Cecilia Keaveney
Question:141 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the current position regarding the establishment of a national authority in respect of listed buildings. [20235/96]
Written Answers. - Listed Buildings Authority.
The Deputy will no doubt be aware of the report of the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Strengthening the Protection of the Architectural Heritage.
The report acknowledges the existing listing system as part of the planning process, and recommends that this be built upon by addressing legislative and administrative weaknesses which exist at present. It proposes that "listing" remain a responsibility of planning authorities but that it become a mandatory statutory function and that it be supported by the establishment of a central authority with advisory and co-ordinating functions. It is recommended that the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht nominate such a central authority with responsibility,inter alia, for carrying out a National Inventory of Architecture, for establishing and publishing national criteria and guidelines for listing and for making recommendations to planning authorities regarding buildings which should be included in the list for preservation.
The principal options in the nomination of the central authority outlined in the report are for the establishment of this function as part of the Heritage Service of my Department, or for its establishment under the aegis of the Heritage Council, with the principal objective being to ensure that a coherent, consistent and co-ordinated system is achieved.
Work is proceeding to address all the issues identified in the report, and the Minister for the Environment and I will be bringing forward to Government a package of specific financial, administrative, and legislative proposals based on the recommendations in the report and taking account of any observations received on those recommendations.