I would like to hear the Minister’s opinion on the traditional art of stone wall building. I also ask him to contact his colleagues, for example, Minister Humphreys, to see how we could incorporate stone wall building into potential artwork along the sides of roads. A heavy emphasis has been placed on modern art thus far in that regard. Beautiful pieces of art have resulted and they have all been worthwhile. However, we must look as well at the traditional art of stone wall building. Places such as Arraheera in Fanad, County Donegal, as well as locations in the Leas-Cheann Comhairle’s constituency i nGaillimh, have many areas that we could look to for examples of this traditional form of stone wall building being brought back to life through schemes. We are not talking about an extra budget, but about looking at this traditional art in a more creative way through existing schemes.

Following up on what I said earlier about young people getting involved in farming, the same applies to some of our heritage skills. A generation of people, many of whom I know, have these skills and an incredible variety of abilities and knowledge concerning a range of methods of stone wall building. We risk losing those skills and abilities if we do not value and protect our heritage and pass on those skills to a new generation. My colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Malcolm Noonan, is doing a great deal of work in the area of heritage. He is providing additional funding, but also looking at the entirety of our policies.

I agree with the Deputy. The special character of many of our areas and their characteristic landscape, including our walls, is critical and central. It brings real benefits and is something we have to keep and transfer on to a new generation of people to have those skills.