Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)

The Heritage Council's budget was cut by 30%, to €9 million, in 2010 and this year it has been reduced by 40%, to €4.49 million. A few years ago the budget was €20 million. It has gone down from €20 million to just under €5 million.

The lost funding was used to send assistants into schools to help teachers and children with projects on their local heritage. It provided grants for various projects that created employment, such as thatching. Grants were provided for village design statements. One of these was carried out in my village of Lucan by South Dublin County Council in partnership with the Heritage Council. This involved the stakeholders in the community, including school children and community activists who were interested in the village and its historic character. Money was used to part-fund heritage officers employed in partnership with county councils. These positive developments cannot continue. This is where the cuts will hit. It will not be possible for the Heritage Council to provide funding for these projects unless the Minister finds funding from somewhere else.

Our heritage is important to our tourism. Some 76% of tourists identify landscape and nature as a reason for visiting Ireland. Deputy Hogan referred to the 56% cut in the budget of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. If we are to get moving again and be positive we must invest in our heritage and environment. Instead of going to shopping centres and hotels - too many of which were built during the boom years - people should spend time with their family and friends and in their local communities. They should also visit national monuments, parks, etc. Money spent on our heritage is money well spent. This is a key aspect of the Minister's portfolio and it is a great disappointment, therefore, that the cut in funding for the Heritage Council has been so great. I ask that he suggest other ways in which the work to which I refer might be funded.

See this speech in context