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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 30 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 3

Written Answers. - Architectural Heritage.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

209 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the action she has caused to be made in the matter of section 2(1) of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999; and if she would detail her actions under section 2 subsections (2)(a), (2)(b), 2(c) and (2)(d) of the Act. [16129/01]

Under the provisions of section 2(1) of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999, I have established the national inventory of architectural heritage. In addition, under the provisions of Section 2(2) of the above Act I have determined the form and content of the inventory and designated, for the purposes of the inventory, categories of architectural heritage. I have also approved the mechanism for the entry of individual structures in the inventory and the arrangements for the amendment or deletion of entries in the inventory. I will forward details of these determinations to the Deputy.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

210 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the persons who were appointed by her in writing for the purposes of exercising all of the functions detailed in section 3(4) of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999; and the premises which were entered for purposes described in the Act. [16130/01]

In November 1999 I delegated authority to appoint authorised officers to an official in my Department. Authorised officers have been appointed on 13 occasions since then to facilitate the carrying out of the ongoing programme of national inventory of architectural heritage surveys. Such authorised officers were empowered to enter any premises within the area covered by a survey for the purpose of carrying out their duties. As surveys cover thousands of buildings it is not possible to differentiate between those where entry was necessary from those which could be covered by an external evaluation. Authorised officers have, to date, relied and received co-operation of owners in assessing structures.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

211 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands whether and the circumstances under which an authorised officer within the meaning of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999, entered private dwellings in relation to circumstances described at section 3(5) of the Act; if such authorised officers had recourse to section 3(6), 3(7) and 3(8) of the Act; and the results of any proceedings in that case or those cases. [16131/01]

I can confirm that from time to time it has been necessary, for the purposes of carrying out national inventory of architectural heritage surveys, for authorised officers to enter private dwellings. This is done with the co-operation of the owner on presentation of an authorisation from the officer concerned. I am advised that it has not been necessary to date, for an authorised officer to have recourse to the powers conferred by sections 3(6), 3(7) or 3(8) of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999.

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