Ms Virginia Teehan:

We are actively recruiting a head of communications and public affairs, which is very good and very welcome. As identified by the Chairman, communication is an issue for us. There is an issue in terms of our day-to-day communications as a public body, but there is an issue at a higher level too in regard to the promotion and acknowledgement of the importance of heritage nationally. We have a role to play in ensuring that the appreciation of heritage is acknowledged. As mentioned by Deputy O'Donoghue, there are issues around funding and sustainability for projects on the ground. We have been fortunate in that our funding has been increased by over 40% in the past two years. We are really grateful for that.

There is a major job of work to be done. There is work to be done on landscapes, environments, buildings and in our cultural heritage, some of which will require significant investment and funding. Heritage Ireland 2030 will identify some of the key issues which require resolution. The committee's invitation for us to appear here today to talk about heritage demonstrates the value that it and the Houses of the Oireachtas place on heritage. That is important. It sends a signal to the sector that our elected representatives value our work and their work, which is much more significant.

We need to continue this dialogue. We need to have all of the voices represented through the Heritage Council, the heritage officer network and the network of other heritage professionals and to support them more than has been the case in the past in all its manifestations.