Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:443 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he will outline the heritage function of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16895/03]
Written Answers. - Departmental Responsibilities.
Following the approval by the Government of a report on the organisational arrangements in relation to the built and natural heritage, my Department will retain responsibility for both policy and operational matters relating to our natural heritage. My Department will also retain responsibility for built heritage policy while the operational and management functions in relation to the built heritage will transfer to the Office of Public Works. Consistently with this, my Department has been retitled as the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with effect from 10 June 2003. These changes are intended by Government to optimise the use of its organisational resources. They build on my Department's strengths in regulation and policy development, particularly in the environmental area, and on the Office of Public Works's strong tradition in building conservation and property management.
My Department has embraced fully its new responsibilities in relation to heritage and has already set out its key objective and strategies for delivering on these new responsibilities in its recently published revised statement of strategy 2003-2005, which is available in the Oireachtas Library.