Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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237. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the terms of reference of the Peatlands Council appeals sub-group; the membership of the group; the number of appeals received by the group; the number of cases on hand and the numbers determined; the current processing time for such appeals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39598/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In April 2011, the Government agreed to the setting up of an independently chaired Peatlands Council to assist the Government and stakeholders regarding certain issues related to the management of Ireland’s peatlands, in particular bogs designated as Special Areas of Conservation and Natural Heritage Areas. Applicants to the Cessation of Turf Cutting Compensation Scheme operated by my Department may, further to the option of an internal review, appeal their case to the Peatlands Council in the event that they are informed that the qualifying criteria of the scheme have not been met. The Council may then make recommendations to me, as Minister, on such cases.

As part of the appeal process the Council decided in May 2013 to establish an Appeals Sub-Group consisting of 3 members of the Council. Membership of the Appeals Sub-Group is a matter for the Peatlands Council. The present membership comprises representation of Irish Rural Link, the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council and Bord na Móna.

The Council received one request for appeal in 2013 which was duly considered and a recommendation made to the then Minister. Earlier this year, it was decided to review the approach to appeals and to draw up full Terms of Reference in relation to the appeals function. These Terms of Reference will be published on-line once the review is finalised. I hope that this will be concluded shortly.

Two further appeals have been received which I understand will be dealt with as soon as the review is complete and appeals should be decided upon within an 8 week period.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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238. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the percentage of board members in arts organisations who are directly from the arts community; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39662/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I do not have responsibility for membership of boards of arts organisations funded by the Arts Council or by my Department. In 2014, the Arts Council funded 470 organisations. I am cognisant, however, that all arts organisations which receive funding from the public purse should adhere to the principles of good governance. Public bodies are required to adhere to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. While the Code may be burdensome for small not-for-profit arts organisations, I consider that the principles of good governance and transparency should nonetheless be observed. For this reason, smaller arts organisations funded by my Department are subject to a condition that they comply with good standards of transparency and accountability, which are set down on the website . These standards are specifically tailored to meet the challenges of ensuring proper governance in the not-for-profit sector and are suitable for use by arts organisations, many of which are small. Adherence to these standards requires, inter alia, that the relevant organisations publish details of their board membership in their annual reports and accounts. I understand that the Arts Council also requires the organisations it funds to comply with these standards.

In relation to the Board of the Arts Council itself, the Deputy will find a short biography of each member of the Council on the Arts Council's website at

On its website, the Arts Council commits to operating to the highest standards of corporate governance and has adopted a corporate governance regime in accordance with best practice which includes a section on conflicts of interest. This document is also available on the Council's website.

In addition to its own governance code, members of the Council are appointed on the basis that during their term of appointment, they will not be employed by or serve on the boards of any organisations which apply for or receive funding from the Arts Council.