Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
219. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if she will consider amending section 51 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 in order that battle sites that do not necessarily include a built or ruined structure are afforded protected status; and if all planned works at such sites will be subject to rigorous archaeological scrutiny. [17167/17]
View answerA comprehensive review of Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), which includes Section 51, was carried out in 2014 by my Department and assisted by an expert advisory committee. Extending the scope of the Record of Protected Structures as proposed was not one of the recommendations sought and it is not proposed at this stage to carry out a further review of the Act. However, work is in progress on the drafting of a new consolidated and updated national monuments legislative code.
