Vol. 444 No. 5
24 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many voluntary heritage groups throughout the country find that there is a dearth of professional advice available and, when available, it is expensive for voluntary groups leading to non-progress on many worthy projects; and if he will make professional advice available where such difficulties arise.
I can assure the Deputy that I am aware of the necessity for voluntary heritage groups to obtain appropriate professional advice and supervision when undertaking projects at sites of historical importance. I am not aware that there is a dearth of such advice available although I do accept that the cost involved may add appreciably to the cost of the projects. However, the Deputy will appreciate that due to the competing demands on its scarce resources the role of the State in this regard must be limited.
