Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 April 2015
11. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the role her Department plays in the ongoing maintenance and preservation of monuments across County Donegal; the way her Department monitors ongoing decay of monuments; the way it decides a monument needs preservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16738/15]
View answerThis question asks what role the Department plays in protecting and preserving national monuments across the country. What practical steps does the Minister take to ensure the preservation of national monuments?
My Department’s role in regard to the safeguarding and conservation of archaeological monuments is set out in the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004. The Acts provide for the protection of national and other monuments in a number of ways.
Where I am of the opinion, as Minister, that the preservation of a monument is of national importance and I am further of the opinion that the monument is in danger, I may make a preservation order in regard to the monument under section 8 of the National Monuments Act 1930, as amended. Where a preservation order is in force, no interference with or alteration of the national monument in question is permitted without my express written consent. My Department’s records show that nine preservation orders have been made in regard to national monuments in County Donegal. Where a national monument is in my ownership or guardianship, similar protections apply as in the case of a preservation order. There are currently 17 national monuments in County Donegal of which I am owner or guardian.
Section 5 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 provides for the establishment of the Register of Historic Monuments, RHM. There are currently 35 registered historic monuments in County Donegal. Section 12 of the National Monuments Act 1994 Act provides for the establishment of a record of monuments and places, RMP, in respect of each county in the State. The RMP for County Donegal contains 2,166 entries. Any person proposing to carry out or to authorise the carrying out of work at or in regard to a monument included in the RMP or RHM is obliged to give two months written notice to the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. In addition, RMP and RHM data is used by my Department to advise planning authorities and An Bord Pleanála of any potential archaeological implications from individual developments and the steps which should be taken to avoid or mitigate such impacts.
My Department’s national monuments service maintains and updates the national database of archaeological monuments. It also investigates reports from members of the public of breaches of the Acts and refers these to the Garda, where appropriate. In addition, it liaises with planning authorities and other relevant bodies regarding the impact of development on monuments and advises me, as Minister, on the exercise of my statutory powers to protect such monuments. National monuments in my ownership or guardianship are maintained by the Office of Public Works and my Department works closely with that office in that regard.
With regard to access to monuments, what is the role of the Department in cases where somebody interferes with or restricts access to monuments that were previously open to the public?
I do not have details on the access to monuments to hand, but I will find out the details for the Deputy. I understand county councils have a role to play in this and that the main responsibility is to protect the monument. The OPW has a role in managing sites and carrying out works and it is focused on ensuring that the physical fabric of sites in State care are conserved in situ. Therefore, where there is evidence of structural instability or a direct threat of damage or collapse to a national monument, it must, under the terms of its statutory remit, act to rectify the position.
