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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Sep 2003

Vol. 571 No. 1

Written Answers. - Heritage Policy.

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

1254 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if the re-assignment of the heritage portfolio to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government coincided with the break-up of Dúchas in June 2003 by Ministerial order. [19776/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

1255 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his plans to replace Dúchas with an independent agency or commission with responsibility for the protection of natural and built heritage. [19777/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

1256 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if the protectorate due to the lack of a commission or agency to fulfil the role of documentation of natural and built heritage resources will revert to his Department. [19778/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

1257 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his views on whether it will cause a conflict of interest with regard to the protectorate of natural and built heritage due to the lack of an independent body to oversee these issues by adding heritage to his portfolio. [19779/03]

Ciarán Cuffe

Question:

1258 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government his views on whether there is a possibility, that without a heritage service, issues of conservation may be open to abuse by vested interests in the guise of the common good, thus opening these issues to lengthy legal procedures. [19780/03]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1254 to 1258, inclusive, together.

Dúchas was the title adopted in 1997 for the division of the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands which had responsibility, under the Minister, for the State's built and natural heritage functions. The Dúchas brand name was adopted on a non-statutory basis, and the division was not conferred with agency or other powers beyond those vested in the Minister.

The former Dúchas division was transferred to my Department in July 2002. I immediately instigated a comprehensive review of heritage functions at central government level so as to ensure the optimum alignment and integration of these functions within their new departmental setting. Following completion of this review, which involved wide consideration with interested parties, the Government approved in April 2003 a new set of arrangements for the discharge by the State of its heritage functions. Under these new arrangements the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government retains responsibility for policy and operational matters relating to our natural heritage. The Minister also retains responsibility for built heritage policy – including architecture and archaeology – while operational and management functions involving the built heritage are being transferred to the Office of Public Works. Rather than utilising the separate Dúchas brand, which has been in place for several years, my Department was instead re-titled the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The role of the Heritage Council, particularlyvis-à-vis the policy role of the Department, is to be redefined and there is to be a progressive expansion of the remit of local authorities regarding heritage matters.
These changes are designed to achieve the optimum use of the organisational resources available to the Government. They build on my Department's strengths in terms of experience of regulation and policy development, particularly in the environmental area, and the strong tradition of the Office of Public Works in the areas of conservation and property management. Provision is also being made for the establishment of a high level heritage liaison group to provide a framework for effective interaction between both organisations.
Overall, I am satisfied that the new arrangements enable the State to discharge its responsibilities fully with regard to safeguarding and promoting our heritage.
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