Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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312. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the specific functions and State agencies that will be under the aegis of her new Department; and when the ministerial briefing will be published and downloadable on her Department's website for the new Department. [29617/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Details of the existing functions of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs are available on my Department's website. Following the announcement, by An Taoiseach in his speech in his speech to Dáil Éireann on 14 June 2017, of the establishment of a new Department of Rural and Community Affairs, I can confirm that all existing functions other than those relating to Regional and Rural affairs will remain under the aegis of my Department.

In the context of this announcement, An Taoiseach noted the enormous success of the Decade of Commemorations and so far with Creative Ireland, and went on to state that he wished a new emphasis and importance to be attached to the promotion of arts, culture and heritage in Ireland. An Taoiseach also announced that he was appointing the Chief Whip to the role of Minister of State for Gaeilge and the Gaeltacht, to pursue the promotion, learning and use of Irish and to be a voice at the Cabinet table for the first national language.

Officials in my Department are now working with other relevant Departments to give effect to the changes announced. It is anticipated that my Department will retain responsibility for all existing public bodies under its aegis, with the exception of the Western Development Commission which will come under the aegis of Minister Ring's new Department.

Briefing prepared in relation to the existing Department will be published on the Department’s website over the coming days.