Results 24,881-24,900 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Centres (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware and supportive of the use of vacant premises by artists and arts organisation and I understand that a number of such buildings are currently being utilised by arts organisation across the country. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Planning Issues (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Heritage Council, in collaboration with my Department, has led the development of a best practice approach to the development of Community-Led Village Design Statements (VDS). It, in tandem with a number of local authorities and village communities, prepared a toolkit which was launched in October 2012 at the inaugural community-led VDS workshop. The toolkit sets out a step-by-step...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Archive Services (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The county archive service is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My Department through Culture Ireland supports Irish artists to present their work worldwide. This serves to raise the global awareness of the strong reputation of the Irish arts sector, generate new career opportunities for Irish artists and develop new audiences abroad for Irish artists. My Department continues to work with the Global Irish Network , which has to date made many...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The reopening of the 2.5km stretch of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to the International Scout Centre at Castle Saunderson continues to progress. The project, which comprises three work phases, is being undertaken by Waterways Ireland. Phase 1, the site investigation work, and Phase 2, the dredging of the River Finn and removal of the dredging material, have been completed. ...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Issues (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised by Waterways Ireland that the area referred to by the Deputy is some 710 metres in length but that the organisation’s jurisdiction extends only to some 350 metres upstream of the Blackwater/Canal diversion point. Waterways Ireland undertook repair works to the embankments along that 350 metre stretch in 2013. I am informed that Waterways Ireland is currently working on a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Details of the 2016 and 2017 allocations for all state agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department are available on the Department's website at:

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Data (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Target staffing levels for 2017 are not set either in respect of my Department or for the bodies operating under its aegis. Instead, staffing levels in my Department and in the agencies under my remit are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing, as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Programme Projects (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In September 2015, the then Government announced plans for a fund of €30 million over a six year period for a Town and Village Renewal scheme. While no expenditure was incurred on the scheme in 2015, the current Government has included a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to support the development of rural towns and villages as part of its drive to revitalise...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: CEDRA Expenditure (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was published in April 2014 and contained 34 recommendations to support the development of rural Ireland. Some of these recommendations had a direct associated programme cost, while others related to policy initiatives that could be taken to support rural economic development. The priority recommendation made by...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Most of my Department's arts and culture budget is allocated to the agencies under its remit. Within these allocations, the Arts Council is the primary State agency for funding the arts. In this regard, I secured significant additional funding for the Arts Council as part of Budget 2017. This will see an increase in the Arts Council allocation of €5 m or 8%. Details of the Council's...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Community Development Initiatives (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 201 together. I acknowledge that social isolation can be a very real problem in both urban and rural communities. That is why the Government is committed to building a strong economy and delivering a fair society so that communities can thrive throughout both urban and rural Ireland. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My role, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Irish Film Board is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry. The Board supports and promotes the Irish screen industries at major international markets and festivals, promotes inward investment, the use of Ireland as a location for international production and provides support for companies filming in Ireland. The Film...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Flood Risk Management (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not have a role in identifying areas of the county at risk from flooding. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for leading and co-ordinating Ireland’s whole of Government approach to flood risk management in relation to prevention (e.g. avoiding construction in flood-prone areas), protection (e.g. taking feasible measures, both structural and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Ireland, like all EU Member States, is bound by the requirements of the EU Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive. These Directives aim to ensure the protection of habitats and species which have been selected for conservation within special areas of conservation and special protection areas. Significant efforts have been made by the State to resolve the issue of the protection of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Article 35 of Regulation (EU) No. 1303/2013 outlines that support can be provided for the administration and animation costs of LEADER Local Action Groups. Administration costs are those linked to the management of the implementation of the Local Development Strategy such as operating costs and personnel costs. Animation costs are those linked to the Local Development Strategy in order...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Plan (20 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Rural Development will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government for the benefit of rural Ireland. Progress is now well under way on the development of the Action Plan. In September, I wrote to my Cabinet colleagues seeking inputs to the Plan. I took the opportunity to brief Oireachtas members on 29th...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In actual fact the budgets have been increased in the arts Department. I was delighted to get an increase in the budget for the arts community.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (19 Oct 2016)

Heather Humphreys: We were also able to increase funding to Údarás na Gaeltachta. Within the budgets there are different schemes. I am pleased the budget was increased.