asked the Minister for Finance if he will outline the value of National Monuments Advisory Committees.
Written Answers. - National Monuments Advisory Committees.
422.
Section 22 of the National Monuments Act, 1930 provide that a local authority may establish an advisory committee for such period as shall be fixed by the local authority to give advice and assistance in relation to the protection and preservation of the national monuments or any particular national monument in the functional area of such local authority or in relation to any other matter arising in the performance by such local authority of its duties and functions under the Act. The section further provides that a local advisory committee may make to the local authority by which it was established or to the Commissioners of Public Works or to the National Monuments Advisory Council such representations as it may think fit in relation to national monuments in its functional area.
In so far as such committees have made direct representations to the Commissioners of Public Works I am advised that for the most part they have been of value and have been positively responded to by the commissioners.
I am conscious that active local advisory committees can and do much for heritage conservation and with this in mind the Commissioners of Public Works have encouraged all local authorities to establish such committees. Beyond this the matter rests between the local authorities and their advisory committees.