Results 26,661-26,680 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: A number of meetings have taken place recently between the project promoter, officials of my Department and other funders of the project. There are a number of legal and technical issues which are being examined by my Department which is also in consultation with the project's other public funding stakeholders. I have no immediate plans to visit the facility.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: European Capital of Culture (20 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: On 17 December 2014 I launched an open competition for the selection of an Irish city as European Capital of Culture 2020. Under the programme, two cities are designated a Capital of Culture each year. In 2020, Ireland will share the designation with Croatia. Interested cities have until 17 October this year to make an application. A short-list will then be drawn up by the International...

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

Heather Humphreys: I am informed by Waterways Ireland that it has supported the event referred to by the Deputy since its inception through the Waterways Ireland Sponsorship Programme, event promotion, marketing and operational support. I have also been advised that Waterways Ireland is unaware of any request from the organisers to provide new facilities on Waterways Ireland property for the event and that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Gallery (15 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Work is continuing on the major restoration project at the National Gallery of Ireland. The project will include the repair and restoration of the fabric of the Dargan and Milltown Wings, infill of the voids between the wings and the installation of 21stcentury climate, heating, fire suppression and lighting systems amongst other things. The Office of Public Works, the National Gallery of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Census of Population Publication (15 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Governmentcontains a commitment to enabling the publication of the 1926 Census records in due course.The digitisation of the 1901 and 1911 Census returns, which in relative terms was a simpler project than the proposed 1926 Census project, took over four years to complete. The 1926 Census is the next full set of Census records, after the 1911 returns, which is available to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: My Department approved 728 Plans under the scheme referred to by the Deputy. The total amount paid under the scheme between 2006 and the end of 2014 was €24,711,394. The Deputy will appreciate the constraints that apply in replying to a “details supplied” Question but I will be glad to forward directly to him any additional information he may require in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Conservation (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: One of my Department's key priorities is the maintenance of natural habitats and species in special areas of conservation, special protection areas and natural heritage areas. In that context, my aim is to continue to encourage and support nature conservation to the greatest degree possible. In accordance with the relevant legislation, certain activities in sites designated for nature...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hedge Cutting Season (14 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: Commemorative Events (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I secured an amount of €4 million in current funding in the Revised Estimates for 2015 to allow for the roll out of an integrated plan – Ireland 2016– with a special focus on commemorating the centenary of the 1916 Rising. This funding is in addition to the capital provision of €22 million to be allocated in 2015 to a number of flagship commemorations projects,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Archaeological monuments that are newly discovered in the course of development related investigations are added to the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) by my Department’s National Monuments Service on an ongoing basis. The toghers - or bog trackways - discovered in this case on a privately-owned and operated peat extraction site have been included in the SMR as part of that process....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: A habitat enhancement scheme (known as the National Parks and Wildlife Service Farm Plan Scheme) was available to farmers in Hen Harrier SPAs to undertake proactive measures for the species. These measures were not a condition of the designation, nor were they mandatory. For that reason, they are not considered to be compensation for the prevention of an activity or a development on the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Grants (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 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. It may be noted that the Arts Council operates an appeals and complaints procedure, and, like other agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I understand that the Deputy's Question relates to the hen harrier in particular and will focus my reply on issues relating to that species. Ireland is obliged under the EU Birds Directive to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for Annex I species such as the Hen Harrier. Annex I species are those that are deemed in greatest need of conservation due to population and range declines....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Bodies Data (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Public Service Reform Plan, published by the Government on 17 November 2011, outlined a series of rationalisation measures relating to agencies and other public bodies, including measures related to bodies funded from my Department's Vote. In this regard, my Department conducted a critical examination of the structure and operation of the institutions included in the Public Service Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Decentralisation Programme Data (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: 78 staff of my Department are based in two locations - New Road, Killarney (44 staff) and Newtown Road, Wexford (34 staff) – that were established under the Decentralisation Programme announced in 2004. However, since my Department was only established in its present format in June 2011, I am advised it would not be possible, in the context of available staffing resources and the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Consultancy Contracts Data (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: No external consultants, professional companies or advisors were engaged by my Department in relation to developing its contribution to the Action Plan for Jobs in 2012 or in any subsequent year. For completeness, I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of capital projects funded by my Department generate a significant number of jobs and are referenced in the Action Plan for Jobs for the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1046 to 1052, inclusive, together. Staffing requirements at the location referred to by the Deputy, as with all other areas of my Department, will remain the subject of ongoing consideration in light of the overall business needs and within the pay framework approved for 2015. The nature of the posts required, as well as the numbers involved and the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: Total photography costs for my Department in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 were €1,054.62, €3,605.85, €3,943.38 and €4,015.78 respectively. No costs were incurred from use of the Ministerial allowance. The table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy. The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Relations Contracts Data (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 635 of 18 December 2014. The table below lists the occasions on which an external public relations firm was hired since the establishment of my Department in June 2011. Year Name of Company Service Provided Amount Paid 2011 Zoetrope Provision of press and publicity, online and social media services to Culture Ireland for the duration of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Protection Areas Designation (14 Jan 2015)

Heather Humphreys: The Hen Harrier is protected under the EU Birds Directive and 6 Special Protection Areas have been designated for the conservation of the species. The Hen Harrier remains at risk due to a number of factors, such as the reclamation of upland open habitats for agriculture, the development of some wind farms and the maturing of the large-scale forests planted in upland areas. Such activities...