Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 March 2017
417. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when she is planning on publishing a national heritage plan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11799/17]
View answerThe National Heritage Plan 2002-2007 was the first integrated plan that sought to conserve and protect all aspects of our national heritage. Over the course of more recent years, my Department’s responsibilities for the protection and promotion of our built and natural heritage have been met by a range of policy developments, that sought to respond to the challenges arising in different sectoral areas within my heritage remit.
The Programme for a Partnership Government envisages the development and publication of an updated National Heritage Plan. I am currently considering how best to approach its development in the context of on-going policy priorities across the heritage sector, both built and natural. I intend to deploy a framework similar to the one used successfully in the context of Culture 2025 and my officials are currently working on developing that approach.
Work has been initiated by my Department regarding the scope and terms of reference for the process. As the Deputy will be aware, the heritage sector is composed of many different sub-sectors with differing needs. It is intended that a formal engagement with key stakeholders and implementation partners will play a central role to the development of such a policy given the many strands of our national heritage.
Finally and in the context of the above, my Department is currently drafting Ireland’s 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2021. The Plan is being developed in cooperation with an interdepartmental Biodiversity Working Group, and the Biodiversity Forum which represents various interested sectors of Irish society. I invited views of the public on the draft Plan on 21 December 2016. The consultation window was closed on 9 February 2017. Some 90 submissions were received, and these will be published on the Department’s website, with a summary of the views provided and with comment on the main strands of the submissions made.
