Vol. 513 No. 3
72 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the financial allocation for Dúchas for 2000; the plans, if any, she has to increase the allocation having regard to the severe pressure under which many Dúchas services are operating; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2489/00]
The financial allocations in the current financial year for the services provided under the aegis of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, come to £65.322 million, exclusive of administrative overheads which are included under the Department's administrative budget allocation. This figure provides for significantly increased spending on inland waterways reflecting the establishment of Waterways Ireland, the cross-Border implementation body and on national monuments and historic properties.
In determining these allocations which were set out in detail in the Abridged Estimates volume published in November 1999, the Minister's intention was to ensure that the ambitious programme of work to which Dúchas is committed is adequately resourced. In particular, I remind the Deputy that this year's level of capital expenditure of just under £31.5 million is the precursor to the implementation of a capital programme in excess of £200 million provided for in the National Development Plan 2000-2006.
It is in the nature of the services for which Dúchas is responsible that demand will almost inevitably exceed available resources. However, within these constraints, significant progress has been made in recent years in restoring national monuments and historic properties, developing inland waterways and enhancing our wildlife service. The Minister intends to maintain the momentum of this activity in this and succeeding years.
In light of various publications launched by the Minister such as the framework and principles for the protection of the archaeological heritage, the policy and guidelines on archaeological excavation and the strategy statement, will the Minister of State agree this places additional responsibilities on Dúchas with no contingent increase in staffing levels? The national development plan will result in a significant amount of infrastructural development. Last year the Department had well over 5,000 planning referrals and 1,000 licence applications but no licences have been issued since 17 January. Does the Minister of State agree this is a crisis which no excuses or soft talk will solve? Does he also agree that unless the Minister takes dramatic action the situation will become much worse and infrastructural development projects and resultant excavations will grind to a halt?
The Government wishes to ensure there are speedier procedures for planning so infrastructural developments can go ahead. There has also been an increase in the general allocation to Dúchas. Having been a Minister of State, the Deputy knows the reality is that there are complicated procedures to be followed in any increase in staff and that money is only one element of those procedures. The Deputy can be sure that the Minister will continue to try to get all sorts of resources to provide the optimum service. Dramatic results have been achieved and the increased number of planning applications dealt with last year is testament to the fact that, despite the unprecedented growth, Dúchas is dealing with the issues before it. However, there are pressures and everyone recognises those pressures.
The Minister's reply is bland and lacks focus. What will the Department do about licences? If an important development goes ahead and the developer makes an application for licence to the Department, currently nothing happens and the development is held up. Equally with infrastructural development, there is a crisis to which there must be a response. The Minister is talking in generalised terms. What, exactly, will the Minister do to rectify a situation which could have a crippling effect on development, particularly infrastructural development?
One way to avoid some of the difficulties faced at the moment would be if developers and their consultants were to prepare better and earlier designs for projects. This would help speed up many things. There is a focus that the total responsibility must rest with Dúchas, but all those involved, including local authorities and those planning projects, have an obligation to take matters of archaeology into account in the development of plans. That also goes for private developers. There is a growing awareness of this problem and many people have a part to play. Dúchas has a part to play and resources will be required to ensure that the demands on the service are met. There are different ways to do this, which will not all be related to Dúchas.
They will drown in the 50 metre pool.
As I pointed out in my answer to Question No. 71, one of the solutions to the problem rests with the local authorities.
