Vol. 477 No. 2
7 Miss de Valera asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the progress, if any, which has been made since the commitment was given more than two years ago in the Programme for Government entitled, Government of Renewal, on the establishment of a National Inventory of Architecture. [9043/97]
The following commitment was given in the policy agreement, A Government of Renewal: " We will undertake a full national architectural audit".
The national inventory of architecture was commenced in 1991. Initial surveys of the centres of 25 of the cities and towns have been completed. During this time also, a primary set of draft guidelines and criteria for the inventory has evolved to complement the survey work. Computer text database and computer mapping database systems have been developed to store and manage the recorded data.
The immediate priorities in relation to the national inventory of architecture are to establish and publish criteria and standards, to publish survey work already carried out, and to continue the work on the full inventory. As identification of buildings for protection is an essential prerequisite to the taking of action to protect the architectural heritage, the commitment to the completion of the national inventory of architecture is being addressed as part of a broad package of proposals based on the recommendations in the report of the interdepartmental working group on strengthening the protection of the architectural heritage. Specifically, the report recommended placing the national inventory of architecture on a statutory basis, constituting a national database for input to the local authority system of listing buildings for protection and that the inventory should be adequately staffed and resourced to allow for interim listing surveys of all Twenty-six Counties and accelerated progress on the full inventory.
The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht and the Minister for the Environment will bring forward a detailed package of proposals on these lines to Government very shortly.
Will the Minister of State elaborate on what he means by the Minister bringing the matter to Cabinet shortly? This matter requires urgent attention. I am sure Members on all sides accept the need for immediate conservation and preservation of historical buildings. Deputy Eoin Ryan has introduced a Bill on the preservation of buildings and their interiors. I am particularly concerned about the personnel and funding provided to catalogue and prioritise buildings and gather information for the national inventory of architecture. When will the inventory be complete?
It is important to recognise the amount of work involved in carrying out an inventory of such buildings. There are approximately one million structures to be recorded which will require a long-term project. We aim to have the project completed by 2010. A period of ten to 15 years has been set aside to compile information on approximately 400,000 buildings in the North. We are progressing at a somewhat faster pace than our counterparts there. This is a huge task and I wish those undertaking it every success.
I appreciate the mammoth task facing those compiling the inventory. As many buildings are under immediate threat, has the Government devised a short or medium-term strategy to deal with this matter? By 2010 many buildings that should be listed may not exist. Will the Minister of State outline the Government's intentions in that regard? How will the law be enforced?
There are many impediments to such undertakings. We do not have enough people with the skill to undertake much of the work involved, but the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, in conjunction with the Department of the Environment, hope to produce an interim list of listed buildings in the Twenty-six Counties by the year 2001 from which buildings needing urgent attention can be prioritised. The problem is we have so many buildings and artefacts that it has taken some time to put it in place. The Deputy should be satisfied that the interim survey of the Twenty-six Counties will be completed by 2001. That will be a great achievement.
I am particularly worried to hear from the Minister of State that the Government's interim or short-term strategy will not come into play for another four years. I am concerned that buildings and artefacts could be lost to the nation due to the lack of action over the next four years. Take, for example, the serious situation last night in the transport museum in Dublin in which there was a tremendous amount of voluntary work and commitment where a fire destroyed a number of old vehicles, which were valuable in terms of our heritage. I am worried that other important buildings, which are already in danger, will not be dealt with for another four years.
Will the Minister of State encourage his Minister and the Government to take a more active role in preserving our architectural heritage? It is one thing to talk nicely in the Dáil and express platitudes with which we can all agree, but it is quite another thing to prioritise issues within Government. This issue should be prioritised urgently.
Following publication of the interdepartmental working group's report on strengthening the protection of the architectural heritage, an implementation committee was formed comprising officials from the Department of the Environment and the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. It is looking at the question of implementing recommendations contained in that report as well as examining further submissions received following the report's publication. Action is being taken at present.
When the proposal being put to Government jointly by the Minister for the Environment and the Minister of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht is received, there will be immediate action by the Government.
