Vol. 455 No. 5
35 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the steps, if any, he has taken for the protection of listed buildings; and if he proposes to provide grant-aid for maintenance of these buildings. [11588/95]
In February of this year, pursuant to commitments in the policy agreement for Government entitled A Government of Renewal, I and my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Howlin, established an interdepartmental working group made up of officials of my Department, the Department of the Environment and the Office of Public Works to examine and report back with recommendations on improving the protection for listed buildings, including placing the system of listed buildings on a statutory basis and introducing incentives for the proper upkeep and maintenance of such buildings, and undertaking a full national architectural audit. In consultation with the Minister for the Environment, I will give careful consideration to this report, which I expect to have by the end of this year and to the introduction of any necessary new policy initiatives in this area.
