Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
447. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the protection that exists in law for our old railway buildings and associated infrastructure and features; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3513/14]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000-2012, each planning authority is required, for the purpose of protecting structures or parts of structures which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, to maintain a Record of Protected Structures. This record should include every structure which is, in the opinion of the planning authority, of such interest within its functional area including railway structures.
The Act also enables me to make recommendations to a planning authority concerning the inclusion of specific structures in its Record of Protected Structures. These recommendations are based on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) surveys conducted by my Department. The aim of NIAH surveys is generally to include structures which are of international, national and regional importance. Thus far, over 1,200 structures that are of interest due to their connection with the railways have been recommended to local authorities for inclusion in their Record of Protected Structures. These structures include railway stations (those currently in use and former stations), goods sheds, engine sheds, bridges, footbridges, water-towers, railway workers’ houses, stationmaster houses, crossing guards houses, railway machinery of historic interest, steam-engine turntables, railway hotels, mile-posts, signal boxes, warehouses, viaducts, workshops and other structures as necessary.
While planning authorities must have regard to my recommendations, the making of an addition to, or deletion from, a Record of Protected Structures, is a reserved function of the planning authorities.
