How to Access v$ views from inside PL/SQL?

Question

I cannot grant select on these v$'s for users. Could someone recommned a solution for something like:
function conn_cnt(v_name in varchar2, v_stat varchar2) return number
is
p_val number := 0;
begin
EXECUTE IMMEDIATE
'SELECT COUNT(*) FROM V$SESSION WHERE ' ||
'USERNAME = :1 AND STATUS <> :2 ' ||
'AND SID NOT IN (SELECT SID FROM V$MYSTAT WHERE ROWNUM < 2)'
INTO p_val USING v_name, v_stat;
return p_val;
exception
when others then
raise_application_error(-20011, sqlerrm);
end;
Thanks.

Answer 1

Thanks John,
but:
SQL> conn sys as sysdba
Enter password:
Connected.
SQL> grant select on v$session to <id>;
grant select on v$session to <id>
ERROR at line 1:
ORA-02030: can only select from fixed tables/views
- Zack