is confined to a few areas of Ireland, particularly in Donegal and Mayo. Once widespread, its range has greatly contracted, due mostly to changes in farming methods over the past 50 years, and in particular the switch from hay to silage. My Department carries out annual surveys of calling corncrakes in the key...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: No such fines are pending and while there are some infringement cases open against Ireland (“Birds Case” C-418/04 and Reasoned Opinions from the European Commission on Bogs/Turf Cutting and on SAC Designations) there are no cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

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

Heather Humphreys: Provisional expenditure figures in respect of my Department at Vote level as of 30 April 2017 indicate that there is a capital underspend of approximately €7 million. This underspend represents 6% of my Department's gross capital allocation for 2017 (excluding capital carryover). The underspend has primarily occurred because of timing issues in relation to the quarterly drawdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Control (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The EU Birds Directive allows Member States to make derogations from its protective measures in respect of certain wild bird species in certain circumstances – for example, where they are causing damage to crops, livestock and fauna or represent a threat to public health or safety or to air safety.  The Declarations to implement these derogations are renewed annually and an...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies Accounts (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Public Financial Procedures specify that Dáil Éireann votes funds every year for Government Departments and Offices to spend on the provision of public services.  Departments and Offices in receipt of Votes are required to prepare an account of expenditure and receipts, called the Appropriation Account which must be signed by an Accounting Officer.  While the bodies in...

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

Heather Humphreys: Responsibility for the LEADER programme transferred to my Department in the middle of 2016, having come under the remit of the former Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government prior to that point. I understand that, in the main, audits of the LEADER programme during the period 2006-2013 were undertaken by bodies such the Comptroller and Auditor General, the European...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Administration (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: With a budget of €250 million up to 2020, the LEADER programme is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and has the capacity to deliver significant outcomes for rural areas. I am committed to implementing the LEADER 2014-2020 programme as efficiently and as effectively as possible. However, I am also aware that concerns have been expressed regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: With a budget of €250 million up to 2020, the Leader programme is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and has the capacity to deliver significant outcomes for rural areas. I am committed to implementing the Leader 2014-2020 programme as efficiently and as effectively as possible. However, I am also aware that concerns have been expressed regarding...

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

Heather Humphreys: I would firstly like to put on record my sincere appreciation to the members of the Group and to the Deputy himself for the report that they have recently presented to me. The Moore Street Consultative Forum, which was independently chaired by a former Departmental Secretary General, included local and Oireachtas political representatives, 1916 relatives, street traders and other...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 410 together. I am aware of the issue regarding the provision of affordable studio space, particularly as a result of the changing property market. In general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers and the owners of vacant buildings are best suited to respond to the specific local circumstances involved and...