Austin Deasy
Question:8 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands is she will establish and finance heritage councils in each county to encourage the recording of their historical past. [2842/98]
Ceisteanna—Questions. Priority Questions. - Local Heritage.
Austin Deasy
Question:34 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will allocate scholarships to local historians who are endeavouring to preserve and record local history and folklore which is currently left entirely due to their own efforts and at their own expense. [2911/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 34 together.
I have no plans to establish heritage councils in each county as suggested by the Deputy in his question, nor have I funds at my disposal from which I could allocate scholarships of the kind referred to by the Deputy.
However, the Heritage Council, an independent statutory body established under the Heritage Act, 1995, has broad functions in relation to the protection, preservation and promotion of the national heritage, and may provide advice and assistance, including financial assistance, in relation to matters pertaining to its functions. The council recently advertised a local community-based heritage grants scheme. Decisions relating to the allocation of funds under this or any other scheme by the Heritage Council are solely a matter for the council itself in accordance with the terms of the Heritage Act, 1995.
I am very disappointed with the tenor of the Minister's reply. With all due respect, does the Minister not think that heritage, local history and folklore should be dealt with on a local basis? The Minister spoke about the national Heritage Council, but why can she not relate local heritage to local people who really matter? Does the Minister realise that the Heritage Council means nothing to ordinary people? Each day some elderly person dies in a parish it means part of the history of that locality disappears and nothing is being done to stop that loss. Back in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s there was a Folklore Commission, but we do not seem to be utilising the work that commission gathered and we are making no attempt to add to it. Can the Minister do something to arrest that neglect? We are losing part of our heritage every day of the week.
I certainly accept what the Deputy said about the importance of local heritage and culture. Local people should be given every encouragement to try to protect their heritage and culture. I mentioned the Heritage Council because it is a means of trying to assist local communities, not dictating to them. Although it is a national body, the Heritage Council is in a position, through grant aid, to help some local heritage projects by way of the community-based grant scheme. I mentioned that to be helpful to the Deputy and in order to pass on this information if the local people are not already aware of it. As an independent body under the Act, the National Heritage Council will take decisions of its own volition.
My Department has commenced work on a national heritage plan. An important element is that local bodies with specific interests in heritage and culture will have a direct input into the plan. The national plan will, in effect, mirror the views of those within local areas. The issue of recording local history and folklore could be addressed in the context of preparing local heritage plans.
The Deputy may be aware that when I was in Opposition, my policy document proposed such local heritage plans. This would be an opportunity to do so in conjunction with the national heritage plan. The Heritage Council has its own national heritage plan, but my Department is commencing its own one.
I would welcome the Deputy's views and initiatives in this regard. We may be able to discuss this matter at a later stage to see what views the Deputy has.
Is the Minister not aware that, generally, such activities are based on a county basis?
Yes.
Whether it concerns hurling, foot-ball, culture or heritage, activities in general are based on each county. The parish provides a further breakdown of activities. The Heritage Council may be all very fine — I have appealed to it previously for assistance for certain projects — but it does not relate to local issues. I would appreciate if the Minister would take into account the importance of local input in counties and parishes.
I can assure the Deputy that local input is a very important, perhaps the most important, element in any such plan. In drawing up our national heritage plan, my Department will want to see how best it can reflect local concerns.
What procedures are in place in the Minister's Department to preserve records currently in the possession of the Valuation Office, which are not being taken into the care of the National Archives, given the imminent relocation of the Valuation Office from Ely Place to the Irish Life Abbey Centre? Will the Minister consider the transfer of such material to local county libraries for historical research and reference purposes? Will the Minister request the Valuation Commissioners to issue instructions that no records in their possessions are to be destroyed? What arrangements are being made by the National Archives to notify other archive repositories, such as county libraries, of the availability of records from Government Departments when the National Archives, having examined the records, have no interest in them?
I do not think all those questions are relevant to today's Order Paper.
It is for you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, to rule on this matter, but they are separate questions. I would be happy to answer them if the Deputy would table specific questions on the National Archives and libraries. I am well aware of the tremendous work by the National Archives in preserving and conserving our heritage. That is why I was happy to allocate £13 million for National Archives capital projects at the end of last year.
The library system is a different matter which comes under the Department of the Environment because it comes directly under the aegis of local authorities. It does not come under my Department's responsibility. However, if the Deputy wishes to table specific questions about the National Archives I will do my utmost to answer them.