Results 681-700 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications (15 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: An application for compensation under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. The qualifying criteria for the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme are that: - The claimant must have a legal interest in one of the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation –...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is subject to Civil Service pay policy, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I am advised that no performance related pay of the nature described by the Deputy was paid for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Census of Population Publication (15 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enable publication of the 1926 census. The project seeks to build on the success of the digitisation of the 1901-1911 Census returns and other digitisation projects in the National Archives. A 1926 Census Working Group, comprising officials from my Department, the National Archives and the Central Statistics Office (CSO), has examined...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Correspondence (15 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: A reply issued to the correspondence in question from my office yesterday.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies (16 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: In April 2011, the Government agreed to the setting up of an independently chaired Peatlands Council to assist the Government and stakeholders regarding certain issues related to the management of Ireland’s peatlands, in particular bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas. Applicants to the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme operated by my...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies (16 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have responsibility for membership of boards of arts organisations funded by the Arts Council or by my Department. In 2014, the Arts Council funded 470 organisations. I am cognisant, however, that all arts organisations which receive funding from the public purse should adhere to the principles of good governance. Public bodies are required to adhere to the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (16 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions No. 239 and 240 together. Primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Council is funded by my Department and is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and specifically in its funding decisions. In 2014, the Arts Council will receive an allocation of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service Staff (21 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 627 together. My Department is currently subject to the moratorium on public service recruitment. However, the staffing requirements in the areas referred to by the Deputy, as with all other areas of my Department, will remain the subject of ongoing consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay framework approved for 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications (21 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: An application for compensation under the scheme has been received by my Department from the individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question. I am advised that, on his application form, the applicant has indicated that he extracted turf from the bog plot in the raised bog special area of conservation in 2011 and, consequently, he is not eligible for compensation in respect of that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (21 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Licences were issued by my Department on 15 August under the Wildlife Acts to the Irish Coursing Club, on behalf of its affiliated clubs, to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014/15 coursing season. The control of live hare coursing, including the operation of individual coursing meetings and managing the use of hares for that activity,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (21 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Sceilig Mhichíl is a national monument in the ownership of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Monuments Acts. As such, it enjoys the full range of protections afforded by those Acts, including a requirement that any works at, or in proximity to it, are subject to my prior written consent. The Skellig islands themselves also form part of the Skelligs...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (21 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The lands referred to by the Deputy are subject to grazing licences, which are renewed on an annual basis. In acquiring these lands for Wicklow Mountain National Park, it was agreed at the time of the transfer of ownership to the State that the Department would continue to renew these licences to existing holders of tenants of good standing. Should the leases no longer be required by the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ferry Services Provision (21 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently in the process of examining tenders received for provision of a passenger ferry service to Inishbofin, County Galway. I can confirm to the Deputy that the request for tender did not include the provision of a shuttle bus service between the car park and the berth for the boat at Cleggan. I can also confirm that it is intended, if possible, to agree a five-year...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gender Balance (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The programme for Government includes a commitment to take steps to ensure that all State boards have at least 40% of each gender. Nine of the 17 bodies funded from my Department's Vote group that currently have boards in place have already reached that target. I have developed an implementation plan to reaffirm and achieve the target of 40% of each gender on the remaining boards and will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gender Balance (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I reiterate that I am absolutely committed to gender balance. It is important that there is strong representation of both genders on all boards because decision-making is much better when issues are viewed from different perspectives. The legislation is at a very early stage and I am happy to engage with the committee on it. I am open to suggestions that will improve the legislation. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Gender Balance (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: As I have already said, the general scheme provides that the Minister may issue general policy directions on matters such as pay policy and staffing but not artistic or curatorial matters. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht, of which the Deputy is a member, is currently engaged in pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the Bill. These issues...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Revised designs for the restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street, and the creation of a commemorative centre to the leaders of the 1916 Rising on the site, were approved by my predecessor under the National Monuments Acts on 30 April 2014. Consent has been granted to the owners under those Acts for the full repair and conservation of the monument buildings....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The preservation order covers Nos. 14-17, with the objective of protecting No. 16, as the final headquarters of the leaders of the 1916 Rising prior the surrender. A small number of buildings on Moore Street, in varying states of order, can be identified with specific events which took place within them, with No. 16 being the main one. It was what the then Minister was asked to save when...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: A comprehensive assessment has already been carried out at my Department's request, as part of the consent application under the National Monuments Act, for the proposed works on the national monument site. The consent applicants, Chartered Land Limited, which owns the national monument site, was asked by my Department, in January 2012, to commission an assessment of the wider battlefield...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Monuments (22 Oct 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I do not accept the suggestion that the decision made by my predecessor was based on misleading or inaccurate information. As indicated in previous replies, revised designs submitted by the owners for the restoration of the national monument buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street and the creation of a commemorative centre to the leaders of the 1916 Rising on the site were approved by my...