The Environmental Pillar has written to the Taoiseach claiming that thousands of jobs are threatened by Government proposals to move the Heritage Council into the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht.
This would almost certainly have implications for Kilkenny where the Heritage Council is currently located.
The headquarters of the Heritage Council are located at the old Bishops Palace near St Canice’s Cathedral in the city.
Recent media reports have suggested the tourism jobs will be jeopardised if the role of the Heritage Council is diminished.
Minister Phil Hogan has given a commitment that the move will not go ahead as he said that the establishment of the Heritage Council in Kilkenny had been a huge success under the programme for decentralisation.
Michael Ewing, co-ordinator of the Environmental Pillar which represents several groups with interest in environment and heritage issues, says, “our recovering tourism sector depends heavily on our natural and built heritage.
“Tourists visit our wildlife habitats, landscapes, our architectural heritage, and our monuments. If we do not adequately protect these assets they will wither and decline, with a subsequent fall in tourist numbers.”
The Environmental Pillar, while realising the necessity of cost savings across government,points out that it is very concerned at proposals to incorporate the Heritage Council into the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht.
“It is imperative that the Government resists these proposals to reduce its independence, proposals which do not take account of the strategic importance of our national heritage.”
In a recent speech Jimmy Deenihan, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht, stated that Ireland’s built heritage supports over 30,000 jobs and contributes in excess of €1 billion to the economy. Similarly the farming, fishing and forestry industries that employ many thousands rely on the protection of the natural systems that provide their raw materials worth €2.6 billion annually to the economy.
“It is vital, especially in these straitened times, that we have a distinct and independent voice that will highlight the importance of heritage, and ensure a continued tourism recovery,” concluded Mr Ewing.
