Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020
353. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the local authorities employing heritage officers; the number of heritage officers employed by each local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21691/20]
View answer355. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht the amount of funding allocated to date in 2020 under the grant scheme for county heritage and biodiversity officers; the way in which the funding was divided between biodiversity and heritage officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21693/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 355 together.
The Heritage Officers and the Biodiversity Officers referred to are staff of the local authorities and are not funded directly by my Department.
In relation to the County Heritage Officer Network, however, this is a partnership between the Heritage Council and the Local Authorities. The network is part-funded by both the local authority and by the Heritage Council. Heritage Officers are employed by local authorities with financial, technical and professional support from the Heritage Council. The Heritage Council has allocated €585,000 in 2020 towards salary support and training of Heritage Officers. In addition €589,250 has been allocated to the County Heritage Plans programme which contributes to the operational work programmes of the Heritage Officer in each participating Local Authority. They facilitate the delivery of a structured local heritage service and promote heritage as an influential element in quality of life and economic wellbeing.
There are currently twenty-nine local authorities within the Heritage Officer Network, each employing one heritage officer. There are two local authorities, Carlow and Wexford who do not currently employ heritage officers.
