Results 2,621-2,640 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

Written Answers — Commonage Plans: Commonage Plans (14 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Staff in the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department are currently co-ordinating a review of the stocking restrictions in all commonage plans prepared to date. This is a joint exercise funded by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The carrying capacity of all commonages will be expressed at Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) level and...

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (14 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Wild mink are not protected species under the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2010 and they can be controlled by farmers, landowners and others. I have been concerned for some time at the number of feral mink around the country and especially their effects on ground nesting birds. A report published by my Department in 2009 estimated the population of wild mink in the State could reach a total of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware my Department was established in June 2011. The costs of annual pensions and retirement lump sums paid in respect of staff who retired from my Department and the bodies under its aegis in 2011 and the equivalent estimated costs for the years 2012 to 2015 are set out in the tables below. No severance payments have been made to date or are expected to be made over...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (9 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: In April 2011, the Government announced a redress package for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on raised bog special areas of conservation. The package offers qualifying turf cutters the option of a financial payment of €1,000 per year, index linked, over 15 years or, where feasible, relocation to non-designated bogs, where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department, as currently configured, was established on 2 June 2011 and therefore the available information is being provided from that date. I am assuming that the Deputy is not referring to routine internal committees and working groups, established within my Department to support the delivery of its goals and I have not included details of these. ...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (7 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am satisfied that the Centenary commemoration of the Easter Rising in 2016 requires a comprehensive programme that will also present the economic, social and cultural history of the period. The development of the commemorative programme is therefore orientated towards the entire Decade of Centenaries 2012 to 2022 with official consideration currently being focussed on the period 2012 to...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (7 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The individual referred to in the question applied to sell his interest in land under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme, administered by my Department. The relevant land has been inspected and found to be partially within a site designated as a Special Area of Conservation. A letter of offer has issued to the applicant and when the contracts are received, they will be forwarded to the Chief...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (7 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Deputy will be aware that, as Chair of the National Famine Commemoration Committee, I am responsible for ensuring on behalf of the Government that appropriate arrangements are in place to commemorate the Great Irish Famine with an annual memorial day. It has been agreed that this year's National Famine Commemoration will take place on Sunday, 13th May in Drogheda, County Louth. Full...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (7 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The individual referred to in the Deputy's Question has applied to sell his interest in land under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme administered by my Department. Processing of applications on hand under this scheme has been slower than anticipated, due to capacity constraints in undertaking the work involved. In 2011, the Government announced a compensation scheme for those affected by the...

Written Answers — Special Areas of Conservation: Special Areas of Conservation (2 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. For the purposes of this reply, I am referring to the most recent proposed Special Protection Areas put forward by my Department in Donegal and Mayo, that is, those proposed for designation in 2011. In Donegal, some 260 valid informal, or Stage 1, objections were received from landowners and others concerning the proposed Special...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (2 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The individual referred to in the Question received payment under the Voluntary Bog Purchase Scheme, administered by my Department, on the condition that he would permanently cease turf cutting on sites included in Special Areas of Conservation. The individual has submitted an application for compensation under the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme, announced by the Government in...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (2 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: In April 2011, the Government announced a redress package for those affected by the cessation of turf cutting on 53 raised bog special areas of conservation. The package offers qualifying turf cutters the option of a financial payment of €1,000 per year, index linked, over 15 years or, where feasible, relocation to non-designated bogs, where they can continue to cut turf. Those wishing to...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (2 Feb 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The land referred to by the Deputy is located in a Natural Heritage Area (NHA) designated in 2004. In 2010, the then Government decided that turf-cutting should come to an end on raised bog NHAs at the end of 2013. However, the current Programme for Government contains an undertaking to review the situation with regard to turf cutting on NHAs. On 15 April 2011, the Government made a number of...

Written Answers — Archaeological Heritage: Archaeological Heritage (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: In 2011, my Department provided €650,000 through a "Structures at Risk Fund" to assist with works to safeguard structures, both in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010. This fund was administered by local authorities. This funding was focused primarily on those protected structures most at risk. €105,000 in funding was also provided...

Written Answers — Interdepartmental Committees: Interdepartmental Committees (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Implementation Committee established last July to examine the feasibility of the implementation of the recommendations in the Creative Capital Report – Building Ireland's Audiovisual Creative Economy - has met on three occasions. The Committee is chaired by my Department and has representation from the Departments of Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, Education and Skills,...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Under section 481 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, tax relief is allowed for investments in certain films and TV productions. The types of productions eligible for certification are feature film, television drama, creative documentary and animation. The scheme is kept under regular review in consultation with the Irish Film Board and any changes considered necessary are brought to the...

Written Answers — Wildlife Protection: Wildlife Protection (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2010 made it an offence to hunt a deer with two or more dogs. This legislation had the purpose of banning stag hunting by riders and hounds. I have a broad remit to protect Ireland's wildlife and natural heritage. One of my biggest challenges will be to work towards greater common understanding of the issues we face in protecting our natural heritage. My...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 81 together. Positioned at the core of local, regional, urban and rural activities, the arts, creative and heritage-related sectors play a pivotal part in the economic life of communities across the country, including the vital area of employment. Employment in the arts sector embraces a very diverse and broad extent of activities, encompassing those...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government, as part of the Public Service Reform Plan, recently announced a radical streamlining of State bodies, including in respect of certain bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group. This includes decisions to combine or merge a number of such bodies. In addition, decisions have been taken to critically review, by June 2012, the streamlining and...

Written Answers — Heritage Sites: Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department commenced a review of the operation of the Irish Heritage Trust in 2011 in accordance with a protocol agreed with the Trust in 2006. In this regard, my Department invited observations on an Issues Paper in relation to the operation of the Trust. 16 submissions were received. My Department intends to finalise the review, in consultation with the trust, over the coming weeks.