Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. I concur with her sentiments as regards our heritage and the importance of it. I also agree with the importance of local community involvement and the heritage officers having a key role to play in that regard.

I suppose I speak from a parochial point of view. There are 27 heritage officers around the country. Unfortunately, Carlow does not have a heritage officer. Carlow is at a significant disadvantage in this consultation process in that it will not be able to provide input directly to it. Are there any plans to rectify that? Carlow is one of the only such counties. Even though it is a small county, it is a proud county and has its own heritage like every other county. It is essential that the heritage officers provide input directly. The heritage officers are the ones who have expert knowledge of what is happening, the local connections etc. Has the Minister any plans to rectify the situation? In the event that it will not be rectified, how does the Minister foresee counties, such as Carlow, which do not have a heritage officer having the same input into the proposal?

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