Results 4,681-4,700 of 7,283 for speaker:Josepha Madigan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Heritage Council (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: It is important that Carlow is represented, whether by Kilkenny, as the Deputy said, or perhaps through talking to the Heritage Council directly. The regional workshops will be rolled out in the coming weeks and will continue throughout the consultation period. The locations and dates will be set following our meetings with the County Heritage Officers Network, the Royal Irish Academy and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Film Industry (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: My Department and I have a strong relationship with the film industry, with meetings and other interaction taking place on an ongoing basis. This is particularly true of the relationship with Fís Éireann, the State's agency for the development of the film industry which comes under the remit of my Department. Fís Éireann is funded by my Department and in budget 2019 I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Film Industry (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy has my assurance in that regard. I would be open to any suggestions he has on resolving the inter-union disputes in regard to the industry forum. It is the unions which are not talking to each other. My Department is working very closely with others to try to get this up and running but, unfortunately, there are inter-union issues, which were highlighted by the transmission of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Monuments (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: As the Deputy will be aware, the advisory group's most recent meeting was on Tuesday last, 13 November. It is now engaging on a regular basis with Hammerson to provide stakeholder input to the plans for the wider Dublin Central site. Hammerson has presented an outline of its new plans to the group of which the Deputy is a member and I believe these have generally been well received by...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Monuments (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: The Taoiseach has a strong interest in what is happening in Moore Street. As the line Minister, I agreed that he visit the area soon. As part of that visit, I expect that he will meet Hammerson's architect to review the research that Hammerson has done on the area and how the plans have been changed to reflect better the culture and history of the area and its links to the 1916 Rising. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Heritage Council (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: Our heritage is a priceless and irreplaceable national asset which belongs to all of us. The natural and built heritage around us enriches our lives, inspires our achievements and gives life to our communities. It underpins our culture, our economy and our society. We want everyone to be able to enjoy this heritage, to have a sense of pride in it, and to keep it safe for the future. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Heritage Council (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: The heritage officer programme is co-ordinated and funded by the Heritage Council and the heritage officers are local authority employees. Our primary channel of communication with the heritage officers is through the Heritage Council. The Deputy may well be disposed to let the Heritage Council know of the gap in Carlow in heritage officer provision which I am sure is badly needed. It may...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Artists' Remuneration (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. I am aware of the issues raised by him and the report published by the CSO based on the earnings and labour costs for the first quarter of 2018. The CSO report shows variations in earnings across the sectors as categorised under various statistical groupings, including arts, entertainment, recreation and other service activities. The report states that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Artists' Remuneration (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy mentioned the National Campaign for the Arts. I will refer to what the group said. The group welcomed the €6.8 million uplift for the Arts Council in budget 2019 given the central role the Arts Council plays in supporting artistic creation across the entire country. In response to the announcement, the National Campaign for the Arts chairperson, Angela Dorgan, said:The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Artists' Remuneration (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: I have no wish to comment on my former constituency colleague's writings. Whatever about the tax exemption, artistic endeavours have traditionally never been paid well. This is something that we have been trying to address in government. I note what Deputy Wallace has said about the tax exemptions. We are trying to counteract that and the Arts Council is giving more money towards...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Monuments (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: As the Deputy is aware, the project to conserve the national monument buildings and to open them to the public to honour the leaders of the 1916 Rising was suspended in early 2016 on foot of proceedings in the High Court. The aim of the works was to restore the buildings in a way that would have ensured that they reflected as closely as possible what they would have been like when they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Areas of Conservation Management (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: I thank the Deputy for his question. The National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021 includes action 6.1.5, which is to implement the national peatland strategy, and action 6.1.6, which is to implement the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation Management Plan 2017-2022. That plan was published in December 2017 and sets out how the raised bog special areas of conservation are to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Areas of Conservation Management (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: Bord na Móna is a commercial State body which I understand is transitioning from its original remit to develop the peat resource in parts of Ireland to more renewable and sustainable businesses. It is under the remit of the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, so I have no direct role in this regard but my Department will continue to liaise with representatives...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Areas of Conservation Management (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: We are scaling up what we are doing with the bogs. The Living Bog project provides for restoration incentives, including compensation, voluntary land purchase and management land agreements under the protected raised bog incentive scheme, which is operating on a pilot basis this year. It would also provide for sensitively designated amenities at a small number of project sites, such as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Creative Ireland Programme (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: I agree with Deputy Smyth that evaluation is important. We need to know that the initiatives being rolled out in the pilot programme are doing what they are supposed to do, and that children and young people are enjoying them as well as there being longer term benefits for children and young people, and also for teachers and creative practitioners. The Arts Council is working on a formal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: My Department operates a wide range of funding schemes in support of cultural development across Ireland and details of the various schemes are published on my Department’s website. One of the schemes to which the Deputy refers is funded by the Arts Council, which is independent in its funding decisions. Details of funding by this agency are also published on its website, and in its...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: I confirm that the increase in funding comprises €21 million in capital expenditure, an increase of 39% on 2018 funding and €15 million in current expenditure, which is a 6% increase. Deputy Lowry mentioned heritage in Tipperary. He might wish to note that the Heritage Council, which is under the aegis of my Department, supports a wide range of heritage projects throughout...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Arts Funding (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: I did not catch the name of the group at the start of Deputy Lowry's contribution. The Arts Council is independent in how it funds artists but it does fund artists at a grassroots level. I increased the budget this year from €68 million to €75 million. There is a scheme to support small-scale local festivals and summer schools. It is reserved for appropriate festivals and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Orchestras (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: I note the Deputy's points on the outcomes and the recommendations of the Boaden report. These have been taken into account in the terms of reference of the steering group, which will identify the relevant issues to enable the successful transfer of the National Symphony Orchestra from the remit of RTÉ to that of the National Concert Hall, including a timeline for implementation,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Orchestras (15 Nov 2018)

Josepha Madigan: The Deputy mentioned the National Concert Hall. There will be world-class facilities under the redevelopment, with a newly refurbished and extended main auditorium, an increased capacity of 1,350 seats and improved musicians' facilities. There will be a reorganisation of public facilities such as a newly designed and enlarged main foyer with new access to the historic marble stairs, and a...