Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

NSO 7 of the national development plan relates to enhancing amenities and heritage. It recognises that our cultural heritage is as an essential component, not only in our response to the profound climate challenge we are facing, but also in how we make our cities, towns and villages the kinds of environment we want communities to live and prosper in. There are ongoing investments in the maintenance and upgrading of the national parks and nature reserves throughout the country to enhance conservation, improve visitor facilities and develop new routes. The Wexford Wildfowl Reserve visitor centre is a good example of such a facility. In 2022, €8 million was provided to assist the National Monuments Service and built heritage with the conservation and restoration of our built heritage across the country through the Historic Structures Fund and the built heritage investment scheme.

The Government continues to support our cultural institutions in many different ways. I could mention projects such as the Crawford Art Gallery, which the Deputy is undoubtedly familiar with, the wider urban regeneration under way in Limerick and the work being done to ensure that our National Archives are made available digitally, which is an amazing project. Great work is under way in supporting facilities across the country. These are the three ways in which we are delivering against that objective in the plan.

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