Results 6,401-6,420 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Programme (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: In accordance with a commitment given in the Programme for Government 2011-2016, my Department has undertaken a review of the Official Languages ​​Act 2003. That commitment specified that a review be undertaken of the Act to ensure that expenditure on Irish is best used to develop the language and that obligations are imposed appropriately in response to demands from citizens....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natural Heritage Areas Designation (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: Statutory Instrument No 584 of 2005, which was signed into law on 20 September 2005, formally designated Moycullen Bogs, including Knockarasar Bog, as a Natural Heritage Area (NHA). The Statutory Instrument is available to view at NHAs are designated for the protection of certain endangered habitats, in this case blanket bog. To ensure the protection of these habitats, certain activities can...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The standing stone known as the Lia Fáil at Tara, County Meath, is an extremely important national monument which is vested in my ownership as Minister and managed on my behalf by the Office of Public Works. The granite stone features extensively in ancient texts and is associated with the inauguration rites for the Kings of Tara. In the early nineteenth century the stone was moved from...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Fisheries (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a large, long-lived, bivalve mollusc found in clean, fast-flowing rivers. It is a highly threatened animal, categorised as Critically Endangered within Ireland and across Europe. There are many factors involved as to why it is so endangered. The freshwater pearl mussel is listed in Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive and requires...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 to 78, inclusive, and 80 together. The passing of the Home Rule Act was a milestone in the history of Ireland and the crowning achievement of the Irish Parliamentary Party. As Minister with responsibility for co-ordinating the Decade of Centenaries, I have been following the historical timeline closely, marking key stages in the progress of the 3rdHome Rule...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The 1979 EU Birds Directive requires that each Member State of the European Union classify suitable areas as Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the protection of endangered species of bird, including the Hen Harrier. Under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, which applies to SPAs, Ireland is obliged to prevent the deterioration of these SPAs as suitable areas for the species and only to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: A total of 2,959 applications for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have been received and acknowledged by my Department. Of these, 820 applicants have expressed an interest in relocation to non-designated bogs. A total of 4,596 payments and 503 deliveries of turf have been made in respect of these...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department has operated a number of compensation schemes applicable to those who have been cutting turf on raised bog special areas of conservation and natural heritage areas for domestic use. In 1999 a voluntary bog purchase scheme was established under which individuals with a legal interest in designated raised bog sites could apply to sell their interest in these areas to my...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 87 and 88 together. Comprehensive statistics are not available in respect of the number and location of endangered heritage sites or buildings throughout the country or specifically for County Kildare. As set out previously in my reply to the Deputy's Question No. 149 of 17 April 2014, my Department has a number of measures at its disposal to address...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: Some 707,000 hectares of the SAC network is regarded as terrestrial, or above the High Water Mark, with some 57,000 hectares of the NHA network in the same category. This includes inland water bodies. In addition, some 1,200 hectares, also defined as terrestrial, are within both an SAC and NHA. The designation process of Ireland’s SACs, of which there are 429, began in 1997 and will...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 86 and 89 together. I refer the Deputy to my previous extensive responses to him on these matters. As the Deputy will recall, responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is primarily devolved to the Arts Council, which is the principal agency through which State funding is channelled to the arts. Under the Arts Act...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland Remit (11 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, Waterways Ireland undertook a public consultation process in relation to the proposed bye-laws for the Royal Canal, Grand Canal and Barrow Navigation earlier this year. I am informed by Waterways Ireland that the main stakeholders, including the Inland Waterway Association of Ireland, the Heritage Boat Association, the Royal Canal Amenity Group and the Irish Boat...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Industry (12 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department is always looking at ways to improve the tourism and education dimensions and visitor services at national parks and I am pleased to acknowledge that the bus service in operation at Glenveagh National Park has proven to be a success over many years. Due to the success of the scheme, and as a result of a significant and welcome increase in coach tour bookings and a general...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (12 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 138 together. The passing of the Home Rule Act was a milestone in the history of Ireland and the crowning achievement of the Irish Parliamentary Party. As Minister with responsibility for co-ordinating the Decade of Centenaries, I have been following the historical timeline closely, marking key stages in the progress of the 3rdHome Rule Bill through...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks Projects (12 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department continually reviews the condition of infrastructure, including roadways, in the National Parks and, where funding is available, priority maintenance and upgrading is carried out. In 2013, my Department commenced a programme of road maintenance works in Killarney National Park and I was very pleased to be in a position to approve an allocation of €100,000 this year...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Data (12 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Deputy will be aware that my Department and the agencies under its remit are subject to the Moratorium on Public Service Recruitment, introduced in March 2009. Under the moratorium, appointments to positions at the grade of Principal Officer or above, either by way of recruitment or promotion, can only be made on foot of specific sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Meetings (17 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, I have met the relatives on a number of occasions, including dedicated meetings in October 2011, June 2012, July 2013 and October 2013; in the context of other meetings including the Oireachtas Group on Commemorations; at other commemorative events; and, most recently, on 23 April 2014. This latest meeting was in the context of the discussion on the national...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks Projects (17 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 395 together. My Department’s staff in Killarney National Park manage Rhododendron ponticum in the Park, in accordance with a long-term strategic programme. The focus of the Rhododendron management programme is reviewed and refined on an ongoing basis, so as to direct action in the most efficient and effective way to different locations in the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks Projects (17 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department carries out an annual targeted programme of works to manage the spread of the invasive species Rhododendron ponticum in Killarney National Park. The extent of the problem varies from area to area within the Park and, having regard to the very dynamic nature of this invasive species, the targeted management programme is routinely monitored and adjusted with a view to ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Correspondence (17 Jun 2014)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department has only recently been approached in connection with proposals for the display of bus timetables, as referred to in the Deputy's Question, and will bring forward consideration of the matter.