Vol. 503 No. 6
84 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will arrange that each local authority have a specially dedicated officer employed to assess conservation measures for architectural heritage. [6886/99]
Last year the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and I announced a comprehensive package of legislative and other measures to strengthen the protection of our architectural heritage. The announcement recognised that local authorities will require the services of conservation officers to implement the considerable additional responsibilities involved in these measures.
My Department has, through the City and County Managers Association, contacted local authorities in relation to the employment of conservation officers and has requested that they consider employing such officers on a shared basis. It is accepted, however, that some local authorities will require the full-time services of a conservation officer. Guidance for local authorities in relation to the employment of conservation officers (including their qualifications) will be issued by my Department shortly. Additional funding is available in 1999 to assist local authorities to employ conservation officers.
