Results 25,381-25,400 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts in Education Charter (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 66 together. While the provision for arts in the education system is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, I am firmly committed to continuing the work of the ongoing partnership between that Department, my own Department and the Arts Council, in line with the Arts in Education Charter. In this regard, I am pleased that the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Functions (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 42 together. As indicated by the Taoiseach in his statement to Dáil Éireann of 6th May, my Department will, in its new configuration, retain all of the functions previously assigned to it, in addition to taking on a number of new functions in relation to rural affairs and regional development. This continuing commitment is reflected in the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: As I set out in my reply to Priority Question No 32, 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. Other priorities, in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government, include: - The publication of Culture 2025,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: As I indicated in my reply to Question No 171 on 26 May 2016, I am very aware that the Bull Island is a hugely important amenity resource for the people of Dublin, as well as being of very high nature value. Clearly, the concept of sustainable use is important in the management of such areas, particularly if there is a long history of such amenity use by the local population. It has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Details of the annual funding allocation to my Department at subhead level are published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume. Through these subheads, my Department administers and delivers a wide range of programmes and measures, descriptions of which are available on its website at . Expenditure under these programme areas is recorded and accounted for on a national basis and it is not...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Details of the funding allocations made available to my Department are published each year in the Revised Estimates Volume with the outturn published in the annual Appropriation Account. These publications are available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and on the website of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. Most of my Department's arts...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Development (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 52 together. The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a very important commitment to progressively increase funding for the arts over the lifetime of the Programme, with specific reference to the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleagues in Government and with the Oireachtas to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme is the centrepiece of the Decade of Centenaries and has been met with widespread support across all sectors of our society. The Programme is a year-long initiative, with a huge diversity of programmes and events running throughout 2016, to commemorate the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising. The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme has engaged our communities...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, which was launched last year, is a wide-ranging year-long series of events, which has been hugely successful to date in engaging citizens right around the country. In this regard, I secured an allocation of €18.1m in current funding for 2016 to support centenary events, both at home and abroad. Since my initial appointment as Minister with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Measures (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Heritage Bill 2016, which passed its 2nd Stage reading in Seanad Éireann on 20 January 2016, provides, inter alia, for a power to the Minister to permit, by regulations, the burning of vegetation in March (a month normally closed to burning) during such period or periods and in such areas of the State as the Minister may specify. The regulations may also set out conditions or...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 58 together. My role, as Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, 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. With regard to the provision of incentives, as the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 67 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: A large number of events took place over the Easter weekend as part of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, all of which were very well attended by invited guests and members of the public. In particular, the military parade and ceremony at the GPO on Easter Sunday saw approximately 4,500 guests attending (predominantly relatives of those who took part in the 1916 Rising) as well as many...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Promotion (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The refurbishment and restoration of Richmond Barracks is one of the flag-ship capital projects of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and was supported with capital funds from my Department. The project was officially opened on 2 May 2016 and I understand that it will open to the public in June. This is a Dublin City Council/community partnership project and the City Council will be...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Tourism Promotion (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Waterways Ireland has been actively progressing the development of Blueways as a means to attract new visitors to use the waterways and in response to the growth in demand for recreational activities such as walking, canoeing, cycling and stand up paddle boarding. The first Blueway was launched in October 2014 on the Shannon and it has been very successful. It links Drumshanbo with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Centres (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Last January, I announced a new €9 million investment scheme for arts and cultural centres to run over the next three years, focussed on upgrading the existing stock of arts and cultural centres around the country. The funding is being made available as part of the Capital Investment Framework 2016-2021. The scheme will target investment at a range of different facilities and will be...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Funding across the public service was severely impacted by the economic crisis, including the funding which could be provided to bodies such as the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board. Since my initial appointment as Minister with responsibility for the arts, however, I have succeeded in securing increased funding for the arts sector year on year. For example, the allocation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Hares are a protected species under the Wildlife Acts and may only be hunted during the prescribed Open Season. There is also a facility under these Acts to issue a licence for coursing. I am advised that there is no current evidence that hare coursing has a significant negative impact on hare populations. The most recent population estimate for the Irish hare - undertaken in 2007 - was...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Broadband Service Provision (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Delivering the National Broadband Plan is a top priority for Government, as reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The allocation of new responsibilities at Cabinet level also signals the Government’s firm intention to address broadband and other telecoms challenges in rural Ireland. To this end, I will be working closely with the Minister for Communications,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (1 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...