Written Answers Nos. 151 - 160
151. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which children are encouraged to become involved in and have an appreciation for the arts at local and national level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31941/14]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the promotion of the arts at all levels throughout the country is devolved to the Arts Council. The Council is funded by my Department and is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, including funding decisions. In 2014, the Arts Council will receive an allocation of almost €57 million. Details of all funding decisions by the Arts Council to arts practitioners, arts groups and venues, including arts centres, are available on the Council's website at www.artscouncil.ie. In addition, the Arts-in-Education Charter deals specifically with Arts provision for Children and Young People through arts-in-education. Arts-in-Education practice involves skilled, professional artists of all disciplines working for and with schools in the making, receiving and interpreting of a wide range of arts experiences and this can happen within or outside schools. In January 2013, the then Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn, TD, and my predecessor, Mr Jimmy Deenihan, T.D. jointly launched the Arts in Education Charter. This Charter placed new responsibilities on Government Departments, agencies, cultural institutions and arts organisations to provide and promote arts-in- education among children and young people.
A High Level Implementation Group chaired by Professor John Coolahan, Professor Emeritus, NUI Maynooth was set up to oversee the implementation of the Art in Education Charter. Both my Department and the Department of Education and Science is represented on the Group which has made two Reports on its progress with the most recent being in April of this year. The Group has engaged with organisations from both the arts and education sectors. Progress is being made on a number of initiatives, including increasing the number of Artists in Residence in colleges of education and developing a website/portal as a key communications and information channel for both the education and arts sectors. Suitable models for art-rich schools and for artists to become involved in the programme are also being examined by this Group.
152. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which her Department has identified buildings, sites and-or locations of historical significance with particular reference to 1916 with a view to ensuring that such locations are preserved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31942/14]
View answerVarious sites related to the 1916 Rising are protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004 or under the Planning and Development Acts. For example, the buildings at Nos. 14-17 Moore Street are a national monument subject to a Preservation Order under the National Monuments Acts, Kilmainham Gaol is a national monument in State care, while many other sites related to the Rising are included on Dublin City Council’s Record of Protected Structures (under the Planning and Development Acts), for example the General Post Office on O’Connell Street. The appropriate statutory protections afforded to any particular building, site or location should be considered by the relevant public body should any application be made for alternation to any protected structure.
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of the budget of her Department to meet requirements in the current and future years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31943/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will appreciate, in the current economic circumstances, the Government has been faced with difficult decisions with regard to framing budgets for expenditure. In order to ensure that the best use is made of limited financial resources and to provide a basis for a sustainable approach to the current financial situation, the Government has periodically embarked on a series of detailed Comprehensive Reviews of both current and capital expenditure. The objectives of these reviews has been to re-set Ministerial expenditure ceilings in line with emerging Government priorities and to provide the basis for the Government's multi-annual budgetary framework. My Department's allocations since it was established reflect the outcome of both the Comprehensive Review of Current Expenditure (CRE) and the Review of Capital Expenditure carried out in 2011. While my Department's gross funding has reduced between 2011 and 2014 as part of its contribution to the overall fiscal consolidation, savings have been sought, to the greatest extent possible, through efficiencies rather than through reductions in services.
While the funding adjustments in recent years have posed challenges, my Department has continued, to the greatest possible extent, to support arts and culture, maintain our built and natural heritage, develop our language and Gaeltacht areas, and support island communities and the North South Implementation Bodies under its aegis. In doing so, it has sought to support employment, achieve compliance with EU Directives and support the ongoing implementation of the Good Friday and St. Andrews Agreements
In Budget 2014, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, announced additional funding for a number of new measures for my Department. These included:
- €10m for Cork Events Centre;
- €6 million for the Limerick National City of Culture 2014,
- €5 million for the Traditional Skills and Buildings at Risk Jobs Leverage Scheme 2014, which is directed at renovation projects for buildings which are protected; and
- €3.7 million to fund a number of commemorations capital projects.
With regard to the future funding of my Department, it was announced as part of Budget 2014 that a second round of comprehensive reviews would be undertaken by all Government Departments during 2014. The reviews are currently ongoing and will be considered by Government later this year, with a view to underpinning expenditure ceilings for 2015 and beyond, as well as clarifying policy options and informing prioritisation decisions arising from the ceilings.
154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which an ongoing strategy exists to preserve, promote and exploit for tourism and educational purposes, the various historical locations, sites and buildings throughout the country; the degree to which a marketing plan exists in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31944/14]
View answerWhile the promotion of Ireland as a tourist designation is primarily a matter for Tourism Ireland and the development of tourism is the responsibility of Ireland’s National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, I am committed to availing of every possible opportunity to project a positive global image for Ireland. The unique qualities of Ireland’s national heritage play a significant role in enhancing and projecting Ireland’s image abroad, and in supporting economic renewal through cultural and heritage tourism and in downstream opportunities, such as in the retail, catering and accommodation sectors. The latest Fáilte Ireland figures show that over 3.7 million overseas visitors engaged in cultural or historical visits while in Ireland in 2013. Over 2.4 million tourists visited historic houses or castles, while over 1.5 million visited our archaeological monuments. I also understand that in 2013 there were in excess of 4.1 million visitors to heritage sites where the Office of Public Works provides a guide service, up from 3.7 million in 2012.
My Department’s network of National Parks and Nature Reserves are also a major part of Ireland’s tourism attractions. My Department is supporting the greater use of our parks and reserves in a manner which is compatible with conservation and protection of their biodiversity. Ireland’s National Parks are the most popular destinations for the domestic holiday market, with 23% of this tourism market segment visiting the Parks in 2011.
My Department has also been actively involved in a wide range of activities to support heritage tourism, both in co-operation with bodies such as Fáilte Ireland and the Office of Public Works, and in promoting its own initiatives. For example the "Places to See" page on www.buildingsofireland.ie promotes the work of the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage and actively engages the public in the appreciation of our architectural heritage while the "Monuments to Visit" page on www.archaeology.ie pinpoints lesser known national monuments and provides details of what the visitor can expect to find on arrival. In 2014, my Department is also providing €350,000 to the Office of Public Works to support its efforts in the conservation and promotion of the State’s heritage portfolio throughout the country.
My Department will continue to develop visitor facilities in national parks where resources allow, such as walking and cycling routes, enhanced signage and interpretation. In recent years my Department opened modern visitor centres at Ballycroy National Park, Co. Mayo, and Clara Bog Nature Reserve, Co. Offaly, as well as a visitor information point for the Burren National Park in Corofin, Co. Clare.
Killarney House in Killarney National Park is currently undergoing major refurbishment to transform it into the main visitor and interpretative centre for the National Park with a focus on interpreting the parks natural wealth. This is a major project for my Department and involves collaboration with OPW as project managers and Fáilte Ireland which has committed funding of €5.2 million towards the project, under its Tourism Investment Programme.
In addition, my Department is continuing in 2014 to provide core funding for several heritage organisations such as the Heritage Council, which supports a range of initiatives including National Heritage Week, the Irish Heritage Trust and the Irish Architectural Foundation, which runs the successful Open House event each year.
My Department, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council will this year be concluding its pilot programme, the Historic Towns Initiative, in Youghal, Westport and Listowel and with the local authorities in each town. The primary objective with this initiative is to ensure that the participating towns have access to, and an understanding of, appropriate guidance to assist them in best conserving their heritage assets and, in so doing, underpin the sustainability of their community and local economy. Meeting these goals will also, by extension, significantly enhance the visitor experience in these towns, thus helping to maximise the potential positive contribution of tourism to each of these towns and their respective hinterlands. Funding was allocated to the three town councils in 2013 and 2014 by my Department and in 2013 by Fáilte Ireland for the pilot phase for a mix of tourism-related and capital works projects.
155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of occasions this country has been used as a location for film making in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31945/14]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the support and promotion of film-making in Ireland, in respect of both the indigenous sector and inward productions is the responsibility of the Irish Film Board (IFB). This includes assistance with locations for the making of films. The IFB is the statutorily independent agency responsible for the promotion and development of the Irish film industry and I have no responsibility in relation to its day-to-day operational matters, including the allocation of resources between the different support programmes and schemes. For detailed information on the supports given and available, I would like to direct the Deputy's attention to the annual reports of the IFB, which are lodged periodically in the Oireachtas Library, and also to the publications by the Board itself on its website www.irishfilmboard.ie.
I would also like to direct the Deputy to the website of the Irish Film and Television Academy - www.ifta.ie – which is another useful information and promotional tool.
156. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which her Department encourages the promotion of traditional music and song with particular reference to the need to encourage Irish artists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31946/14]
View answerPrimary responsibility for the promotion of the arts, including the traditional arts, throughout the country is devolved by statute to the Arts Council. The Council is funded by my Department and is statutorily independent in its day-to-day operations, including funding decisions. In 2014, the Arts Council received an allocation of almost €57 million. Funding for the traditional arts is available through most Council schemes. In addition, there is the Deis scheme and the Traditional arts commissioning award which are specifically targeted at the traditional arts. Details of all funding provided by the Arts Council to arts practitioners, arts groups and venues, including arts centres, are available on the Council's website at www.artscouncil.ie. In addition to the Arts Council’s role, my Department funds a number of traditional arts organisations directly. These are Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann and the National Folk Theatre at Siamsa. Both these organisations play significant roles in the protection and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture.
157. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the proposed restoration of the Ulster Canal; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the timescale for construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31989/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, in July 2007 the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) agreed to proceed with the restoration of the section of the Ulster Canal between Clones and Upper Lough Erne. The then Government agreed to cover the full capital costs of the project, which were estimated at that time to be of the order of €35m. It was always the intention that the Ulster Canal project would be funded from the Waterways Ireland annual allocations, as agreed through the annual estimates processes in this jurisdiction, as well as the deliberations of NSMC in relation to annual budgets. It was a key consideration throughout the process that the Ulster Canal project would be supported by a significant level of projected income from the commercialisation of certain Waterways Ireland assets. However, the economic downturn has had a negative impact on those plans.
I will continue to explore all possible options to advance this project within the current fiscal constraints. In this regard, an Inter-Agency Group on the Ulster Canal was established to explore ways to advance the project and to examine possible funding options for it, including existing funding streams and the leveraging of funding from other sources. This Inter-Agency Group continues its work.
In the meantime, the Ulster Canal project is progressing on an incremental basis. Planning approvals have been received for the project in both jurisdictions. Compulsory Purchase Order land maps are in preparation and consideration is being given to how the construction work and other technical aspects of the project will be structured and the necessary lands secured.
159. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide in tabular form those Acts currently in force for which she has lead responsibility that have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced; the details or purpose of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31997/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy concerning the Acts for which I have lead responsibility, which are currently in force but have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced, are set out in the following table.
|
Title of Act |
Parts of Act yet to be commenced |
|
National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 |
Sections 65 and 66, which relate to the depositing of published material in the National Library of Ireland and related copyright matters. Incorporated in section 198 of the Copyright and Related Rights Act 2000. |
|
National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 |
Section 4(1) insofar as it relates to sections 16 or 65 of the Act, or section 25 of National Monuments Act 1930. Sections 6(1) and 6(2) insofar they relate to the Documents and Pictures (Regulation of Export) Act 1945. Section 20(4) in so far as it relates to Marsh's Library. Section 49(1)(a), (b), (c), (f) and (g), section 49(2), section 49(4), section 49(5), section 49(14) and section 49(15). Part V, sections 52 to 59 (inclusive). These provisions relate to export licences and the acquisition of certain cultural objects amongst other matters. |
|
National Monuments Act 1987 |
Section 26 insofar as it relates to section 21 of the National Monuments Act 1930 and section 15 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1954. This provision relates to the abolition of the National Monuments Advisory Council. It is intended that a Monuments Bill, currently being drafted by the Office of the Attorney General, will consolidate, update and replace the entirety of the existing body of national monuments legislation. |
|
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000: Section 36 |
Section 36, which relates to the regulation of the activities of commercial shoot operators. Commencement of this section is currently under consideration. |
160. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide details of the annual cost of REFIT in relation to wind energy; the projected cost in the next ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31801/14]
View answerThe PSO levy is designed to support the national policy objectives of security of energy supply, including through the use of indigenous fuels (i.e. peat), and the use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation. The proceeds of the levy are used to recoup the additional costs incurred by suppliers in sourcing a proportion of their electricity supplies from such generators.
The Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff, or REFIT, is the primary means through which electricity from renewable sources is supported in Ireland. The three REFIT schemes support electricity generated from a range of renewable sources to allow Ireland achieve its target of meeting 40% of electricity demand from renewable generation by 2020.
The cost of the PSO varies from year to year depending on a number of factors including the wholesale market price of electricity and the estimates for how much subsidy is funded by way of the PSO levy for each year are published in the annual PSO decision by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER). The proposed PSO levy amount for the levy period from October 2014 to September 2015 has been calculated by the CER and a draft decision (CER/14/125) is on its website. The cost to the PSO of REFIT for the period is estimated to be €84,346,555. While the bulk of subsidies for renewable electricity generation paid under the REFIT schemes have been for wind, the CER has initiated a project to generate a report on the annual and cumulative costs to date for each technology supported. A final decision on the PSO levy for the 2014/15 period will issue by 1 August 2014 and will also be available on the CER website.
In analysing options for increased use of renewable energy as we approach 2020 and look to 2030 and beyond, we need to ensure our ambition is both sustainable, and economically and technically feasible. Analysis is being undertaken by my Department, the SEAI, EirGrid and the CER to further assess the costs and benefits associated with achieving 40% renewable electricity generation in 2020, compared to a scenario where renewable electricity remains at 2013 levels. This ongoing analysis will inform a report to be published shortly, and builds on existing work in this area. For example, the recently published SEAI report on Quantifying Ireland’s Fuel and CO2 Emissions Savings from Renewable Electricity in 2012 found that the value of the fossil fuels not consumed in the Republic of Ireland in 2012 as a result of renewable electricity generation is estimated at €245 million, with the value of avoided CO2 emissions being a further €15 million.
