Results 26,561-26,580 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Other Questions: Arts Funding (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In addition to what I mentioned earlier, Aosdána, which was established in 1981, is a unique State initiative which honours artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland. Membership of Aosdána, which is by peer nomination and election, is limited to 250 living artists who have produced a distinguished body of work. Members of Aosdána may avail...

Other Questions: Departmental Strategies (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As I outlined in my reply to the Deputy's Question No. 621 of 18 December 2014, a draft national landscape strategy for Ireland 2015-2025 was approved by Government on 1 July last and subsequently screened for strategic environmental assessment and appropriate assessment. I expect to publish the national landscape strategy early this year. It remains my view that no legislation will be...

Other Questions: Cultural and Heritage Centre (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: To answer the last question first, it is currently a ten-year partnership. I am sure this can be re-examined when the ten years are up. We will leave that for now. We are working to make progress on the project as a priority. Expressions of interest for the use of the facility were invited through public advertisement on my Department's website. Those expressions have been considered...

Other Questions: Cultural and Heritage Centre (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: This is a unique partnership involving the use of an historic space. It takes time to get the legalities and other matters right. Therefore, I am not in a position to give the Deputy any further information on what is taking place, other than to say that the project was advertised, expressions of interest have been considered by the assessment panel, and I intend to announce the successful...

Other Questions: Cultural and Heritage Centre (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The use of the facility.

Other Questions: Cultural and Heritage Centre (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: For what we are going to use it for in terms of what is going to be put in it. It is for the creation of a culture and heritage centre. I am sorry I cannot give the Deputy any further details. A few issues have yet to be resolved. The project is progressing well. As soon as I have the final details, I will be happy to let the Deputy know.

Other Questions: Arts Funding (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The nature of employment within the arts sector encompasses a wide range of activities. It can include those engaged in the arts practice within specific artistic genres and can encompass areas that flow from such artistic pursuits. It may also embody the industrial creative sectors, including audiovisual production. Therefore, income and pension arrangements for artists can vary widely...

Other Questions: Invasive Plant Species (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The National Parks and Wildlife Service has always acknowledged the significant contribution made by Groundwork volunteers over many years. The Deputy referred to the adopt a woodland project in Killarney National Park, which is designed to assist with the control of rhododendron in the park. The project will harness additional assistance from volunteer groups to augment the resources...

Other Questions: Cultural and Heritage Centre (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In February 2014, an announcement was made in respect of a partnership between the State and the Bank of Ireland, which will result in the creation of a new cultural and heritage centre at the bank's College Green building, the former Parliament House. Bank of Ireland has made the space available for this centre to the State for a ten-year period and will cover the agreed refurbishment and...

Other Questions: Invasive Plant Species (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In Killarney National Park the Department continues to avail of the work of volunteer services. Four to eight volunteers are constantly available throughout the year to carry out work under the supervision and direction of regional staff. These are usually volunteers from universities abroad who carry out this work as a component of their university course. In recent years, there has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: No. We are in constant discussion with the cultural institutions and there are plans. For example, I have discussed with the National Museum its plans for storage facilities and the National Gallery is undertaking considerable renovations. I visited the latter last week. The work that has been done is fantastic. Each institution works closely with my Department. Their chairs meet us...

Other Questions: Invasive Plant Species (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department carries out an annual targeted programme of works to manage the spread of the invasive species rhododendronin Killarney National Park. The extent of the problem varies from area to area within the park and the programme and control methods used are regularly reviewed and refined to respond to the dynamic and vigorous nature of the plant in order to mitigate its impact. While a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I reiterate that I am very pleased that there were no cuts or reductions in the funding provided for arts and culture. The provision of an additional €2 million in funding for the national cultural institutions, which was welcomed by all those institutions, arrested all the cuts that unfortunately had to take place. I accept that the cuts made since 2008 averaged between 37% and 40%....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Cultural Institutions (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I was very pleased, at the conclusion of the recent Estimates processes, not only to have ensured there would be no reduction in funding for the arts and culture areas of my Department for 2015, but also to have secured an additional €2 million in funding for the national cultural institutions. All of these institutions have unavoidably taken reductions in their allocations in recent...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Genealogical Services (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am not sure of the answer to that. I would expect it to be on an incremental basis, but I will revert to the Deputy on the timeframe involved.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Genealogical Services (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The website www.irishgenealogy.ieoperates under the auspices of my Department. The national genealogy policy was approved by the Government in December 2012 and my Department has been engaged in its implementation since that time. The aim of the policy is to help bring coherence to the area, particularly for persons with no genealogical research experience. At present, no charges are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Genealogical Services (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: There was an issue with the data, as the Deputy knows, where the register entries include complete information on a life event, as one would expect to see in a copy of a birth, death or marriage certificate. Online availability of historical register data through www.irishgenealogy.ieis provided for in section 27 of the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2014. The provision relating to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Waterways Issues (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: At the outset, I should make it clear to the Deputy that, contrary to the suggestion in his question, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland is neither awaiting approval for, nor proposing to meet, the capital cost of the first phase of the Ulster Canal project. The facts are that in July 2007 the North-South Ministerial Council agreed to a proposal with the then...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Waterways Issues (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I want to assure the Deputy that I am very familiar with this project, especially given the fact that it is in my constituency. My predecessor, Deputy Deenihan, did a lot of work on progressing this important proposal and I consider this project to be a priority for me. Planning approvals have been received for the project from the relevant authorities, as I said, in both jurisdictions. An...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: National Concert Hall (10 Feb 2015)

Heather Humphreys: To refer specifically to the case the Deputy has asked about, this matter was primarily dealt with by my predecessor. The position is that, following advice from the Attorney General, the National Concert Hall was found not to have the power to embark on a proposed foundation project. The matter resulted in a dispute among board members with some of them resigning because they were opposed...