Results 1,361-1,380 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Properties (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The final phase of works to the House began in early January 2014 and the works, including the new extension, are now substantially complete. Work is also continuing apace with the landscaping to the grounds and ornamental gardens. The contract for the interpretation phase is advancing. Staffing requirements for both Killarney National Park and Killarney House remain the subject of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Significant environmental damage is caused by illegal burning. This issue has become more acute in recent years, as evidenced by the recent spate of fires in various parts of the country, including those in Co. Kerry. Even planned and/or "controlled" burning can get out of hand very quickly, so it is critically important that every member of society realises the damage that can be caused to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have been informed by Waterways Ireland that the sluices and weir boards at Meelick Weir were opened by Waterways Ireland to maximise the flow of water over the weir wall in accordance with the operating procedure as set out in the “Jacob's Review of the Shannon Catchment Based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study.” I have also been informed by Waterways Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (14 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together. Much of Dursey Island, Co. Cork, was designated as part of the Beara Peninsula Special Protection Area (SPA), under the EU Birds Directive. The Chough was one of the species for which the site was chosen. Sherkin Island was not designated as an SPA. The Chough SPA network includes breeding cliffs and adjacent cliff top feeding...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Licences were issued by my Department in August 2014, under the Wildlife Acts, to the Irish Coursing Club on behalf of their affiliated clubs to facilitate the tagging and capturing of hares for the purpose of hare coursing for the 2014/15 coursing season. Where resources allow, officials of my Department attend coursing meetings, on a spot-check basis, to monitor compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Management (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Slieve League, County Donegal, is a candidate special area of conservation. Under the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011, certain activities within a candidate special area of conservation may not be undertaken, without my prior written consent, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. I am advised that, in March 2013, my Department wrote to 57...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Applications (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 745 applicants under the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme, applicable to raised bog special areas of conservation, have expressed an interest in relocation to a non-designated bog. 8 of these applicants have been informed by my Department that it has been decided that they do not fulfil the qualifying criteria of the scheme. These applicants have been provided with the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Beit Foundation (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The administration of the Beit Foundation, which owns and operates Russborough House, is a matter for the trustees and my Department has no role in the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Schemes (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Structures at Risk Fund 2015, with an allocation of €624,000, will enable conservation works to twenty-eight heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, throughout the country, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000, as amended. This Fund is being administered by the local authorities and was open to two applications per local authority, of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Judicial Reviews (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the outcome of this Judicial Review. The content of the recent lengthy judgment of the High Court is presently being reviewed by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 553 to 556, inclusive, together. My Department continues to assist with and support a range of commemorative events and initiatives to remember the Irish men and women who served during World War 1. The Government has been represented at many national and international events since the centenary of the outbreak of the War in August 2014. Many of these events...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies (19 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has no role in relation to the sale of the artwork referred to in the Deputy’s Question, which is a matter for the trustees of the foundation that owns and operates the facility in which the artwork is housed.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (26 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The scope to provide funding for the area referred to by the Deputy is constrained by the recent economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances. However, funding for this area will continue to be provided by my Department, from within the available resources, via a number of schemes, which will be either directly administered or delivered through local...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Development (26 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: An Interdepartmental Group comprising officials from my Department and other relevant Departments and Agencies has been established to examine and report on recommendations to increase foreign and domestic investment in Ireland’s film and TV sound stage studio infrastructure in the face of growing demand for audio-visual content across multiple platforms. This builds on the process...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks Projects (26 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has yet to receive a formal proposal on the matter referred to by the Deputy. However, I understand that there has been some discussion between Killarney National Park management and other parties about the viability and practicality of the proposal referred to. In the event that such a proposal is received, it will be considered within the context of my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (26 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across its range of programmes, given competing priorities within the heritage sector. The Heritage Council’s Grants Programme is administered and assessed independently by the Council and, as Minister, I have no role in that regard.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (26 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1055 and 1056 together. Recently I announced the awarding of €624,000 in funding under the Structures at Risk Fund 2015to enable conservation works to 28 heritage structures throughout the country, in both private and public ownership, deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration and which are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Fund (26 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Funding for the protection of built heritage will continue to be provided by my Department in 2015 via a number of schemes, which will be either directly administered or delivered through local authorities and agencies. Recently I announced the awarding of €624,000 in funding under the Structures at Risk Fund 2015,to enable conservation works to twenty-eight heritage structures...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Travel (26 May 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I, and the Ministers of State at my Department, undertake foreign trips from time to time in order to fulfil official duties. Every effort is made to maximise the opportunities that such trips present to promote Ireland and, in that regard, full itineraries are planned in conjunction with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. At this time, four foreign visits are confirmed for the...