Results 25,321-25,340 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (14 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies Data (14 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The information sought by the Deputy is provided in the following Table. It may be noted that the National Archives of Ireland has an Advisory Council, rather than a Board. The Public Appointments Service operates a dedicated website, www.stateboards.ie, through which it advertises vacancies on State Boards. Arrangements are currently in train in co-operation with the Public Appointments...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Flood Prevention Measures (14 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Office of Public Works (OPW) and local authorities are the principal response agencies with regard to the management of flooding episodes. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is part of my Department, which has the statutory responsibility to advise on the protection of habitats and species identified for nature conservation, including designating sites as Natural Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (14 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government entered into a lease, on 21 February 2002, in respect of the lands and landowner referred to by the Deputy. The term of that lease is for thirty years from 1 January 2002. My Department keeps this lease under review on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to contribute to nature conservation...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (9 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Under the Arts Act 2003, primary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. Last September, my Department completed and published a comprehensive review of the Arts Council’s activities and operation over the period 2009 to 2012. It was undertaken by my Department’s Evaluation Unit under the guidance of an...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Programme (9 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Steps are in hand to re-instate the Heritage Bill 2016 for consideration at Committee Stage in Seanad Éireann. The Bill will provide, inter alia, for the amendment of the Wildlife Acts to revise and update arrangements for the cutting and burning of vegetation and the cutting of hedgerows. I am also proposing that two further Bills will be introduced in the current session –...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (9 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Private support for the arts is an important funding source and the Government continues to support this through tax incentives and other initiatives. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a commitment to encourage strong, mutually beneficial links between the business community and the arts community to assist arts organisations to capitalise on sponsorship opportunities and to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Plan (9 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Significant progress has been made in drafting the first National Cultural Policy - Culture 2025.This followed a major public consultation process in 2015, including a national cultural workshop held in October at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Work by my Department, the expert steering group and a wider expert committee continued on the document in early 2016 and is currently ongoing. The...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (9 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Significant progress has been made in drafting the first National Cultural Policy - Culture 2025.This followed a major public consultation process in 2015, including a national cultural workshop held in October at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham. Work by my Department, the expert steering group and a wider expert committee continued on the document in early 2016 and is currently ongoing. The...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware that there is a growing public awareness and concern about the impact of invasive species here, including Japanese Knotweed. In this regard, I wish to advise that my Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In accordance with the Planning and Development legislation, where, notwithstanding a determination that a proposed development will adversely affect the integrity of a European site (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas), and in the absence of alternative solutions, where a competent authority (in this instance An Bord Pleanála) considers that consent should...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cross-Border Co-operation (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: No cost benefit analysis has been undertaken regarding the development of Memoranda of Understanding between State Bodies under the remit of my Department and their counterparts in Northern Ireland in relation to delivering the services for which they are responsible on an all-Island basis. However, my Department is co-sponsor of two of the North-South Implementation Bodies established...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Data (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The ongoing collection and updating of relevant data in relation to operational and policy matters is an integral part of the work of my Department and the work of the bodies under its aegis. As part of this ongoing process, a significant degree of cooperation also takes place with our counterpart Departments and agencies in Northern Ireland. With specific reference to the two North-South...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for a Partnership Government contains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to seek to advance this commitment in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 to 383, inclusive, together. I am advised by Waterways Ireland that it has redeployed no staff on the Shannon Navigation since 2012. Currently, 37 members of staff are employed on the North Shannon at the following locations: Roosky (6), Athlone (6), Albert Lock (3), Kilclare (1), Clarendon/Drumshanbo (1), Tarmonbarry/Cleendra (1), Knockvicar (12) and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Funding (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that this festival has been funded by the Arts Council in the past. In this regard, the Arts Council operates under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003, which provides, inter alia, that the Council is independent in the performance of its functions in funding the Arts. It may be noted that the Arts Council operates an appeals procedure which the applicants may wish to consider.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Arts Council is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General. The Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General is submitted to the Houses of the Oireachtas and is available in the Oireachtas Library. The report is also published in the Annual Report of the Arts Council and is available on the website of the Arts Council.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 Ireland remains committed to the implementation of the EU Nature Directives. To this end, Ireland has identified 430 sites for protection as special areas of conservation under the Habitats Directive and 154 sites for protection as special protection areas under the Birds Directive. The matter of further designations being required has arisen for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (8 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.