Vol. 481 No. 1
207 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the nature and location of all sites of artistic, heritage and historical interest currently under her Department's responsibility to which she intends to give full legal protection; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15727/97]
209 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the action, if any, she has taken to give full legal protection to sites of artistic, heritage and historical interest as outlined in An Action Programme for the Millennium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15730/97]
: Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 207 agus Uimh. 209 le chéile.
My Department will be engaging in a review of the existing legislative provisions for the protection of the physical heritage and I will in due course be bringing forward appropriate proposals for the strengthening of the current legislative framework in order to remedy identified weaknesses. The nature and location of sites requiring protection will be considered as part of the review.
Specifically in relation to the natural heritage, my Department is currently preparing both a Wildlife (Amendment) Bill and a National Parks and Historic Properties Bill and it is intended to publish them in the first half of 1998. The enactment of these important Bills will greatly strengthen the protection of all aspects of our natural heritage.
With regard to the architectural heritage, I and my colleague, Deputy Dempsey, Minister for the Environment and Local Government, will be bringing forward a package of legislative, administrative and financial proposals to strengthen the protection of this aspect of our heritage.
In addition, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government is also engaged in a review of existing planning legislation, which also has implications for strengthening the legal protection of the physical heritage.
