Written Answers. - National Monuments.
Michael D. Higgins
Question:
214
Mr. M. Higgins
asked the
Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands
the local authorities which have received ministerial recommendations to include structures identified in the national inventory of architectural heritage in their respective record of protected structures under Section 4 of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1999; the local authorities which have adopted her recommendations; the local authorities which have refused to adopt her recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
[32343/01]
The protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for the planning authorities. My role is to provide advice to planning authorities in the exercise of their functions. This is reinforced in the recently enacted Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1999.
Under the provisions of the Act, each planning authority shall, for the purpose of protecting structures, or parts of structures, which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, include in its development plan a record of protected structures within its functional area. This legislation places a duty of care on the owners of protected structures and also gives planning authorities enhanced powers, not only to deal with development proposals affecting them, but also to safeguard their future. This is the proper framework for the protection of our architectural heritage.
Under section 4 of the Act, I may recommend to a planning authority that specific structures be included in its record of protected structures. A planning authority must have regard, under the Act, to any recommendation made by me. However, a decision may be made not to comply with a recommendation, provided that an expla nation is made outlining the reasons why inclusion in the record of protected structures is considered inappropriate.
Under the provisions of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999, a nationwide survey is currently being carried out by my Department to help identify structures and buildings which are of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
As surveys are published I will be recommending to planning authorities that structures rated as being of regional, national or international importance be included in the record of protected structures. To date, the interim county survey of Clare and the town surveys of Ballina, Castlebar, Carrick-on-Shannon, Ennis, Clonmel, Galway, Kilkenny, Letterkenny, Longford, Portlaoise, Tullamore, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Roscrea and Sligo have been published. I have, accordingly, recommended that 2,155 buildings in total be included in the record of protected structures of the relevant planning authority.
The decision to include buildings in the record of protected structures rests with the elected representatives in each planning authority. If they do not propose accepting my recommendation in any individual case they are required to advise me of the reasons for their decision.
In respect of Castlebar UDC, Leitrim County Council, Ennis UDC, Tipperary NR County Council, Galway Corporation, Kilkenny Corporation, Letterkenny UDC, Longford UDC, Laois County Council, Tullamore UDC, Wicklow UDC, Cavan UDC, Monaghan UDC, Roscommon County Council, Clonmel Corporation and Sligo Corporation I understand that the statutory process to include my recommendations in the record of protected structures has been initiated but not yet finalised.
To date, I have been notified of refusals by Ballina UDC, in respect of three structures, Sligo Corporation in respect of two structures and Laois County Council, Portlaoise, in respect of one structure.
