Vol. 513 No. 3
98 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the number of prosecutions which have been referred by her Department to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions with reference to damage to monuments in the Record of Monuments and Places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2352/00]
At present there are seven cases where the pursuit of prosecution is under consideration by Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department. This does not include other cases where the gardaí may have investigated matters and referred files separately to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The National Monuments Acts provide for the maximum penalty of a fine of £50,000 and-or five years imprisonment on conviction for breaches of this legislation.
In many cases where interference to recorded monuments is reported, departmental staff endeavour to intervene early to prevent or minimise damage, often with Gardá assistance, by availing of the additional legal provisions of the Acts including the placing of Preservation Orders or Registration. My Department may also negotiate satisfactory agreements with property owners, seek to acquire monuments and sites, or seek injunctive relief through the courts.
