Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 November 2016
486. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent to which her Department is engaged in restoration of major historical or cultural sites throughout the country at present; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37730/16]
View answerMy Department has a number of measures at its disposal to facilitate the restoration of major historical or cultural sites. As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the National Monuments Acts of approximately 1,000 national monuments located at approximately 750 sites and, in such cases, there is a statutory duty to maintain the national monument. Such maintenance is undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Local authorities are responsible under the National Monuments Acts for maintaining national monuments of which they are owners or guardians. A wide range of other monuments (in the order of 130,000) are currently subject to protection under other provisions of the National Monuments Acts but my Department and the OPW do not have a direct role in their maintenance except where, as already noted, a monument is a national monument of which I, as Minister, am owner or guardian.
My Department is providing €350,000 of funding to the OPW in 2016 to assist in the conservation and presentation of historic buildings and national monuments in State ownership. My Department’s National Monuments Service works in close collaboration with the OPW on survey, excavation and research work to optimise the protection, management, interpretation and presentation of national monuments in State care. While my Department is responsible for legislation, policy and management of the archaeological heritage, works on the conservation and restoration of individual monuments in State care is undertaken by the OPW.
