Results 3,861-3,880 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: In January 2017, my Department entered into Strategic Investment Partnership with Fáílte Ireland, aimed at enhancing and promoting the tourism offering at Ireland’s National Parks and also conserving and protecting the natural environments of the National Parks for the enjoyment of future generations. In July of last year, as part of this partnership, we published...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The Creative Schools pilot is one of the flagship projects of the Creative Youth Plan, which seeks to enable the creative potential of every child and young person. This Plan is led by my Department, with the Departments of Education and Skills, and Children and Youth Affairs and the Arts Council, all working in partnership. Creative Schools aims to understand, develop and celebrate the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Maintenance (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: In July 2007, the North South Ministerial Council agreed to a proposal to restore a 13km section of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. This project is important for the border region with potential to stimulate economic activity, giving a much needed boost to job creation and with the growth in water based tourism helping to attract significant numbers of visitors to the area....

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Natural Heritage Areas (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The Peatlands Community Engagement Scheme aims to encourage local communities, groups, schools and interested parties to engage with my Department in relation to the conservation of raised bog special areas of conservation, natural heritage areas and other raised bog areas and to promote public engagement and awareness of our natural heritage. On 24 April this year, I announced a call for...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) was developed under the UN Convention on Migratory Species. Ireland signed up to the Agreement in 2003. The agreement includes a commitment that “Parties shall endeavour to phase out the use of lead shot for hunting in wetlands as soon as possible in accordance with self-imposed and published...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 37935/19. Ireland’s Article 17 Report was submitted by my Department to the European Commission in April 2019. In Ireland, 85% of habitats are reported as being in Unfavourable status. The main drivers are agricultural practices which negatively impact over 70% of habitats, particularly ecologically unsuitable grazing, abandonment and...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: Ireland’s 3rd assessment on the status of listed habitats and species was submitted by my Department to the European Commission in April 2019. A summary report has also been published and is available on the NPWS website (). In addition, detailed reports have been published, exceeding 2000 pages of assessments. These assessments were undertaken by over 40 scientific experts. The aim of...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: As the Deputy is aware, the Moore Street Advisory Group (MSAG) was established in May 2017 to represent and work with all stakeholders (including the owner of the development site surrounding the State owned National Monument at Nos. 14 - 17 Moore St) to help broker regeneration solutions that can be supported by all concerned. I received the report of the MSAG in August and would like to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Concert Hall (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The following table sets out the annual funding that has been allocated to the National Concert Hall in 2018 and 2019: Year Current Capital Total 2018 €2,569,000 €260,000 €2,829,000 2019 €2,788,000 €260,000 €3,048,000 In addition under Project 2040 –"Investment in our Culture, Language & Heritage 2018-2027" the Government intends to...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Parks and Wildlife Service (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. Ireland is bound by the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, as transposed into National law by the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats Regulations) 2011. As such, Ireland has designated 439 sites as special areas of conservation (SACs) under the Habitats Directive and classified 154 sites as special protection areas (SPAs)...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hare Coursing Regulation (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: EU Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive) requires Ireland to make a detailed report every six years on the conservation status of all listed species, including the hare. Ireland’s most recent report in 2019 included a comprehensive assessment of the range, population status, habitat and threats for the Irish hare. The report can be downloaded at . The 2019 report states that...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: Although the global population is considered stable, in Ireland the Corncrake is a species of high conservation concern in Ireland  due to long-term declines. The population of Corncrakes in Ireland has been monitored annually since 1993 (by recording how many male birds are calling at night-time) and is critically low, with 151 calling males recorded in 2018. Donegal remains...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The Red Grouse is a species found only in Ireland and Scotland that lives entirely on heather moorland and bogs. In recent decades, it has suffered from the continued decline of its habitats and the condition and extent of our bogs. Red Grouse require large areas of natural and semi-natural habitat; the destruction and fragmentation of these habitats have been identified as major...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: While it would be a significant underrating to provide the Deputy with full details of all cultural events in which my Department is directly involved, It is my hope that the reply that follows will provide sufficient information regarding some of my Department's output in this area.  More details of are available on my Department's website at In addition to activities funded by my...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: The allocations across my Department are published in the Revised Estimates Volume at www.per.gov.ie. My Department secured additional funding of over €36 million in 2019, an increase of 12% on the 2018 allocation and allowing for total expenditure of some €339 million on culture, language and heritage in 2019. As part of that overall funding I am glad...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. As set out in the Government’s ‘Global Ireland 2025’ initiative, which was launched last year, film is a high-impact way of promoting Ireland on the global stage.  Screen Ireland is the national development agency for Irish film making and the Irish film, television and animation industry.   Its...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Cultural Policy (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: Support for the arts is a key focus of the supports provided by my Department and its agencies.  My Department is involved in a very wide range and cultural events numbering several thousand each year and I will try to give a flavour of these in this reply.  Culture Night takes place tomorrow 20th September 2019 all over Ireland and it is run by my Department in...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Built Heritage Investment Scheme (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: My role with regard to the protection and management of our built heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners. In this instance I understand that the Deputy is asking about supports provided by my Department for properties in private ownership. My Department provides financial support for the...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Maintenance (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: Waterways Ireland is operationally independent in regard to its management of the inland waterways under its remit and therefore, I have no function in regard to this matter. The management of flooding risk on the Shannon is led by the Office of Public Works (OPW), working in partnership with other state agencies, including Waterways Ireland. In relation to the works at...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Brexit Issues (19 Sep 2019)

Josepha Madigan: As I have previously advised the House in my response to Dáil Question No. 592 of 11 December last, negotiations on both the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on the framework for the EU-UK future relationship, were conducted on behalf of the EU27 by the EU's Chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the Commission's Article 50 Taskforce. Ratifying the Withdrawal...