As regards the national folk collection, to the best of my knowledge the major artefacts are stored in the former reformatory at Daingean in County Offaly and are not available to the public. The Minister indicated that he intends to introduce a national museums Bill and I presume such matters will be covered under it. There is urgent need to collate and publish archive material. I am sure most of it is not properly indexed.
Local authorities are often criticised regarding heritage matters. In recent years, due to financial constraints, they have not been able to look after important major buildings in their ownership. However, they have attempted to preserve these buildings by and large.
It was interesting to listen to Deputies refer to the heritage in their areas; an inventory was given of the heritage in counties Cavan, Wexford and others. There was also a reference to the Ring Gaeltacht in County Waterford and the increased interest in the Irish language.
Tremendous work has been carried out on the restoration of Ennis Abbey in County Clare. Relatively modest sums of money have been spent in restoring this dilapidated abbey to a very beautiful building which can now be visited by the public. The excellent lighting system installed in the abbey has considerably improved its appearance.
There are numerous examples of co-operation between local communities and national bodies in refurbishing national monuments and improving access to them. One example which springs to mind is Corcomroe Abbey in the Burren. There was virtually no access to the abbey until the county council, in co-operation with local people, spent a substantial amount in improving access. The abbey is now readily accessible and is on the visitor attraction list of many people. Work is also being carried out on Quin Abbey which is a beautiful building and I hope this type of work will continue.
The local authority in County Clare has experienced difficulties in maintaining large buildings, specifically courthouses. I am not sure of the precise situation in regard to funding, but an undertaking was given two years ago that responsibility for funding these buildings would be taken over by the State. There are several fine courthouses in the county and the ones with which I am most familiar are in Ennis, Tulla and Killaloe. The Ennis courthouse is still used by the county council and is maintained at enormous cost. The dilapidated Tulla courthouse had a certain amount of money spent on it recently while the Killaloe courthouse has been vacant for a considerable period. I understand that local people intend to take an initiative in regard to the Killaloe courthouse. This is the type of initiative An Comhairle Oidhreachta could support with advice, finance and encouragement.
Michael Cusack, the founder of the GAA, was born in Carron, County Clare. Some years ago his house was renovated by the GAA at a very considerable cost. Despite excellent access, this house has been virtually closed for the past two years. This part of our national heritage should be preserved by way of a substantial State input and it is unfortunate that having restored the house it should now be a fairly heavy burden on the GAA in County Clare.
The county council has attempted to carry out preservation and restoration works at the Cliffs of Moher and to erect extra buildings. While the vast majority of people support and welcome work of this nature, the people who appear to get the most coverage are stridently opposed to elements of what is proposed. It will be interesting to see whether An Comhairle Oidhreachta can adjudicate on contentious matters. From my experience of such matters, I would not wish this job on my worst enemy. Nevertheless, there is an urgent need to have these matters addressed by an independent body. I referred to the national folk collection, part of which could be displayed at the Bunratty Folk Park. A group in Ennis put forward very specific proposals in this regard and will provide a premises in which the collection can be properly shown.
There was a reference to the excellent work carried out by local heritage bodies, archaeological and historical societies, etc. The Clare Heritage Centre in Corofin, my native village, has been very successful and made much information available to the descendants of people who emigrated to Australia during the Famine. This type of local effort demands substantial resources and it is very difficult to establish centres which will continue to fund themselves. Last week there was a reference to the statement by the Kerry County Enterprise Board that there is an over-proliferation of such centres. As Deputy Deasy said, local connection with people in other parts of the world must be preserved and developed. An Comhairle Oidhreachta will have a difficult task if it takes on this job.
A fairly important stone object has disappeared from the graveyard in the grounds of the old church in Gleninagh. I also understand that a very important grave slab was damaged during the installation of a new headstone at the old church in Kilnaboy. It is very difficult for a heritage council or other national body to ensure that relatively small stone objects are not removed from graveyards or that people do not damage artefacts. Nevertheless, it is important that they make a definite attempt to do so.
Deputy Brendan Smith referred to the substantial level of funding for natural and cultural tourism under the tourism operational programme. A sum of £25 million will be administered by the Minister's Department and I presume An Comhairle Oidhreachta will have a very specific role in determining the projects to be grant-aided under the programme. There is a proposal to construct a large folk music centre in County Clare. The people involved in this project have spoken to me and have been in contact with the Department. Music is a very important part of our heritage and must be preserved, encouraged and made available to the public and visitors. I would like to see this type of centre developed in an area with a very strong folk music tradition. Nobody would take on County Clare in this regard with any great hope of success.
I am also interested in the EU heritage conservation programme under which specific projects are funded each year. To the best of my knowledge the performing arts were covered under this programme in 1994 while the 1995 programme will support the restoration of religious objects in churches etc. I am interested in hearing if the council will disburse funding for such projects under the cultural action of DG10.
Our national games are also part of our heritage. The GAA has successfully developed these games which have proven to be very lucrative. This area comes under threat from time to time and it may require specific support in certain areas. I referred earlier to the Irish language which to some extent has its own national body. Many people work on a voluntary basis to support the development of the language and I would like them to be given more support than they have been given up to now.
Fáiltím go láidir roimh an mBille. Ceapaim go bhfuil ionadh ar a lán Teachtaí, agus b'fhéidir ar an Aire féin, go bhfuilim á mholadh faoi rudaí áirithe. I ndáiríre, is beag an chúis eachrainn a bhíonn eadrainn de ghnáth agus tréaslaím leis as an méid oibre atá déanta aige féin agus ag a Roinn sa ghnó atá idir láimhe acu. Táim ag súil le Bille eile uaidh ar chúrsaí leabharanna, nár luaigh mé in aon chor, agus ar chúrsaí fhioslanna, a luaigh mé. Táim cinnte go n-éireoidh leis córas dlí iomlán, láidir a bhunú faoin Roinn Ealaíon, Cultúir agus Gaeltachta.
