Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:16 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if he intends to draw up a policy in relation to State funding for heritage centres, local museums, and interpretative centres.
Ceisteanna-Questions. Oral Answers. - Interpretative Centres Funding.
Jim O'Keeffe
Ceist:26 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht whether he will establish a procedure to enable the views of the people in any particular locality, where controversies arise in relation to interpretative centres or similar issues, to be fully taken into account in the decision making process.
Liz McManus
Ceist:45 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the responsibilities, if any, his Department has with regard to interpretative centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Peter Barry
Ceist:46 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if, in view of the work carried out on the Mullaghmore Interpretative Centre and its cost, he is prepared to have the development go ahead in its present location.
Michael Noonan
Ceist:48 Mr. Noonan (Limerick East) asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht whether work will proceed on the construction of an interpretative centre at Mullaghmore, County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:262 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht his views on the building of any new interpretative centres and the completion of existing centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna 16, 26, 45, 46, 48 agus Ceist Scríofa 262 le chéile.
As the House is already aware, I have been assigned responsibility for the formulation and development of future policy in relation to heritage, including inland waterways, national parks and wildlife and national monuments and historic properties. The Commissioners of Public Works will continue to exercise their day-to-day functions in those areas in accordance with policy decisions made by me and setting out my priority areas and proposed implementation targets. Future policy in relation to the construction of interpretative centres by the Office of Public Works falls within my area of responsibilities. My Department is at present reviewing the resources it will need, including the co-ordination of existing resources, for the formulation and development of future policy in relation to the areas already mentioned by me.
My views on the Mullaghmore interpretative centre remain unchanged and, when the Supreme Court gives its ruling on the appeal, which has yet to be heard, against the High Court judgment that State authorities are not exempt from section 24 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1963, the matter will again be considered by the Government. In the meantime, I have established a review group to examine strategic options for future policy in relation to Mullaghmore, Luggala and the Boyne Valley.
I will be formulating a policy in relation to State funding for heritage centres, local museums and interpretative centres and that policy will also cover the necessary procedures of consultation which will have to be carried out before major projects are undertaken.
The National Heritage Council advised over a year ago that a comprehensive management plan, for example in relation to the Burren area, should be commissioned before the site of any interpretative centre was decided. That is an indication of the direction in which I should like to go. It is important to encourage and assist, where possible, interest, appreciation and enjoyment of our culture and heritage. I am concerned, however, that any general scheme of funding for the development of heritage centres, local museums and interpretative centres should also take into account the meaning of heritage for local communities. One problem is that they are often seen only as a means of attracting additional visitors rather than explaining the heritage, sometimes there is a fundamental difference between the two although they are capable of reconciliation.
I have received the views of the National Heritage Council on this matter as well as their views in relation to a strategy for museum development, heritage interpretation and conservation and I will be looking at all these measures in detail.
I welcome the Minister's reply. Would he not agree that the proliferation of heritage centres, museums, display centres and interpretative centres throughout the country at present diminishes the effectiveness of this type of facility in certain instances? Is there a real long term strategy within the Department as regards the future development of these centres? The Minister said today that this Department is reviewing future policy. When can we expect a statement of that policy from the Department?
I accept I may have raised expectations as to what I may be able to achieve in such a short time, bearing in mind that I have been in office for less than two months. Accepting the great challenge from Opposition Deputies, I have said in my reply that I am in the process of setting up a working group, which will draw from the expertise of agencies, to assist me in drawing up a future policy. Quite frankly it was necessary for me to define what skills and professional competence were necessary, and there is no delay whatsoever in this regard. When the group finishes its work I will report in the short term rather than in the medium term about the shape of future policy.
In answer to the Deputy's interesting supplementary about the question of proliferation interfering with the validity of the concept of heritage, it is necessary that we have a good and accessible debate on the meaning of heritage. When I put the Heritage Council on a statutory basis it will be in a very good position to contribute to, initiate and act as monitor of such a debate.
A number of Deputies have tabled questions on this subject and I will call them in the following order: Deputies Jim O'Keeffe, McManus and Durkan.
I raise this question on the understanding that approximately three-quarters of the people in the Burren area are in favour of the Board of Works proposal. Against the background I ask the Minister whether he accepts that from the point of view of local democracy there must be a procedure whereby local people will be able to express their view and whereby those views will be taken into account? Will the Minister accept — I am not pointing the finger specifically at him in this instance — that there is a danger of accusations of cultural elitism and even cultural fascism in that there appears to be a total overriding of local views in relation to controversies such as that in Mullaghmore?
I ask for brevity having regard to the number of Deputies who are offering in respect of this matter.
I will assist you, a Cheann Comhairle. In relation to the latter matter raised, I am very familiar with what cultural fascism is and I have no intention of embracing such a concept. Large meetings have been held recently expressing the opinions of the people of County Clare and other meetings have expressed the opinions of people who are close to Mullaghmore. I have already said in my reply that I would like to see a consultation procedure in existence, that an overall management plan should follow such widespread consultation and thereafter specific proposals should be made. I hope in future this is what will prevail.
I regard matters such as those that have been a source of conflict as ones involving the local people but also ones that raise issues which are beyond the locality. There are fundamental questions involved that extend nationally and, in some senses, internationally. I announced the establishment of a working group to consider the strategic options in the wake of the court decision. My aim has been always to achieve consensus so that people can see that their best interests are served. All the options in relation to County Clare will be considered such as investment there, the provision of jobs, the secure location of the institutional structure and so on.
Has the Minister any bright ideas about what can be done with a half constructed building on the top of a mountain in County Wicklow? I would be very interested to hear whether he has any proposal in that regard. I welcome the fact that a review is being carried out on the whole question of interpretation. It appears that nobody has given this matter any serious thought — the only thought that has gone into it is how to spend the money as quickly as possible. Will the Minister consider looking at the work that has been carried out in this regard in County Wicklow? Two major studies were carried out by a Trinity study group on the question of interpretation and the management of the uplands generally. Will the Minister look at this mould breaking work to see if there can be produced from the research, which is very comprehensive and involves practically every person living in County Wicklow — certainly in the upland areas — a model as to how we can proceed in a way that is based on human need and human understanding rather than a top-down approach as has been the case in the past?
On the second matter, I have outlined my approach to heritage and I would like the policy group to regard heritage as a composition of people's stories. In answer to the question I said that local people will have many hidden stories. This is all part of one's heritage; heritage is not simply derived from the economic benefits of the tourist industry.
In relation to the project on which work has commenced, the working group that will be established will consider all options that arise in the wake of the court decision. The Deputy will be aware that I have already taken initiatives in suggesting alternatives which will result in reconciliation and consensus. I cannot stress sufficiently that what is important at this stage is that everything we do, even in this House, should assist in the resolution of conflicts that have arisen in communities rather than adding to them. It is not a time for obduracy on anybody's part in relation to this matter. Finally, the policy of the study group will draw on all documentation that is available. As has been suggested by the Deputy, I do indeed see this as one of the resources that will be considered.
On a point of clarification——
Sorry, I want to call Deputy Durkan as time is running out. The Deputy has tabled a question and I must hear him.
Will the Minister confirm, in order to eliminate confusion in future, which Department is entirely responsible for works of this nature? Second, what is the Minister's intention with regard to the Kilfenora centre?
In the spirit of philosophical generosity which I find overwhelming at this Question Time——
That will butter no bread in Kilfenora.
——there is absolutely no confusion as to future policy. As the party opposite composes itself into a single view in relation to County Clare I will watch with interest, because they speak with many tongues. On the question of Kilfenora——
You come from a party of experts.
——I am delighted to say that officials of my Department have met the people of Kilfenora and will provide every assistance possible to them.
Will the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, stand up and give the real version?
Let us dispose of No. 17 please.
The Minister is overwhelmed by the brilliance of his performance.
I have no objections to any extensions the Deputy has in mind.