Results 1,681-1,700 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Remuneration (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that no such payments have been made to staff of my Department or in the bodies under its aegis to date in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Council Funding (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s allocation to the Heritage Council in 2016 will be subject to the normal budgetary processes and final confirmation in the Revised Estimates due to be published later this year. It will be primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports in 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Action Plan for Jobs (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 235, 237 and 246 together. The Action Plan for Jobs 2015 was published in January this year and is the fourth in the multi-annual series, which promotes a whole-of-government approach to economic recovery, export growth and job creation. The Action Plan sets out a number of actions in relation to the heritage and arts sectors. The nature of employment...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236, 238, 239 and 243 together. The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. Primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Nonetheless, the competing priorities regarding the preservation and enhancement of the national heritage are kept under on-going review having regard to the resources available to my Department. In 2015, under the Structures at Risk Fund, an...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am satisfied that Ireland continues to be an attractive location for filmmakers, as witnessed by the recent filming carried out for Star Warsin Co. Kerry. The Government considers the audio-visual industry to be very important and, in addition to the excellent work of the Irish Film Board, continues to support the growth of the sector in other ways. In particular, section 481 of the Taxes...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Artworks Sale (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: It should be noted that the sale, export and import of artefacts is a normal part of trade and that Ireland has benefitted over the years from artistic works which have been imported into the State. In terms of keeping objects of importance within the State, generous tax relief is provided under section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidated Act 1997 for donations to approved bodies of heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Easter Rising Commemorations (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme was launched in the National Museum, Collins Barracks, on 31stMarch 2015 and planning is well underway in relation to the activities, events and initiatives set out under each of the seven strands of the programme. One of the core objectives of the programme is to encourage and facilitate participation by, and the inclusion of, the citizens of Ireland to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Promotion (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Our cultural heritage, which encompasses the arts, our cultural institutions and our natural and built heritage, is vital to our national identity and well-being. As well as being of vital intrinsic importance and a great source of national pride, our cultural heritage is also a major source of employment and economic activity and is key to promoting Ireland's image abroad and attracting...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (24 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 to 250, inclusive together. 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 Act 2000, as amended. The amount of funding available per project was...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 631 to 633, inclusive, together. In considering the request of the film company referred to, which is the maker of one of the world’s biggest film franchises, for consent to carry out filming on Skellig Michael, I have balanced the positive benefit it will reap for the Irish film industry and the South Kerry region with the need to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 634 to 636, inclusive, together. The Irish Film Board is the statutorily independent agency responsible for the promotion and development of the Irish film industry. I have no responsibility in relation to its day-to-day operational matters. For more detailed information on the work of the Film Board, I would direct the Deputy's attention to its annual...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Schemes (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. None the less, the competing priorities regarding the preservation and enhancement of the national heritage are kept under ongoing review having regard to the resources available to my Department. In 2015, under the Structures at Risk Fund, the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Land Issues (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The purchase of assets of the nature referred to by the Deputy can only be considered in the context of my Department’s strategic needs, available budgets and operational priorities.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The EU Commission is carrying out a Fitness Check on the EU Birds and Habitats Directives at this time. The Commission is examining progress in implementation and integration of the Directive across the Member States of the EU, the costs of implementation and of non-implementation of the legislation, and opportunities for improving implementation and reducing administrative burden (without...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments (29 Sep 2015)

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. I am advised that a payment of €1,521 in respect of Year 1 of 15 (2014) have been made to this applicant. The qualifying criteria for the scheme are that: - The claimant must have a legal interest in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Schemes (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 643 together. In 2014 my Department was provided with a special allocation of €5 million from Capital Stimulus funding for a new Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme to assist with works to safeguard structures, in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. This scheme was administered...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Museum Projects (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: There are no formal proposals before my Department in relation to this project.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Easter Rising Commemorations (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is to have a rich diversity of programmes and events, complementary and additional to formal State occasions, which will run throughout 2016. In this regard, I am committed, together with my Government colleagues, to ensuring that the commemorations to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising will be inclusive, appropriate and respectful....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: UN Conventions (29 Sep 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently considering the issues regarding the ratification of the UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Ireland must ratify the Convention before applications can be submitted to obtain recognition for those aspects of the cultural heritage for which application is made. The Expert Advisory Committee which I established has...