Vol. 433 No. 6
3 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the functions and role of the special policy unit on Heritage and the Arts; the unit's relationship with the National Heritage Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The special policy unit on heritage in my Department is responsible for identifying, evaluating and studying the impact of existing policies relating to national monuments, historic properties, national parks, wildlife and inland waterways and for formulating and developing future policy in these areas, including related legislation, where appropriate, for implementation by the Office of Public Works.
In the formulation and development of policy the unit will draw on a broad range of expert advice including that of the National Heritage Council with which a close working relationship has already been established.
In view of the fact that the National Heritage Council was set up specifically to advice the Government on matters of heritage and so on, would the Minister agree that there is a degree of overlap now between the functions and role of the National Heritage Council and those of the policy unit in his Department? Will he agree also that the National Heritage Council has been sidelined because it has no real function? For example, was it asked to comment on the heritage centres? Is the Minister prepared to replace the 13 key people who have been taken from the Office of Public Works and placed in the policy unit of his Department? As a result, the Office of Public Works is suffering.
I have no difficulty answering the Deputy's first supplementary question relating to the possibility of an overlap between the functions of the National Heritage Council and those of the special unit in my Department. I have indicated to the House that it is my intention to establish the National Heritage Council on a statutory basis. I have responsibility for other councils which were established on a statutory basis, such as the Arts Council, and it could not be argued that the existence of the Arts Council is threatened by the existence of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. I am responsible for going to Government and making a case for current and capital expenditure on the Arts in regard to Structural Funds. In other words, I define a general cultural policy, seek current and capital provision for it and those bodies operating under my autonomy but within the general framework of policy which I have stated is desirable.
It is up to the National Heritage Council to comment on the controversies in this area and make a submission to the consultation process if it so wishes. It has made its views known to me and it would be surprising if it did not forward its views and make them part of the consultation process.
The final part of the Deputy's question dealt with the transfer of staff from the Office of Public Works to the policy unit in my Department. I am sure the Deputy will agree that questions of staffing in the public service are more appropriate to the Minister for Finance, but I am happy that with those valuable people — although not enough — I will be able to make a start on the valuable policy work which is necessary.
Will the Minister outline the links between the Office of Public Works and the policy unit in his Department and will he refer also to the role of the Minister of State, Deputy Dempsey, in drawing up policy in this area?
In the interest of brevity, I will resist the temptation to get involved in a seminar on public administration. I am responsible for policy matters and on the basis of my policy framework there will be an annual work programme and in consultation with the Minister of State, the implementation of that programme will take place on an annual basis. My policy unit advises me on a number of matters. For example, as I stated in my initial reply, it advises me on future policy and a number of areas already mentioned, but it advises me also in regard to legislation and the revision of legislation which falls within the ambit of policy.
