Results 4,341-4,360 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (28 Sep 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 to 140, inclusive, together. I am happy to confirm that I was able to support the National Library of Ireland and the National Museum of Ireland in acquiring a number of items in advance of the auction in London yesterday.  In July this year I agreed to provide funding of up to €500,000 to the National Library of...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (3 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Hare coursing meetings are monitored, as resources allow, by conservation rangers and officials of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department in order to ensure compliance with the conditions of the licences. To date three such trials have already been monitored in 2017. A report on those trials will be published shortly by my Department. The conditions of future...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing Regulation (3 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has issued licences under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, covering its affiliated coursing clubs, to capture and tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings for the 2017/18 coursing season, which extends from the end of September 2017 to the end of February 2018.  There are 22 conditions associated with the licences issued to the Irish Coursing...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing Regulation (3 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department issued licences under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, covering their affiliated coursing clubs, to capture and tag hares for use at regulated hare coursing meetings for the 2017/18 coursing season which extends from the end of September 2017 to the end of February 2018.  I have made changes to this year's licence to include a condition formally requiring...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (3 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department has operated a farm plan scheme since 2006, which has the primary objectives of testing, on a relatively small scale, bespoke measures for nature conservation on farmland. The scheme has incentivised farmers, in particular instances, to go above and beyond their statutory requirements. To date over 650 NPWS Farm Plans were...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Seirbhísí Farantóireachta (3 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Tar éis cruinniú a bheith agam le toscaireacht ó Oileán Thoraí le déanaí maidir le seirbhís farantóireachta an oileáin sin, tá iarrtha agam ar oifigigh mo Roinne tús a chur leis na próisis pleanála cuí chun bád sainlasta a chur ar fáil le freastal ar phobal an oileáin agus...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Control (4 Oct 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 and safety or to air safety.  In Ireland, Declarations in this regard are renewed annually. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Go raibh maith agat. As Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I am pleased to have this opportunity to address the committee in regard to the performance expenditure and targets of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs during the first half of 2017. As members are aware, responsibility for the regional development and rural affairs functions of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: First, in regard to the spend at the latter half of the year, as Deputy Ó Cuív will be aware, a lot of work goes on during the year on projects and the bills come in during the latter half of the year. That is why I do not anticipate any significant underspend in my Department in 2017. Last year, and excluding the carryover, 99.86% of programme funding was spent in my Department....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The important point is that the funding was sanctioned for the projects. Permission was sought and received to do that. We discussed this issue previously. The Deputy referred to the Revised Estimates. Further Revised Estimates for 2017 will be published shortly, taking account of the new departmental structures. The Deputy knows that it takes time to set up a new Department. The Vote...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I think-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The funding has gone out to local authorities. In my county of Monaghan, a large amount of the funding that was granted has been spent. The Minister, Deputy Ring, today announced more than €20 million in another tranche of town and village enhancement projects. All of these projects have come in and the money has been allocated. That is more good news for rural Ireland. That...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I have maintained 2016's current funding levels in terms of the commemorations. As to capital funding, the projects had all been completed by that stage. There was considerable investment, for example, in the GPO and Kilmainham. There were a number of projects across the city and elsewhere in the country, for example, Pádraig Pearse's cottage in Galway. That capital funding was well...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I have asked the Ceann Comhairle to get the names of people who will sit on the committee. The meeting will be held shortly. Whenever I get those names, I will call a meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: No, they are not. The Creative Ireland initiative received €5 million. The Arts Council got an additional €5 million last year, which increased its funding to €65 million. The Irish Film Board received an extra €2 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: An extra €2 million.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Does the Chairman wish me to answer them separately?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: First, as members are aware, the Solas project started in 2007. In fairness to the people who led that project, it was in the interests of the arts in Galway. There is no doubt that it was a well intentioned project. I am sure that members know of some of the prominent figures who were involved in it at the time. An application came in during 2007 and my Department committed to providing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Solas has not benefitted from anything in this. It has gone into liquidation. The whole purpose of Solas was to build the Picture Palace and to provide the additional art space in Galway city. It was not a profit making organisation. As members are aware, Lelia Doolan put a huge amount of time and effort into trying to make this project happen. There is no doubt that the project was...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs: Estimates For Public Services 2017: Vote 33 - Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (4 Oct 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Department is committed to the ongoing management of projects in accordance with the public spending code and relevant grant circulars. Measures are in place to ensure that staff are appropriately trained and supported in the appraisal and oversight of grant aided projects as part of the Department's annual quality assurance process. The Department intends to hold further training...