Vol. 555 No. 5
369 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to acquire for the State, houses or property of interest from a heritage, cultural or historical view; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19354/02]
The State has a sizeable portfolio of more than 740 national monuments and historic properties which are in the care of Dúchas, the Heritage Service of my Department. The resources required to conserve and manage such properties are considerable and funding for the built heritage under the national development plan is mainly directed at conserving such properties. In view of this there are no plans to undertake an acquisition programme save in exceptional circumstances. The use of Planning and Development Acts, in combination with the completion of surveys such as the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, are the main instruments for assisting in the protection of the architectural heritage in private ownership.
