Results 23,661-23,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Heritage Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (31 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am very pleased to have this opportunity to introduce the Heritage Bill 2016 and I look forward to the discussion in the House. The general objective of the Bill is to amend certain sections of the Heritage Act 1995 arising from the report of the critical review of the Heritage Council concluded in June 2012 and approved by the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (31 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Financial support is provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings, including mills. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures. I recently announced over five hundred projects across the country that will...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (31 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: As the site in question is owned and managed by the local authority the carrying out of any works to the structure would primarily be a matter for Donegal County Council itself. In excess of 1000 national monuments at over 700 locations are in direct State care, including notable sites in County Donegal such as Donegal Castle, Doe Castle and Grianan of Aileach. Significant resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (31 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: As part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 13 April last. This Scheme will focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. Funding of €20 million has been made available under the scheme, which will support up to 300 towns and villages over the next 15 months. I...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Measures (30 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Officials of my Department had informal discussions with the European Commission on the proposed changes to the burning and hedge cutting provisions included in the Heritage Bill 2016, at a meeting prior to the January 2016 publication of the Bill. I understand that the Commission officials acknowledged that the proposed changes related to national legislation and did not make any further...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Planning Issues (30 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department submitted its observations in relation to the planning application referred to by the Deputy, to the planning authority on 18 May 2017. It is my understanding that these observations will be available to view on the planning authority’s website in due course. The decision on this application will be a matter for the planning authority.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (30 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department operates a fund for Small Scale Local Festivals and Summer Schools which are of cultural importance. The maximum amount of funding per applicant is in the order of €5,000. The closing date for receipt of applications for funding under the Scheme in 2017 is 12 noon on 30 June 2017. Information in regard to this fund can be found on my Department's website...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (24 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23rd January, contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential. I launched an enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 13th April last, with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Medals (24 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The presentation of medals for participation in the 1916 commemorations was a matter for the services concerned and/or their sponsoring Departments. My Department has no role in relation to the local authority fire and rescue services or the ambulance services.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396 and 397 together. The corncrake is confined to a few areas of Ireland, particularly in Donegal and Mayo. Once widespread, its range has greatly contracted, due mostly to changes in farming methods over the past 50 years, and in particular the switch from hay to silage. My Department carries out annual surveys of calling corncrakes in the key...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: No such fines are pending and while there are some infringement cases open against Ireland (“Birds Case” C-418/04 and Reasoned Opinions from the European Commission on Bogs/Turf Cutting and on SAC Designations) there are no cases before the Court of Justice of the European Union.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Provisional expenditure figures in respect of my Department at Vote level as of 30 April 2017 indicate that there is a capital underspend of approximately €7 million. This underspend represents 6% of my Department's gross capital allocation for 2017 (excluding capital carryover). The underspend has primarily occurred because of timing issues in relation to the quarterly drawdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Control (23 May 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 or safety or to air safety.  The Declarations to implement these derogations are renewed annually and an...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies Accounts (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Public Financial Procedures specify that Dáil Éireann votes funds every year for Government Departments and Offices to spend on the provision of public services.  Departments and Offices in receipt of Votes are required to prepare an account of expenditure and receipts, called the Appropriation Account which must be signed by an Accounting Officer.  While the bodies in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Responsibility for the LEADER programme transferred to my Department in the middle of 2016, having come under the remit of the former Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government prior to that point. I understand that, in the main, audits of the LEADER programme during the period 2006-2013 were undertaken by bodies such the Comptroller and Auditor General, the European...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Administration (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: With a budget of €250 million up to 2020, the LEADER programme is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and has the capacity to deliver significant outcomes for rural areas. I am committed to implementing the LEADER 2014-2020 programme as efficiently and as effectively as possible. However, I am also aware that concerns have been expressed regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: With a budget of €250 million up to 2020, the Leader programme is a key part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and has the capacity to deliver significant outcomes for rural areas. I am committed to implementing the Leader 2014-2020 programme as efficiently and as effectively as possible. However, I am also aware that concerns have been expressed regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I would firstly like to put on record my sincere appreciation to the members of the Group and to the Deputy himself for the report that they have recently presented to me. The Moore Street Consultative Forum, which was independently chaired by a former Departmental Secretary General, included local and Oireachtas political representatives, 1916 relatives, street traders and other...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 408 and 410 together. I am aware of the issue regarding the provision of affordable studio space, particularly as a result of the changing property market. In general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers and the owners of vacant buildings are best suited to respond to the specific local circumstances involved and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (23 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has responsibility for the promotion of the Per Cent for Art Scheme and set out guidelines in 2004 to assist project managers to operate the scheme and to provide a common national approach to its implementation. However, funding for the scheme is part of the capital cost of the project and falls to the relevant public authority responsible for the specific construction project...