Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)

My questions are in two sets - one relates to access to heritage sites, and I also have questions on the environmental and public procurement area.

On the question of access to heritage sites, Deputy Timmins highlighted the matter with a specific example, but I looking more to the principle in two or three areas. One is on a very practical and physical level, that is, the question of access to heritage sites in terms of a strategy, proposals or existing measures to move forward on the basis that when we preserve our heritage, we should also be ensuring access. There are examples of engagement in a specific situation but, more generally, has there been engagement with local authorities on public rights of way? We took a little bit of a backward step in recent legislation when we said that local authorities may publish maps of rights of way, whereas previously they would have to publish them. There are many situations where there are public rights of way to heritage sites. When we talk about heritage, that is often part of the intangible heritage that is associated with the physical heritage that is the responsibility of the Minister of State. There may be an old church with a particular significance for a community or a record of using it at particular times of the year. Has the Minister of State been examining access in general? I accept there are individual situations but there is also the question of dealing in a more strategic way with local authorities to get rights of way marked, recorded and registered or, in certain circumstances, if it is necessary, looking to partner with local authorities on the provision of physical supports for rights of way. I will ask the three access questions and then I will ask my three environmental questions.

Another aspect of the access to heritage sites issue is the fact that there are 780 heritage sites across the country, and we know that cultural communities in Ireland right now are in crisis in relation to space for cultural activity, performance and things to happen. I refer to cultural manifestations, people being together, performing, celebrating and all of these things. Are there any initiatives in terms of bringing those cultural sites into use either as cultural venues or creating mechanisms to make it easier for their cultural use? The OPW is listed in a supporting role on action 10 of the night-time economy task force, which was tasked with looking at piloting late-night initiatives with national cultural institutions. In general, I refer to the idea of access for cultural use, creative purposes or performance space and specifically the late-night initiative on cultural spaces from the night-time task force. Has there been contact with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on cultural activation?

I had a question on the GPO but that has been covered quite thoroughly. The Minister of State will be aware the Labour Party put forward the idea of art spaces within the offices, which is a nice idea. Perhaps the Minister of State could he answer the two general questions on access and then I will come back in with the rest of my set.