Results 26,681-26,700 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: The table below lists the consultants engaged by my Department in 2014, together with the associated payments made from my Department's Administrative Budget. Value for money is an overriding consideration in relation to the engagement of such consultants. For completeness, I should add that contracts for the provision of services are not included. Company Amount paid Dorgan Associates...

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

Heather Humphreys: At present, there is one EU Directive which requires implementation by my Department. The timeframe for its implementation is 18 December 2015. The Directive in question is Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State.

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1065 and 1066 together. Two General Schemes of Bills have been subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by the Oireachtas as set out in the Table below. It is expected that the Bills will be published in the coming weeks. General Scheme Purpose Date approved by Government Official Languages (Amendment) Bill To amend the Official Languages Act 2003. 1 April...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1067 to 1069, inclusive, together. There have been no secondments of the types described by the Deputy since my Department was established in June 2011. My Department does not have a specific policy in relation to these matters but if it were to engage in any such secondments, it would do so in line with the norms set down by the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's Annual Report for 2013 is published and available on my Department's website. It is available in both English and Irish and can be located by using the following link: .

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: One further appeal has been received by the Peatlands Council since my reply to the Question referred to by the Deputy. Appeals will be dealt with in accordance with the process outlined in that reply, once the final Terms of Reference have been agreed. In that regard, the Council at its meeting on 9 December agreed to a full Terms of Reference in relation to its appeals function. These have...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Council Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 9 December 2014 to his Question No 108 in relation to this matter. As I outlined in that reply, full details of remuneration and expenses paid to members of the Arts Council in 2011 and 2012 is set out in the Annual Reports and Accounts of that body in each of the years in question and is available to view on the website of the Council at . Details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Programmes (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is committed to implementing the priorities set out in the Programme for Governmentand the Statement of Government Priorities 2014 – 2016, published by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste on 11 July last. This will form the underlying basis of the work of my Department for the remainder of this Government's term of office. In particular, the commemoration to mark the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Strategies (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: A draft National Landscape Strategy for Ireland 2015-2025 was approved by Government on the 1 July 2014. The Strategy was subsequently screened for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment and written submissions or observations invited as part of the screening process. Taking into account the submissions arising from that consultation, I expect to publish the National...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: There are currently ten staff in my Department on career break and the details requested by the Deputy are set out in tabular form below. Period of Career Break Number of Staff 0 – 6 months 1 6 – 12 months 2 1 – 2 years 2 2 – 3 years 4 4 – 5 years 1 5 years + 0Staff can also avail of unpaid leave under the Shorter Working Year Scheme for periods of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy in respect of payments made for the use of photographers for the period since I came to office on 11 July 2014 to date. The hiring of photographers for Ministerial or Departmental events is dependent on a number of factors, including the nature of the engagement, the expected level of media interest and the national/regional...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Public Relations Contracts Data (18 Dec 2014)

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 this context, value for money is at all times a critical consideration.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 625 and 626 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: Appointments to State Boards (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently approved new guidelines covering the process to be used in making all appointments to State boards. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) will manage this new process and my Department has nominated a State Boards Liaison Officer, who will engage with PAS to ensure compliance with the guidelines. The information requested by the Deputy regarding appointments to State...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Freedom of Information Requests (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of Freedom of Information requests processed by my Department is set out in the table below. As my Department was established on 2June 2011, the information sought by him is provided from that date. Year Total Number of FOI Requests Received Number withdrawn or dealt with outside FOI Number Refused Number Granted in full Number...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: As my Department was established on 2 June 2011, the requested information is being provided from that date. My Department commissioned six reports since its establishment and the details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. Contracts for the provision of services are not included. One of the reports, "Review of PSO Air Service for the Aran Islands" was published in May...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Expenses (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: The total amount spent per annum in 2011, 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014 on staff subsistence payments and on taxi payments where staff are engaged in official business is laid out in the table below. 2011 € 2012 € 2013 € 2014 (to 16 December) € Staff Subsistence Payments 528,823.93 570,528.62 522,597.55 443,500.95 Taxi Payments 18,868.07...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Legal Costs (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that total cost of legal services paid from my Department's Administrative Budget since the Department was established on 2 June 2011 is €6,195. These costs were incurred in 2012. For completeness, I would bring to the Deputy's attention that my Department also makes payments from time to time to the Chief State Solicitor's Office in respect of legal services that it...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Council Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: Since its formation in 2011, my Department’s annual funding to the Heritage Council has been as set out in the table below. Year 2011 2012 2013 2014 Allocation €million 9.347 6.766 6.096 5.953 These amounts included allocations both from my Department’s Vote and from the Environment Fund, including a number of grants for specific purposes. My...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (18 Dec 2014)

Heather Humphreys: I have no statutory responsibility in relation to the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI), which is the national design and economic development organisation for the craft industry in Ireland. I am advised that its activities are funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation through Enterprise Ireland and that further details in this regard are available on the...