John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. Due to the difficult public financial situation, and in common with other Departments, the recent budget has seen a reduction in the financial resources available to my Department from €2.2 billion in 2010 to €1.6 billion in 2011. In recent years, my Department has strategically focused on contributing to economic recovery, assisting those in need of support and protecting and enhancing the environmental resource base on which economic progress ultimately depends. The significant resources being made available to my Department next year will be utilised to maintain this focus.

The reduction in the 2011 current allocation mainly affects support for the local government fund and also requires savings in the environmental and built and natural heritage areas. While 2011 will see a significant reduction in capital funding in overall terms, the primary effect on the Department will be to extend the timescale for full implementation of programmes, while also taking account of refocused priorities in the current climate and obtaining better value for money - through more competitive tendering and greater efficiency - from the €1 billion which will still be invested in Department capital programmes during the coming year.

The reduction in the overall funding available, contractual commitments on spending programmes and the emphasis on social protection and environmental compliance has lead to a significant reduction in the funding that will be available to the Heritage Council and the built heritage area in 2011. This cut in funding must be seen against the backdrop of considerable allocations to the Heritage Council and the built heritage area in previous years - for example, allocations of €36 million in 2007 and €45 million in 2008. The Heritage Council will be obliged to decide on how to make the best use of the financial resources being made available to it and on its priorities. I hope the council will be able to continue with its activities in the areas of policy, heritage infrastructure support and heritage grants.

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