Results 26,641-26,660 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Road Projects (29 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: As this project is at preplanning stage, it would not be appropriate to comment on specific matters at this time. However, my Department is engaging with the relevant authorities on an ongoing basis with regard to ecological matters.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Road Projects (29 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: It is my understanding that this portion of the development of the N59 is presently before An Bord Pleanála. As such, this matter falls under the responsibility of that authority and it would not be appropriate for my Department to comment on the issue.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Appointments (29 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has received no representations seeking persons to be appointed to positions on boards or elsewhere from the Member referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (28 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I am committed to the delivery of the country's first ever national cultural policy - Culture 2025- and will be initiating a wide-scale consultation process to ensure that all stakeholders and members of the public can make their views know. With this in mind, a draft discussion paper is currently being finalised, which I hope to publish shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Concert Hall (28 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. My Department provides funding to the National Cultural Institutions, including the National Concert Hall (NCH). However, the board of the NCH is responsible for all operational matters, including fundraising, and I have no direct function in these matters. In this regard, I understand that the board decided not to proceed with the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Concert Hall (28 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 148 together. An independent review, commissioned by the board of the National Concert Hall (NCH), regarding the programming, marketing, financial and operational performance of the NCH was carried out by CHL Consulting Company Ltd in association with IMD Group and completed at the end of 2013. A copy of the report was furnished to my predecessor,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Concert Hall (28 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: A number of changes took place on the board of the National Concert Hall during April 2014. Ms Margaret Ryan stepped down as both Chair and member of the board, while four ordinary members also stepped down. Ms Ryan had already indicated her intention of stepping down was to focus entirely on her role with Fáilte Ireland, while I understand that the four ordinary members stepped down...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Grant Payments (28 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not provide bursaries or grants to a start-up enterprises providing spinning and hand weaving classes or demonstrations.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Visual Artist's Workspace Scheme (27 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Visual Artist's Workspace Scheme is administered by the Arts Council. The Arts Council operates under the provisions of the Arts Act 2003, which provides, inter alia, that the Council is independent in the performance of its functions in funding the Arts. As Minister, I cannot, therefore, review decisions of the Council in relation to such matters.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Appeals (27 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 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 Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board, an independently chaired Board which makes recommendations to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, on such cases. The...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (21 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: In accordance with the Planning and Development Regulations, planning applications lodged with planning authorities that have the potential to impact on the built or natural heritage must be referred to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and I may make observations and recommendations to a planning authority on such applications. This includes, based on available scientific...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Regulations (21 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2012 prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August during the nesting and breeding season for birds and wildlife. Any change to that period would require amending legislation. Vegetation such as hedgerows and scrub is important as wildlife habitat and needs to be...

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

Heather Humphreys: A Government Decision in 1997 approved the inclusion in budgets for all Exchequer-funded capital construction projects of up to 1% as funding for an art project, subject to an overall cap of €64,000. While my Department has responsibility for the promotion of the Per Cent for Art Scheme, it does not have a budget for it. It therefore does not provide funding for the individual art...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (21 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: A number of landowners had objected to the designation of their lands within the Inishboffin, Omey, Turbot Islands proposed special protection area. Following a Departmental review the landowners opted to take their cases to the Designated Areas Appeals Advisory Board, an independently chaired Board which makes recommendations to me, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, on such...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (20 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Decade of Centenaries has presented challenges and opportunities for individuals, organisations, academic institutions and communities to reflect on their approach to remembering lives, activities and events which occurred in the past 100 years. These approaches can include objective historical descriptions, as well as the broader, collective memory of community. Depending on their...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (20 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently considering capital grant allocations for 2015 and decisions will be announced in due course. €200,000 was paid to Music Network in respect of the music capital grants scheme in 2014. Details are available on the Music Network website at the link below:.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Meetings (20 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's Secretary General, three Assistant Secretaries, Director of Irish, Head of Finance and Head of HR/Corporate Governance comprise the membership of my Department's Management Advisory Committee (MAC). The MAC is chaired by the Secretary General and meets regularly, as required. My Department was established on 2 June 2011 and I am advised that its MAC met with the then...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Advisers Remuneration (20 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established on 2nd June 2011. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of expenditure on pay, travel and subsistence costs of special advisors from July 2011 to December 2014 is set out in the table. As previously advised to the House, all special advisors appointed by both my predecessor, Mr. Jimmy Deenihan, T.D., and myself have been paid in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ministerial Transport (20 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established on 2nd June 2011. The information requested by the Deputy in respect of expenditure on pay, travel and subsistence costs of Ministerial drivers from July 2011 to December 2014 is set out in the table below. All ministerial drivers are paid in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Guidelines on the Staffing of Ministers' Offices. - 2011*...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Site Acquisitions (20 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Following a recent visit to the site referred to, the matter is being followed up by my Department.