Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The arts and heritage sector has endured many cuts. It has been virtually decimated. I welcome the €2 million being allocated to the heritage sector this year, but I would like to point out that many projects have been held back as a result of the cuts that have taken place over the years.

In my constituency of Laois-Offaly, there is a bridge, the Ardara Bridge, that is believed to date back to the 1500s. Two archaeologists have studied this bridge. Ten years later, that bridge is still under scaffolding. It is impacting on our potential as a county to generate more tourism. I call on the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to look at that project, which has been held up as a result of the cuts over the years.

I welcome the €2 million being put into heritage this year and I hope it will be used to good effect.

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