Tag Archives: Heather Humphreys

In a week during which a major forest fire has raged  near Oughterard in County Galway, landowners and visitors have been warned to be more careful during this spell of exceptionally dry weather. Minister for Agriculture Food & Marine, Michael Creed and Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, Heather Humphreys have reminded landowners and the public that it is an offence under Section 40 of the Wildlife Act, 1976 (amended by Section 46 of the Wildlife Act, 2000) to burn, from 1st March to 31st August in any year, any vegetation growing on any land not then cultivated. Individuals who are found to burn vegetation within that prohibited period are liable to prosecution by An Garda Síochána or by the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Commenting on the recent incidence of gorse fires throughout the country, Minister Creed said, “The Department of Agriculture has issued a number of Fire Danger Notices to the forestry sector since the beginning of March, including …

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2017 has bee launched by the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Heather Humphreys. As part of the Action Plan for Rural Development, towns and villages across the country are set to benefit from €20 million in funding from the scheme. The Scheme is part of the Government’s commitment to ensure that the benefits of economic recovery are felt in every part of the country. As part of that commitment, and as a key support for the retail sector under the Action Plan for Jobs 2017, Minister Mitchell O’Connor will launch the Framework for Town Centre Renewal at the end of the month. This is the second year of the scheme and will see up to 300 towns and villages benefit from funding from the department. Proposals for funding will have to support sustainable, economic development in their locality.

MINISTER for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys  has confirmed 10  Clare heritage projects will benefit under the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme 2016. Overall, 340 heritage projects nationwide will share in a €2 million investment package as part of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme for 2016. The funding will allow for the conservation and repair of heritage buildings across the country, and the scheme follows a similar model to the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which proved to be very successful in 2014. It is expected this new scheme will leverage an additional €8 million in private funds and will generate significant employment in the conservation and construction industries. The Clare allocation has been given a broad welcome by Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen. “The work to be undertaken ranges from structural and roof repairs to window conservation/protection and masonary stabilisation. I would also like to compliment Clare County Council who has responsibility for administrating this scheme for …

The new Local Authority Museums Network (LAMN) Strategy 2016-2019 ‘Preserving the Past – Shaping the Future’, has been launched by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys. LAMN represents the twelve local authority museums across Ireland, which play a vital role in the social, cultural and economic life of regions across Ireland. Highlights of this strategy include: Examining ways to exploit the opportunities presented by technology to promote collections and reach out to new audiences; Working collectively to play a distinct role in the Decade of Centenaries; Exploring opportunities for collaboration through the new EU funding programmes; Continuing to strengthen and develop partnerships with key stakeholder in order to deliver on the LAMN’s key mission. Minister Humphreys said, “Local authorities throughout Ireland play a vital and proactive role in promoting and preserving culture and heritage, ensuring the best possible quality of life for their communities. Through their museum services they strengthen local communities by underpinning a sense …

A group of primary school children met junior ministers, Dr James Reilly and Heather Humphreys today (Tuesday) to outline their ideas on how the children of the 1916 should be remembered next year. A series of children’s consultation events are being held by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA) as part of the Youth and Imagination strand of the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. The children will explore what life was like in 1916, imagine what they would like for Ireland in the future and consider ways to honour the children who died during the Easter Rising. Forty-eight children from schools in Louth, Meath and Dublin are taking part in the event, which is one of six consultations taking place with young people around the country. Minister Reilly said, “One of the most important jobs of my department is to get the opinions of children on many topics because children and young people have very valuable and useful ideas …

SHANNON Heritage has been appointed to operate and manage the €7 million GPO Witness History Interpretive Exhibition Centre. It’s a major coup for Shannon Heritage, which is part of the newly established Shannon Group, also encompassing Shannon Airport and Shannon Commercial Properties. It already operates attractions in Clare like Craggaunowen and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park. The contract was awarded following a competitive tender process, while the visitor centre is now under construction at the GPO. It is expected to attract up to 300,000 people a year following its opening at Easter 1916. Speaking about the contract award, Shannon Heritage CEO John Ruddle said, “Shannon Heritage is delighted to be involved with this nationally important project at the iconic GPO location. We have been managing visitor attractions for over 50 years and this new visitor attraction provides the company with a great opportunity to expand in the capital city and also play a vital role in the celebrations of the …

IFA Environment chairman, Harold Kingston has said  the review of the  controls under the Wildlife Act governing the control of burning and hedge-cutting launched by the Minister for Arts Heritage & the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys is long overdue. “ The current rules are impractical and unnecessary and have been in need of amendment for a more flexible approach.The period of time for hedge-cutting should be extended as the window to carry out the necessary management of hedges and trees are impractical from both farming and a public safety point of view,” Mr Kingston said. In relation to the burning of heather, IFA Hill Committee chairman, Pat Dunne said that IFA has put forward that the dates needed to be changed in line with other countries such as the UK, where the burning dates are from September 1 until mid-April, as opposed to Ireland where the date is between September 1 and February 28. Pat Dunne said burning of heather is …