Mr. Michael Starrett:

The first cuts in 2008 and 2009 cut our funding by 65% straight away. It is amazing that the organisation survived. It is a tribute to the local communities and the organisations which we support that they have all survived. They have all cut their cloth and survived the recession. They have all suffered job losses and the Heritage Council has also suffered in terms of capacity. We have a small team anyway but to lose two staff members out of 16 represents a big percentage loss. We have clearly signalled that we want to incrementally build that back up again. In the emerging strategic plan we are seeking to build that up over the course of the next five years, to just under €10 million initially in the first year and back up to more than €20 million by the fifth year of that plan. That is not an unreasonable request in terms of what the Heritage Council can achieve and hopes to achieve in its new vision. Of course we have to gain Departmental and political support to allow that to happen.

The Senator mentioned legislation. The Heritage Council has been quite clear in this regard. The Wildlife Acts 1976 and 2000 have certainly sat for a long time and are in need of comprehensive revision. I would like to see that in a programme for Government in the future. I have already touched on the need for a new form of legislation which could help to resolve the issues - enabling and empowering legislation for our landscapes and countryside, for example, which could involve communities. Again, the Heritage Council has firm proposals which could help develop that type of approach.

There was a move to consolidate all national monuments legislation and great progress had been made in that area. That also relates to communities and cultural and national heritage. To be honest I am not clear how that legislation is progressing but it is a provision which needs to be undertaken as soon as possible.

There is a commitment in the programme for Government to produce a new national heritage plan which will, and should, be led by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Heritage Council is ready to help and assist in whatever way it can to bring that to fruition.

I believe I have covered all the points which were directed at me.