Vol. 479 No. 2
15 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the steps, if any, he has taken or proposes to take to give proper protection in law to the threatened house, gate lodge and farm yard complex at Whitehall, Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24, which is known as the John Philpot Curran and Katharine Tynan house. [12580/97]
128 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the plans, if any, he has to schedule Whitehall, the home of Tallaght poet Katherine Tynan, as a registered historic monument under the 1987 Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12946/97]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 15 agus Uimh. 128 le chéile.
Representations have been made to my Department by concerned agencies about protection for these buildings and I have asked the heritage service of my Department to examine the question of affording these buildings protection under the National Monuments Acts.
In view of the immense historic importance of these buildings, will the Minister confirm that the provisions of the National Monuments Acts will be utilised to provide emergency legal protection to the threatened house and farmyard complex? Will he also confirm that this complex will be scheduled as a registered historic monument bearing in mind its immense historic importance and its association with John Philpot Curran, the father of Sarah Curran, a famous orator, a champion of liberty and defender of the United Irishmen? Next year we celebrate the bicentenary of 1798 and the United Irishmen and it would be a shame and a disgrace on all of us, who have inherited the principles of the United Irishmen, if this building was lost because proper legal steps were not taken to protect and preserve it.
I confirm that the question of the Whitehall complex being offered protection under the National Monuments Acts is being examined by the heritage service of my Department, which is appropriate. The complex of buildings is owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union. The architectural division of the National Monuments and Historic Properties Service assessed the buildings in 1995 and noted a number of features, apart from the historical references mentioned by the Deputy, including the plasterwork and so on. An application was made to demolish the Whitehall complex but it was refused by Dublin South County Council on 13 June 1995. I have asked the heritage services to prepare a report on the complex with a view to offering it protection under the National Monuments Act.
Will the complex be scheduled as a registered historic monument? Will that be the outcome of the survey?
The heritage services are examining the complex with a view to affording it protection under the National Monuments Act and that examination is not yet completed. It is appropriate I tell the Deputy everything I know. On registration of a structure as an historic monument the owner is required to give two months' notice of intention to carry out work, and that is a significant protection. It allows the National Monuments and Historic Properties Service time, if necessary, to have the work recorded, to negotiate with the owners on the works, to preserve what is of importance and to address the integrity of the building and important procedures. A preservation order is made on work or material of exceptional merit. I expect the report from the heritage services on the protection appropriate under the Act will address these issues. I will have no difficulty in communicating with the Deputy to update her on the matter.
Given that a Bill dealing with this matter was voted down by the Minister and other members of Government, has he a guilty conscience on leaving office without putting in place law to give proper protection to buildings of historic, architectural and artistic merit? A clear understanding was given that the Government would put in place alternative legislation, but because that was not done buildings of this nature are threatened. Does the Minister have an apology to make to the House and the people for failure to put in place proper legislation to protect buildings of this nature?
The answer to the Deputy's question is no. Last week I published new architectural policy. I had much sympathy with the legislation proposed by the Deputy. A great deal of work is necessary on legislation to protect the heritage and that work is at an advanced stage in the Department. Deputies contributed to the debate on the Heritage Act and as a result of that legislation and the national monuments legislation we have a stronger heritage package. Much more could have been done if the resources were available. I am very happy that in the past four years there has been a quantum leap of interest in this area. I hope my colleague or I will be able to continue this work and I look forward to a very busy legislative autumn. If I am in this position I promise plenty of legislation for 1997.
On whether I should affect guilt and beat my breast, the answer is no. People who stood in this place before me may feel like doing so, but guilt is an emotion I do not recommend generally.
