Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act, 1994 provides for the establishment of a record of monuments and places (RMP). The RMP is being implemented on a county to county basis. The programme of implementation is well advanced and it is anticipated that nationwide coverage will be achieved in 1998. In giving effect to section 12 of the Act, comprehensive legal protection is for the first time being extended to all recorded monuments. Inclusion in the RMP imposes a requirement on any persons carrying out works, which have the potential to impinge on a monument site, to give my Department two months notice of their intentions.
The RMP for each county consists of a large set of annotated six inch Ordnance Survey constraint maps, together with an accompanying index. Some 150,000 monuments and places will eventually be recorded in his manner. Because of the sheer physical size of the RMP the Deputy will appreciate that it would be impracticable to provide the listing sought.
Copies of the RMP, as they become available, are publicly exhibited at various venues in each county, such as the local authority, Teagasc and Farm Development Service offices, and throughout the County Library Services.
The National Monuments and Historic Properties Service of my Department maintains a long established system of liaison with local authorities and other State and semi-State agencies concerned with planning and development issues. All local authorities have been advised of the implementation of the RMP and as each county record is brought into effect, further consultations are arranged on an individual basis.
