Heritage grants cuts a blow for tourism sector

CUTS to heritage grants will cause the tourism industry to suffer, according to the Heritage Council, with Clare projects expected not to receive any funding from the council next year.

The Budget saw the Heritage Council suffer a 47% cut in 2011, on top of a 30% cut in 2010. According to the council, it is now “very unlikely” that they will be able to offer any funding through its grants programme next year.
Some of the county’s heritage projects that received funding from the council last year include the Lough Derg Heritage Audit, which received €15,000; the Killilagh Church Doolin restoration project, which received €7,000; the Irish Basking Shark Study Group, which received €10,000 towards tagging the basking shark which is vulnerable to extinction; mapping of the Burren; an evaluation of the rate of erosion at heritage sites in Clare and an investigation of unique Celtic Iron Age and medieval maritime landscapes in the Fergus Estuary and islands.
According to the Heritage Council, the cuts will decimate the heritage sector and close many small enterprises that are dependent on it. Chief executive of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett, described the cuts as “disproportionate” in comparison with other departmental cuts.
“As a result, the future of heritage initiatives nationwide, which have created hundreds of jobs, empowered local communities and enhanced the value of heritage as a tourism resource, are severely threatened.
“In 2009, over three million overseas visitors engaged in cultural/historical visits while in Ireland, and spent an estimated €1.9 billion while here. In particular, 76% of tourists identified landscape and nature as the primary reason for visiting Ireland and heritage is what defines the uniqueness of a country. Funding will now no longer be available to protect and manage our iconic buildings, unique and threatened species, landscapes, cultural collections and rare artifacts or indeed to support local communities in taking care of their everyday heritage.”
He said the punitive cuts put at risk not just jobs but vulnerable aspects of a unique natural and cultural heritage that may be lost forever to the country.
“At this point, the day-to-day implications of the cuts are hard to fully estimate. What is clear from the Heritage Council’s standing is that we will no longer be in a position to provide support for local community groups, non-governmental organisations, charities, individuals, small businesses, local authorities and others. This will make it extremely difficult for the survival of the wider heritage profession of conservators, thatchers, ecologists, archaeologists, conservation architects, museum curators and other specialist work such as researchers and data collectors.
“We cannot talk about the importance of marketing our heritage and promoting tourism if we cut the funding to those who work tirelessly behind the scenes to care for our heritage.
“The reality is that these unique heritage skills may now be lost to the nation, along with the heritage assets and memory that these represent. We will all be poorer economically, environmentally and socially as a result,” added Mr Starrett.