Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 19 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 1

Other Questions. - Architectural Heritage.

John Gormley

Question:

6 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 30 September 1998, he will confirm that his Department has no information available to it on the distribution of listed buildings in the country which constitutes a constraint relative to his proposals, confirmed in Parliamentary Question No. 269 of 13 October 1998, to expend £3.9 million on the conservation of these buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22486/98]

John Gormley

Question:

73 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to compile a schedule of listed buildings, artefacts and ruins, items of street furniture and outstanding trees. [22485/98]

Mr. Dempsey

I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 73 together.

My Department has no information on the distribution of listed buildings throughout the country. Recently we requested each local authority to supply brief information about the objectives in their development plans for the preservation of buildings or structures of artistic, architectural or historical interest, and the number of buildings or structures listed in connection with such objectives. This information will be available to the group drawing up the terms and conditions of the proposed scheme of grants for the conservation of protected buildings.

Earlier in the year, the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and I announced a comprehensive set of proposals to strengthen the protection of our architectural heritage. These proposals include a new National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Bill which will provide for the preparation of a national inventory of architectural heritage by Dúchas, the heritage service, to identify buildings throughout the State which are worthy of protection.

Mr. Gormley

Will there be a clear, transparent and rational basis for the distribution of the £3.9 million? Will the Minister furnish a copy of the procedure for the distribution of these funds? What plans has he to integrate the disbursal of these funds with the operation of section 19 of the 1982 Finance Act, which impacts directly on the same matter?

Mr. Dempsey

There are two items of legislation involved here — a planning Bill which comes under the auspices of my Department and a National Inventory of Architectural Heritage Bill under the auspices of the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. An additional £5 million is being provided for the combination of grant schemes — £4 million will go towards the scheme of grants being put in place, £300,000 will go directly to local authorities to enable them employ people to do this work and £800,000 to the Department for the preparation of the inventory and other associated tasks. The terms and conditions of the scheme which will be transparent are being drawn up. This group will take into account the provisions of the 1982 Finance Act. It is hoped the scheme which is being worked on by a group representative of my Department, the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands, the Heritage Council and the City and County Managers Association will be announced before the end of the year.

Ms Clune

How many local authorities participate in keeping a list of listed buildings in their areas?

Mr. Dempsey

I do not have that information. From my experience on local authorities I understand each local authority in its development plan has a list of buildings which it terms as listed buildings. Many local authorities take particular care when there are planning applications in relation to those buildings. If that information is available in the Department I will supply it to the Deputy.