Dr. Ruth Johnson:

Through country development plans, local area plans, heritage plans, climate change adaptation plans and so on, as well as the various grants we administer at local authority level, we are uniquely placed to be the point of contact with owners of monuments and to raise awareness. I will not go into detail but there have been many schemes where the community-local authority model of heritage officer, local authority archaeologist, conservation officer and community liaison officer has delivered directly into the heart of communities. These include the conservation management plan in Finglas that got under way under the community monuments fund, CMF, last year. I flag that important role and the need for those resources for local advice and expertise to raise awareness. The key message is that engaging with communities, especially with young people through schools, and local heritage groups that are already interested, is a fantastic way of raising awareness and getting ground-level support and protection for our monuments.