Vol. 492 No. 7
280 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the way in which the legislative measures administered by her Department address the protection, management, creation and planning of our landscape; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14922/98]
281 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the strategies, if any, developed by her Department to guide future developments in the area of protection, management, creation and planning of our landscape; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14923/98]
282 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the value of an interdepartmental and inter-agency approach to the development of an integrated landscape management strategy, particularly with a view to the bringing together of all relevant legislative measures; the approaches, if any, her Department has had seeking its views on these matters from other sources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14924/98]
287 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands her views on the desirability of raising public awareness and appreciation for the landscape and its importance as a facet of our environment, culture and economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15218/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 281, 282 and 287 together.
I do not have overall responsibility for the protection of national landscapes or for the development of a national landscape policy and in this regard I would draw the Deputy's attention to the reply by the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to Question No. 49 of 25 November 1997.
However, in the context of the development of a National Heritage Plan by my Department, to which I referred in my reply to Questions Nos. 18 and 42 of 18 June, the protection, management and promotion of natural and cultural landscapes will be among the many issues which will be examined.
283 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the financial instruments, if any, available to her whereby she could facilitate, resource, encourage or support the work of a voluntary body (details supplied) in County Cork established to highlight the value of our landscape and to enable, through public education, a greater appreciation of the contribution that landscape quality makes to the quality of life; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14925/98]
The Deputy will be aware that the main source of public funds for heritage projects is the Heritage Council, which is a statutory, autonomous body established under the Heritage Act, 1995. Under that Act, the council has powers to provide advice and assistance, including financial assistance, in relation to the protection, preservation and promotion of the physical heritage, including landscapes. The council is located in Rothe House, Kilkenny City, telephone number 056-70777 and fax 056-70788.
It should be noted that, although my Department funds the Heritage Council, I have no function in relation to decisions by it on the disbursal of grants.
