Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will begin with the heritage heading. I commend the Minister on what is being done by his Department in Westport, Listowel and Youghal. It does, however, raise questions about the network of heritage towns across the country and the level of financial aid the Department is in a position to provide.

In the context of the funding that is available, has an assessment been carried out in respect of discovering how effective has been the designation of many of these towns? In my constituency, for example, there are two heritage towns. If one were to poll people on the streets of Kildare, they would say that its inclusion under the heritage towns initiative was a positive. However, if one were to poll those in Athy - which is also a heritage town - I am of the view that one would obtain the opposite reaction. One wonders how we can ensure - in the context of the availability of funding and through the use of the Minister's good offices and those of his Department - that more of the type of work being undertaken in Westport, Listowel and Youghal can be carried out at other locations throughout the country.

During the years of the Celtic tiger - and also in the preceding decades - there was considerable investment in the great houses of Ireland. However, I am concerned about the huge deterioration of thatched cottages throughout the country. When people come to Ireland - particularly those who have not visited for many years - and travel through the countryside, they are taken aback by the "bungalow bliss" with which they are confronted and also by the very impressive nature of some modern houses. Increasingly, however, we are losing our stock of thatched cottages. We will very much regret their passing when they are gone. I accept that there are practical difficulties involved. For example, the cost of thatching and that which relates to insurance are both prohibitive. In the past five to six years in particular there has been a dreadful decline in the number of thatched cottages. There is a need for active engagement on this matter and the Heritage Council, the Minister's Department and local authorities must develop innovative ways of ensuring the preservation of the properties to which I refer. As the advertisement says, "When they're gone, they're gone". When our thatched cottages disappear, they can never be replaced.

The Department is to be commended on the work it is doing through the National Parks and Wildlife Service. One continually hears positive reports about this work from people throughout the country. I acknowledge that the Minister has minimised the cut in respect of the National Parks and Wildlife Service but will he indicate the level of funding that is available to it? Good work has been done with regard to preserving endangered species. The entire country became engaged in a story relating to the fate of our golden eagles a few years ago. People watched with fascination in order to discover what would happen in the context of the preservation of those magnificent birds. They became angry when it was discovered farmers or other individuals had poisoned or shot some of them. There are other species, such as the red squirrel and the red deer - the latter may not be endangered but the sika deer has come to dominate in some parts of the country - about which I am concerned. In the context of the Revised Estimates before the committee, what level of funding is available for the National Parks and Wildlife Service to allow it to address the matters to which I refer and to continue the very good work it has been doing?

Waterways Ireland is a North-South body which is doing very positive work. As one traverses the country, one can see the benefits of the investment that is taking place. As a result of the awfully inclement weather in recent years, particular problems have arisen in various parts of the country with regard to river maintenance, particularly in the context of weirs. I am aware of cases where the Inland Fisheries Board - which is charged with protecting and increasing fish stocks - became concerned about rivers not having weirs. Farmers do not like weirs which are often - wrongly in my opinion - for causing flooding in particular areas. How are the matters to which I have just referred addressed in the Revised Estimates. There are some issues raised by Deputy Kitt in respect of which I may be obliged to intervene again later.