Ceist:
57 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Finance the proposals, if any, he has to assist local community groups to provide tourist guides and explanatory leaflets at national monuments and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Tourist Guides.
I presume that the Deputy's reference to tourist guides refers to the provision of literature and not guide personnel.
The Office of Public Works does not have the resources to publish individual leaflets or guides on all of the national monuments under its care. However, it has published some general literature on monuments such as the very popularHeritage, a Visitor's Guide which introduces the reader to one hundred accessible national monuments approximately throughout the country. It has also published site specific literature on 60 national monuments.
The Office of Public Works has in the past and will continue in the future to assist and encourage local community groups or individuals who approach them for help in the development of guides or leaflets on local monuments. The assistance the office provides is usually by way of factual and correct information on the archaeology and history of a site together with photographs, drawings or other usual material that might be appropriate to the planned literature.