Written Answers - Heritage Conservation.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
168
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
the buildings, land, including bog lands, in north Kildare which she considers worthy of protection or preservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25147/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
171
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
if she has identified the number of castles and race houses in north Kildare deemed worthy of refurbishment or restoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25153/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
172
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands
the number and location of historic buildings, houses or ruins in north Kildare which are either listed or worthy of preservation or restoration; the plans, if any, she has in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[25154/98]
Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 168, Uimh. 171 agus Uimh 172 le chéile.
Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, is primarily concerned with buildings of the pre-1700 AD period and the resources available are mainly directed towards national monuments and historic properties in State care. There are a total of 17 national monuments and historic properties in County Kildare in State care at present, as detailed in Table 1. There are no current plans to acquire any further such properties in County Kildare.
Regarding recorded monuments and places, while fully complete statistics are not available for the total number of historic buildings, houses or ruins including castles and great houses not in State care, the Record of Monuments and Places identifies the vast majority of these properties and affords legal protection to all the Monuments and Sites listed.
Such a record has been established for over 1,600 sites in County Kildare and is available for inspection at various venues locally including the Kildare County Council Offices, Kildare County Library, farm development offices and Teagasc offices in the county. The more detailed inventory stage of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland is currently in progress in respect of County Kildare and, on completion, will considerably add to the
Regarding architectural heritage, a national inventory of architectural heritage is being undertaken by Dúchas. There are a projected one mi ion structures to be recorded making it a long-term project which is aimed for completion by 2010. Surveying has not yet commenced in Country Kildare.
The Government has agreed to the establishment of a new grant-aid scheme for approved conservation works to listed buildings which will commence in 1999. This scheme includes measures for the protection of the architectural heritage, including the new grants scheme for listed buildings, agreed by Government and announced by the Minister for Environment and Local Government and myself in May 1998. The new grants scheme will be administered by the local authorities. It will have funding of approximately £4 million per annum and will be opera in accordance with national criteria and standards to be drawn up by an advisory group comprising representatives of the two Departments and the Heritage Council. Draft Bills to provide for further protective measures and to establish the inventory on a statutory basis are being prepared.
Regarding natural heritage sites, the following sites in County Kildare have been proposed for designation as Natural Heritage Areas, NHAs: Ballina Bog, Ballynafagh Lake, Barrow Valley at Tankardstown Bridge, Carbury Bog, Corballis Hill, Curragh (Kildare), Derryvullagh Island, Donadea Wood, Dunlavin Marshes, Grand Canal, Hodgestown Bog, Kilteel Wood, Liffey at Osberstown, Liffey Valley Meander Belt, Mouds Bog, Oakpark, Poulaphouca Reservoir, Red Bog (Kildare) and the Royal Canal.
The following sites were proposed for NHA designation and were also proposed as candidate special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive: Ballynafagh Bog, Pollardstown Fen and Rye Water Valley/Carton. I have arranged to send a map indicating the location of these sites to the Deputy.
Table 1: National Monuments and Historic Properties in State care in County Kildare
County
|
Monument (pre 1700)
|
Townland
|
Kildare
|
Castledermot Abbey (Fran)
|
Abbeyland
|
Kildare
|
Round Tower, Crosses
|
Castledermot
|
Kildare
|
Furness Church
|
Forenaghts Great
|
Kildare
|
Grange Castle
|
Grange West
|
Kildare
|
Memorial House
|
Jigginstown
|
Kildare
|
Castle, Church, Cross
|
Kilteel Upper
|
Kildare
|
Castle
|
Maynooth
|
Kildare
|
Ringfort
|
Mullaghreelan (Athy Forest)
|
Kildare
|
High Crosses, Round Tower
|
Old Kilcullen
|
Kildare
|
Round Tower, Church
|
Oughterard
|
Kildare
|
Standing Stone
|
Punchestown
|
Kildare
|
Castle
|
Rathcooffey Demesne
|
Kildare
|
St. John's Tower
|
Skenagun
|
Kildare
|
Church and Graveyard (Monastic site)
|
Taghadoe
|
Kildare
|
Round Tower
|
Taghadoe
|
|
Historic Properties
|
|
Kildare
|
Palladian House
|
Castletown
|
Kildare
|
Obelisk (Conolly's Folly)
|
Castletown
|