Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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1285. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to evaluate the success of National Heritage Week 2025 in county Clare; and if he will consider increasing funding for heritage initiatives across Ireland. [47028/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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National Heritage Week is funded and co-ordinated by the Heritage Council, which is a body under the aegis of my Department.

I understand that National Heritage Week 2025 was very successful, with over 2,500 projects and events held nationally between 16 and 24 August. Over the next few weeks the Heritage Council will be correlating data related to National Heritage Week, such as figures on attendance by county, public attitudes towards Heritage Week, etc. This information will be available directly from the Heritage Council in due course.

Specifically within County Clare, the Heritage Council has informed me that there were 106 events held across the county during National Heritage Week 2025 to celebrate Clare's rich and diverse heritage. Examples of the events held over the nine days included the Kilrush Heritage Quarter’s own mini–Heritage Week, which featured over 30 individual events. Kilfenora offered a varied programme highlighting its religious and musical heritage, while Craggaunowen and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park collaborated on a joint series of events. The OPW hosted open days and activities at the Friary in Ennis and on Scattery Island.

Traditional skills were a major theme throughout the week, with demonstrations and talks on a broad range of traditional construction methods, heritage crafts, and traditional farming methods. Guided tours were held at heritage properties across the county, while the programme also included archaeological and biodiversity events, film screenings, folklore and music sessions, workshops, exhibitions, and guided walks.

I am pleased that my Department continues to support the Heritage Council to deliver events such as these across the country. As you will be aware, the Oireachtas votes funding each year for a variety of programmes to encourage and support investment in and engagement with our heritage. In view of the strong demand for heritage schemes and the excellent public value which they deliver, I hope to maintain and enhance the heritage funding allocation in future years, subject of course to competing priorities and the availability of funds.