Results 25,861-25,880 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (3 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1197 and 1209 together. I refer the Deputy to my replies on this matter, in this House on the 24 September last. My Department is responsible for 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 species. In general, control of invasive species is a...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Budgets (3 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Details of the annual funding allocation to my Department for 2015 are published in the annual Revised Estimates Volume which is available on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform at . Progress on spending across the Vote is monitored on a continuing basis through the year in order to ensure the optimal use of the available financial resources. While the potential...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Lansdowne Road Agreement (3 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The allocation to my Department in 2016 in respect of pay costs is €29.865m. This amount includes costs arising from the Lansdowne Road Agreement. There are no specific demographic or other inflationary pressures particularly associated with the responsibilities that fall within my Department's remit.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Appointments to State Boards (3 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In 2014, the Government approved new guidelines regarding the process to be used in making all appointments to State boards. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) has assumed responsibility for managing this process and my Department has nominated a State Boards Liaison Officer to engage with PAS to ensure compliance with the guidelines. Details regarding appointments to State boards in the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Fund (3 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Funding for the protection of built heritage is being provided by my Department in 2015 via a number of schemes, which are either directly administered or delivered through local authorities or through the Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Payments (3 Nov 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 €1,500 in respect of Year 2 of 15 (2012) and a payment of €1,518 in respect of Year 3 of 15 (2013) have been made to this applicant. The qualifying criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Burial Grounds (3 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s officials met with representatives of the cemetery committee during the summer to discuss the investigations required to verify whether the site proposed by the committee for an extension of the existing graveyard was suitable from an archaeological perspective. My Department subsequently wrote to the committee on 12 August 2015 setting out revised recommendations for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (3 Nov 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Arrangements applying to the Career Break Scheme are made under the authority provided by Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956 – 2006. These arrangements are outlined in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 4/2013. My Department was established on the 2nd June 2011. Since that date 23 civil servants have been reinstated following career break.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Waterways Ireland Funding (21 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Waterways Ireland is co-funded by my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland. The current expenditure of the body is funded 85% by my Department and 15% by DCAL, which reflects the distribution of the navigable waterways in each jurisdiction. Capital expenditure is funded 100% in the jurisdiction in which the capital works are carried out. The...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Freedom of Information Requests (21 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. FOI Requests received to date in 2015:139 Requests currently under consideration: 21 Requests completed: 118 Requests completed within 4 weeks from date of receipt:97(82%) Requests completed between 4 and 8 weeks from date of receipt: 21(18%) For the sake of completeness, I would advise the Deputy that 7 of the 21...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (20 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As outlined in my previous reply, owners or occupiers of land may seek further information with regard to site boundaries, activities that require consent or other relevant matters by contacting local staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department. Contact details can be found on www.npws.ie. The Law Society of Ireland is not a statutory consultee in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (20 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is fully aware of the cultural and economic importance of the institution in County Mayo referred to by the Deputy and of the threat to its future. In the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for the county, the related building was rated of ‘National’ significance. In recognition of that significance, conservation works have been undertaken in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme Data (20 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Expenditure under my Department’s cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme in 2015 to date is in the region of €3.5 million. This amount, which includes VAT charged in relation to turf deliveries, is comprised of: Annual Compensation Payments - €3.230 million; Legal Agreement Once-off (€500) Incentive Payments - €0.065 million; and Turf Deliveries -...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (20 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 719 and 720 together. In April 2011, the Government agreed to the setting up of an independently chaired Peatlands Council to assist the Government and stakeholders regarding certain issues related to the management of Ireland’s peatlands. Applicants to the cessation of turf cutting compensation scheme administered by my Department may, further to the...

Financial Resolutions 2016 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As has been said in this House throughout the afternoon, this budget is about not only spreading the recovery but securing it. As Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I am acutely aware of the impact of the economic crisis on the sectors under my remit. Budgets across my Department were hit very hard following the economic collapse, reflecting the burden shouldered by people...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Archaeological Sites (14 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is continuing its consideration of the various aspects of this proposed land acquisition, including the financial costs involved. The merits of the proposal must, of course, be considered within the context of value for money and the limited funds available to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Tax Reliefs (14 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Key statistics in relation to Certification of Projects under Section 481 of The Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, are regularly published on my Department's website at the following link . I understand that the Revenue Commissioners publish on their website the beneficiaries of tax relief under S481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act (1997), as amended (Film Relief Scheme).

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Appointments to State Boards (14 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: On 30 September 2014, the Government introduced a new system for appointments to State Boards. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) now advertises all vacancies on its State Boards portal www.stateboards.ieand applications must be processed by way of a transparent assessment system designed and implemented by PAS. Officials of my Department are in discussions with PAS on the matter and I...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Appeals (13 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: It is necessary that the designations appeals process be completed in the appropriate manner in order to meet the requirements of the relevant European Union legislation. Following the completion of a Departmental review of an objection to the proposed designation of a site as a special area of conservation or special protection area, landowners may opt to take their cases to the...

National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (8 Oct 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I move amendment No. 8:In page 21, after line 15, to insert the following: "PART 7 MISCELLANEOUSChange of name of Bord Scannán na hÉireann to Fís Éireann 39. (1) The name of the body (established by section 3 of the Irish Film Board Act 1980) the present name of which is, in the Irish language, Bord Scannán na hÉireann and in the English language, the Irish Film...