Results 2,661-2,680 of 6,645 for speaker:Jimmy Deenihan

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

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 to 413, inclusive, together. My Department is responsible for the legislative framework, general policy development and promotional awareness of Ireland's unique national heritage. My Department provides some limited funding for the built heritage. However, the management and delivery of conservation projects is generally carried out through bodies such...

Written Answers — Arts Funding: Arts Funding (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: My Department does not operate a formal application scheme to cater for groups involved in the performance of the arts. As the Deputy is aware, primary responsibility for funding for the arts rests with the Arts Council. The Council is independent in its decision-making process. Details of the Council's successful applicants are available on the Council's website at www.artscouncil.ie, as...

Written Answers — Arts Policy: Arts Policy (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Government's policy on the arts is to promote and strengthen the arts in all its forms, to increase access to and participation in the arts, and to make the arts an integral and valued part of our national life. I am continuing to work towards this goal with my Department and the agencies within its remit and I remain committed to securing the best possible level of funding for the arts...

Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I return to a foreign language. My Department has a broad range of responsibilities in respect of the protection of the national heritage, built and natural. It directly manages six national parks and 78 nature reserves; it owns several national monuments, which are in the care and management of the Office of Public Works; and it has responsibility for policy regarding world heritage sites,...

Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I welcome the Deputy's intervention. Other countries possibly put a good deal more emphasis on world heritage sites than we do. If one goes to Greece or Rome one sees a major emphasis being put on something designated a world heritage site. There are two in this country, one near Deputy Kirk at Brú na Bóinne and the other at Skellig Michael in my home county. We are considering the...

Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 131 on 18 January 2012, in which I indicated that a total of 16 staff from across my Department had at that stage confirmed their intention to retire between that date and the end of February. This included one member of the professional staff of the National Monuments Service of my Department and a small number of technical and professional...

Heritage Sites (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I concur with the Deputy that our heritage sites are very much part of our tourism industry and a large number of tourists come here to visit them. Only one member of the Department's professional staff, an archaeologist, is due to retire. I do not know from where the figure suggesting that 60% of heritage specialists will retire came or on what basis the article in question, which appeared...

Music Industry (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The support available for my Department and the agencies under its aegis for music is very significant. We will provide more than €2.6 million in grant aid to the National Concert Hall in 2012. It, in turn, is the home of the National Symphony Orchestra and our premier music venue. My Department also provides in excess of €1.6 million in 2012 to Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann. Tax...

Music Industry (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I am aware of the FACTOR initiative in Canada which has been very successful. It started out very small with approximately $200,000. Now approximately €14 million is provided. It helps songwriters and musicians and puts money into education which is very important. We should look seriously at that programme. I have already asked my officials to consider it to see if it can be...

Bank Premises (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 47 together. I refer the Deputies to my previous replies on this matter. I met the chair and chief executive of the Bank of Ireland and had a constructive engagement on the issues. That positive dialogue is continuing with the Bank of Ireland. At the time of my initial suggestion, the future ownership of the bank was in question. My raising of the...

Bank Premises (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan and agree with his vision, which is part of the vision I expressed to the Bank of Ireland. I presented a slideshow for them showing how the area could become a plaza like Trafalgar Square or Times Square in New York or the many examples in Paris, Madrid and Tiananmen Square. That could be our focal point and it is not overly ambitious to consider it....

Bank Premises (31 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: When it looked like Bank of Ireland was going into State ownership, it put the State in a much stronger position but that has now gone the opposite way. If it was to go into private ownership, it would be important that College Green is preserved so that it does not pass on to an international bank. We are in the early stages of discussion as regards the future of the Bank of Ireland...

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (26 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: As each application under the voluntary bog purchase scheme involves a conveyancing transaction, each case differs in the time it takes to process. In addition, processing of applications on hand under this scheme has been slower than anticipated due to capacity constraints in undertaking this work. As stated in reply to Parliamentary Question No 287 of 8 November 2011, the Chief State...

Written Answers — Architectural Heritage: Architectural Heritage (26 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I refer the Deputy to my previous replies on this matter. I met with the Chair and Chief Executive of Bank of Ireland and had a constructive engagement on the issues. There have been no further developments in this regard.

Written Answers — Heritage Funding: Heritage Funding (25 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: Due to the current national economic crises, and the significant reductions in the capital allocations provided to my Department, the resources available for the provision of grants for the protection of the built heritage are limited. In 2011, the operation of the Local Authority Conservation Grants Scheme and the Civic Structures Conservation Grants Scheme were suspended. However, a...

Written Answers — Church Records: Church Records (25 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: There is currently no funding available to local communities to establish a digital data-base of Church records of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials. My Department is responsible for the website www.irishgenealogy.ie which contains nearly 3 million Church records of Baptisms, Marriages and Burials for Dublin City, Cork South and West (Diocesan area of Cork and Ross), Carlow and Kerry. These...

Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (24 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The Mobility of Collections Scheme operated by my Department helps to encourage the mobility of exhibits/exhibitions between National Cultural Institutions and local/regional facilities. Under the terms of the Scheme, Designated County Museums and/or Museums within the Museums Standards Programme operated by the Heritage Council of Ireland are eligible to receive funding for proposals which...

Written Answers — Public Sector Reform: Public Sector Reform (24 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. The priorities set out in the Programme for Government for the rationalisation of State Agencies states that rationalisation must be cost effective and lead to a more transparent, accountable and efficient public service. The overriding imperative is the requirement to affect savings and achieve administrative efficiencies in all areas...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (24 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: The information sought by the Deputy concerning the board membership and fees payable in the case of State bodies/agencies funded from my Department's Vote group is set out in the table. It may be noted that no fees are payable to members of boards that are also public servants. Name of Agency Number of board members (including Chair) Annual remuneration payable to Chairs and board...

Animal Stocking Levels (24 Jan 2012)

Jimmy Deenihan: I thank Deputy Ó Cuív for raising this matter. I am very familiar with this issue. I have met the IFA and groups of farmers from Connemara, Nephin and other parts of that region on a number of occasions in the past year. Many commonages in the west were subjected to serious sheep over-grazing in the 1980s and into the 1990s, to such an extent that Ireland was brought to the European Court...