The Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, is committed to promoting education, knowledge and pride in, and facilitating appreciation and employment of our heritage.
The Heritage in Schools scheme is one of many heritage programmes supported by the Heritage Council. Last year my Department provided €205,730 for the Heritage in Schools scheme to support the work of the Heritage Council in its role of improving heritage infrastructure, heritage awareness, and promoting best practice in conservation and sustainable heritage management. Funding in the sum of €255,000 has been allocated towards this scheme for 2016.
It is primarily the role of the Heritage Council to allocate funds to educational programmes such as the Heritage in Schools scheme in the manner in which it deems best. I understand that, in 2015, 736 schools were visited by heritage specialists with 1,922 visits in total. Of these, 713 visits were to disadvantaged schools. The total number of children involved was 91,184, of which 30,144 were children from disadvantaged schools.
As Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, I am committed to supporting, in a manner appropriate to these challenging times, educational programmes which further the protection and conservation of our built and natural heritage.
