Results 26,181-26,200 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Government’s Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme was launched in the National Museum, Collins Barracks, on 31stMarch 2015 and planning is well underway in relation to the activities, events and initiatives set out under each of the seven strands of the programme. One of the core objectives of the programme is to encourage and facilitate participation by, and the inclusion of, the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 1003 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 is a scheme of tax relief for the donation of heritage items to the National Collections. Under the scheme, heritage items that are considered outstanding examples of their type and that are pre-eminent in their class, whose export from the State would constitute a diminution of the accumulated cultural heritage of Ireland, or whose import...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (18 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 2015 was the first year in many years that there is growth in current funding for my Department. Additional funding was announced in Budget 2015 for a number of key targeted initiatives in my Department. These include: - €2m in additional funding for the Arts Council; - €2m in additional funding for the National Cultural Institutions; - €1m in extra funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Beit Collection (17 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 280 together. The issue in relation to the sale of artworks referred to in the Questions are matters for the committee of management of the Alfred Beit Foundation which owns and operates Russborough House. My Department has no function in relation to the administration or sale of these artworks. However, I did meet last night with the Chair...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (17 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has not received any proposals relating to the project referred to by the Deputy and it is not possible, therefore, to assess precisely what is involved. Whilst it is recommended good practice to conduct studies of the type referred to before contemplating works to a site of this nature, I regret that all funding available to my Department for these purposes in 2015 is, in any...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (17 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am considering a small capital grant scheme for 2015 along the lines of those which operated in previous years. I hope to announce details shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The position as set out in my reply to Questions Nos. 507, 510 and 514 of 28April 2015 remains unchanged. The wider issues referred to in the correspondence would not be a matter for my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I have had no meetings or discussions with the individual concerned since my appointment as Minister, nor have I had meetings with senior executives of media companies connected to the individual concerned. For completeness, I would point out that I have had contact with journalists linked to the companies in question in the normal course of their work as journalists.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Architectural Heritage (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 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. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of architectural...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Extensive and traditional farming is a key element in supporting the long-term conservation of the Hen Harrier, both in the SPAs designated for that species and also in other important areas which are not designated. It is essential, in my view, that, wherever possible, use is made of opportunities for co-funding from the EU in providing payments to farmers who own lands subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: There are currently 9 staff in my Department on career break and the details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table. Period of Career Break Number of Staff 0 – 6 months 1 6 – 12 months 2 1 – 2 years 1 2 – 3 years 4 4 – 5  years 1 5 years + 0

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Since my appointment in July 2014 total photography costs for my Department in 2014 were €1,168 and €2,571.44 spent to date in 2015. No costs were incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance. The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputy. The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors, including...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Relations Contracts Data (16 Jun 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: Departmental Contracts Data (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 923 and 926 together. Since my Department was established on 2 June 2011, a total of €4,120 has been expended on external IT consultancy. This total is comprised of expenditure for the assessment of a Wide-Area-Networks procurement in 2012 and the assessment of Firewall systems in 2014. In both instances, it was considered advisable to seek external...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Parliamentary Questions (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 924 and 925 together. Arrangements are in place in my Department for the preparation of draft responses to Parliamentary Questions for submission to me in a timely manner. Those arrangements, which take full account of the requirements of Dáil Éireann for replying to Parliamentary Questions, include final scrutiny of draft replies by senior...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jun 2015)

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

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Freedom of Information Data (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of Freedom of Information requests processed by my Department since its establishment in June 2011 is set out in the following table. Year Total Number of FOI Requests Received Number withdrawn or dealt with outside FOI Number Refused Number Granted in full Number Part Granted Number of Requests for Internal Review (Appeals)...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Animal Disease Controls (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Having become extinct in the area during the mid-eighteenth century, native Red Deer were reintroduced into Connemara National Park in 1982. I understand that Lyme disease is carried by ticks and a study produced in 1999 detected Lyme disease in ticks found in Connemara. These ticks are not restricted to red deer and can be found on a variety of other animals, including mice, voles,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Legislative Process (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 930 and 932 together. While no Bills for which I have Ministerial responsibility have been formally initiated in the Oireachtas since September 2013, one Bill - the National Cultural Institutions (National Concert Hall) Bill - was published on 9 June 2015. That Bill was subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas, as was the Official Languages...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The conditions attaching to this funding are similar to the conditions my Department applies to all large capital grants. These include a legal charge on the property for the amount of the grant, documentary proof that all matching funding is in place, the capping of the Department's contribution at the amount of the grant, full observance of public procurement rules, etc. My Department...