Results 25,621-25,640 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments (16 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The individual referred to in the Deputy’s Question applied to sell his interest in land within a raised bog special area of conservation, under the voluntary bog purchase scheme administered by my Department. The applicant has applied to sell both freehold title and a turbary right. My Department, in conjunction with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office, has been...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turbary Rights (15 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme was established in 2011 for those who have been required to cease turf cutting on the 53 raised bog special areas of conservation. The scheme has been extended to land owners and turbary right holders affected by the curtailment of turf cutting on raised bog natural heritage areas. The qualifying criteria for the scheme are that: - The...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Properties (15 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Any properties occupied by my Department are either leased or owned by the Office of Public Works and the question of any ground rents payable is the responsibility of that body. Bodies operating under the aegis of my Department are separate legal entities in their own right. The issues raised by the Deputy are part of the day-to-day operational responsibilities of the bodies in question...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I announced the scheme in question on 21 October 2015 and local authorities were formally notified of their allocations on 23 October 2015. Applications for funding under the scheme had to be made by the applicant directly to the relevant local authority no later than 7December 2015. This was the final date for applications and cannot be changed. Each local authority is required to submit a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Eligibility (15 Dec 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) has 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: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In August this year, I launched the 2015 Arts and Culture Small Capital Grants Scheme and made €300,000 available for allocation. The scheme allows for the funding of capital projects of up to €10,000, to meet up to 70% of project costs. I hope to make an announcement shortly in relation to the award of grants under this scheme. In addition, the Government has announced a new...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Census of Population Publication (15 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Current legislative provisions, as contained in the Statistics Act 1993, require that census data must be withheld for 100 years. Accordingly, it is not possible at this time to release 1926 Census returns before the statutory period has elapsed in 2026. If the records were to be released before the expiry of 100 years, a major change in legislation and policy would be required to allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 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: Wildlife Protection (10 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife.Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be managed in the interests of both farming and biodiversity. In...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Rehiring (10 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established on 2 June 2011. I am advised that, since that date, there have been no applications for re-instatement following retirement on ill-health grounds.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Value for Money Reviews (9 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am committed to ensuring that findings of the report referred to by the Deputy are used to improve access to and support for the arts in Ireland. My Department will build on the already positive engagement with the Arts Council to ensure that the recommendations are delivered.This will be done in close consultation with the Arts Council using the normal governance arrangements, including...

Other Questions: Architectural Heritage (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I am aware of the growing risk to the sustainable future of the remaining stock of Irish historic houses in private ownership, where owners have consistently struggled, throughout the past century, to find sustainable alternative means of meeting the ongoing costs of their maintenance. I have also recognised that these houses are often a...

Other Questions: Architectural Heritage (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: A number of actions contained in the initiative will be interdependent. This has been recognised by the committee formed to develop the action plan for historic houses. I thank it for the work it did in developing the report. It has been recognised that a number of specific actions will be prioritised. These are the review, in collaboration with the Department of Finance, of the...

Other Questions: Architectural Heritage (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The report has been published and we will continue to work with all the stakeholders. It is a matter of working together. The local communities, local heritage groups and various others involved need to work together to protect what are tremendous assets in our communities. The houses are such an attraction in terms of heritage. The owners have a special story to...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I agree that we need to support artists in reaching their full potential. Funding for artists is provided through the Arts Council, which is independent. The Deputy mentioned a body that did not receive funding, but that must be a decision for the Arts Council. It funds many and various artists, organisations and events throughout the country. We increased its funding this year compared...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Funding for artists is a matter for the Arts Council, which does a good job and is independent. It receives funding of €59 million, which is approximately one third of my budget. It decides who qualifies for funding, has set up a panel and does assessments. Any decision in that regard lies with it. I understand the Deputy's remarks about more Irish music being played on radio....

Other Questions: Artists' Remuneration (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy mentioned other schemes. In April 2014, the Irish Association of Songwriters, Composers and Authors was awarded a grant from the Department's capital budget of €50,000 for the purpose of introducing a digital music system to be available to all Irish musicians and broadcasters. The association carried out considerable research and identified the digital media distribution...

Other Questions: Irish Music Industry Promotion (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government appreciates the importance of the cultural and creative industries to Ireland, including the music industry. Primary responsibility for the promotion and support of the arts, including music, is devolved to the Arts Council. The council, which is funded by my Department, is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations and, specifically, in its funding decisions. The...

Other Questions: Artists' Remuneration (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The report of the independent copyright review committee appointed by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton, entitled Modernising Copyright, was published in October 2013. The report contains in excess of 60 recommendations covering a diverse range of copyright issues. Following extensive analysis of the recommendations contained in the report, the...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: There was a consultation process and it was good to get out there. I attended two of the meetings and all the stakeholders came together for the final one in Kilmainham Hospital, Dublin. It was a great opportunity for stakeholders to make their views known to me and my Department and to network. Some people might say we are moving this too quickly but I am very anxious to move it forward....