Vol. 518 No. 1
79 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands when she expects that the promised national heritage plan will be finalised and published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10896/00]
As Minister with primary responsibility in relation to the heritage, I initiated the preparation of a national heritage plan in line with the commitment in An Action Programme for the Millennium. The national heritage plan will provide, for the first time in the history of the State, an integrated plan for the protection of the heritage. It will set out strategies for the protection, conservation, management and presentation of the natural heritage, the architectural and archaeological, movable and immovable heritage, the inland waterways of the State, and documentary and archival heritage.
Having carefully examined and analysed over 350 public submissions which were received as part of a broad public consultative process, my Department is now finalising a draft national heritage plan. It is my intention to circulate the draft plan to other Departments for their comments as soon as possible and I anticipate that I will be in a position to publish the national heritage plan later this year.
