Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 413: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will alleviate the fear of the heritage council and publish the critical review and confirm if this valuable organisation will retain support and avoid abolition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36220/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 1 of 18 July 2012. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government announced a series of rationalisation measures in its Public Service Reform Plan on 17 November 2011 and a number of amalgamations, mergers and critical reviews of bodies funded from my Department's Vote group are currently being progressed, as required under that plan. The Heritage Council was one of four bodies, funded from my Department's Vote group, that were listed in Appendix IIb of the Reform Plan for critical review. In the context of furthering that review, my Department has met and consulted extensively with the Council and has also considered the views of other stakeholders. On foot of the recent conclusion by my Department of the critical review of the Heritage Council, I have submitted proposals and recommendations to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, which are being examined in the context of submitting a Memorandum to the Government on the matter at the appropriate time. In this context, the Deputy will, of course, appreciate that I am not in a position to provide specific details regarding the outcome of the critical review at this time, pending consideration by the Government.