Results 25,681-25,700 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Funding for the protection of built heritage will continue to be provided by my Department via a number of schemes, which will be either directly administered or delivered through local authorities and agencies such as the Heritage Council.This year my Department operated a Structures at Risk Fund to enable conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (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 last century, to find sustainable alternative means of meeting the on-going costs of their maintenance. I have also recognised that these Houses are often a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The aim of the new national cultural policy, Culture 2025, is to set out the high-level aims and policies of the Government in this area for the period up until 2025. It will seek to reinforce the crucial role of culture in society by supporting the cultural sector and providing the conditions which will allow the sector to develop and flourish across all sectors of society. Culture 2025will...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Heritage Plan (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Following on from the National Heritage Plan 2002-2007, my Department’s responsibilities for the development of policies for the protection and promotion of our built and natural heritage has been actively concentrated on various ongoing policy developments responding to the range of challenges for each of the sectorial areas within my overall Heritage remit. My Department has no...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government decided to acquire the national monument at Nos. 14–17 Moore Street because of its historic association with the events of Easter 1916. This decision demonstrates and acknowledges the historical importance of the site in a clear and substantive way and ensures that the long-term future of this historical landmark will be preserved and safeguarded. Bringing the monument...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Significant environmental damage is caused by wildfires. This issue has become more acute in recent years, as evidenced by the spate of fires in various parts of the country, including Co. Kerry, last spring. The main source of such wildfires is thought to be the deliberate starting of fires without concern for the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Since its inception in 2012, the Decade of Centenaries has been engaged in delivering a balanced chronological commemorative programme with selected focused events in each year. There is a commitment to marking each milestone in a way that is inclusive, tolerant and respectful, and the events and activities undertaken have been aimed at fostering such an approach in conjunction with the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Archaeological Sites (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: A new Management Plan for the site referred to by the Deputy is currently being finalised by my Department. This follows a public consultation process on the draft Plan. All submissions received will be taken into account before the Plan is advanced to a stage where it is ready for submission to the relevant authorities for approval. The new Management Plan will acknowledge the rights of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: 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 last century, to find sustainable alternative means of meeting the on-going costs of their maintenance. I have also recognised that these Houses are often a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Sites (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 665 of 23 June 2015. Unfortunately, negotiations with the owner on behalf of my Department and Longford County Council had recently to be suspended in the absence of agreement on a purchase price for the monument, having regard to value for public money and the official valuation of the property. I have, however, informed the Council that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The RTÉ 2016 commemorative programme was launched on 4 November 2015. The programme is rich in culture, debate, drama and entertainment, will be accessible across all media platforms, and will include television documentaries, drama series and radio programmes. The programme will be accessible online and on mobile devices, thereby ensuring availability to people both in Ireland but also...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Meetings with Lobbyists (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Regulation of Lobbying Act was commenced in September 2015. In furtherance of the requirements of the Act and associated regulations, my Department's website ()carries details of my Department's Designated Public Officials. This facilitates registered lobbyists in fulfilling their statutory obligation to report communications made with the relevant persons which fall with the scope of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Details of photography costs incurred by my Department since my appointment in July 2014 are set out in the following table. The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of the engagement, the expected level of media interest and the national/regional scope of the subject. At all times, value for money is a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: No external public relations firms have been employed by my Department since my appointment in July 2014. The engagement of external groups for the provision of specialised services, including public relations firms, is dependent on a number of factors, including the expertise and resources available within my Department. In that context, value for money is at all times a critical consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Relations Contracts Data (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The details requested by the Deputy in respect of the nine reports commissioned by my Department since its establishment in June 2011 are set out in the following table. The "Review of PSO Air Service for the Aran Islands" was published in May 2014. The "Updated Business Case forRestoring the Ulster Canal from Lough Erne to Clones" and the"Cost Benefit Analysis of the National Gallery...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I was appointed Minster for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht on 11 July 2014. Two special advisers were appointed on 23 July 2014 and 18 August 2014 respectively. They were appointed on the first point of the Principal Officer scale and have advanced to the second point on 23 July 2015 and 18 August 2015 respectively.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have no statutory function in the matter of collective bargaining, which I understand comes within the ambit of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine. In carrying out these functions, my main focus is to ensure that the victims of the Irish Famine are respectfully and appropriately remembered. In that context, I also seek to raise awareness of current food security issues...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Under the 'Community Participation' strand of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, over 84 public consultations, facilitated by the local authorities with the support from my Department, have taken place nationwide. The response has been enthusiastic from all local authorities and each of the local authorities has now developed a rich and diverse series of events and projects that will take...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Programme (8 Dec 2015)

Heather Humphreys: A habitat enhancement scheme, the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme, was previously available to farmers in the Shannon Callows to undertake proactive measures for corncrake meadows and wet grasslands. These commitments were voluntary in nature and lasted for the period of the farm plan. The Agreement referred to by the Deputy concerned the prescriptions for management in...