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Architectural Heritage

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2018

Thursday, 15 November 2018

Questions (234)

Michael Lowry

Question:

234. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of planning and development matters in County Tipperary between 2014 and 2017 in which her Department was consulted regarding the potential impact of proposed development on the archaeological heritage; the recommended conditions in these cases; the number of planning permissions recommended for refusal in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47564/18]

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Written answers

Under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, planning authorities refer development proposals that may impact on our archaeological heritage to my Department so that recommendations can be made, as appropriate, to avoid or mitigate any such impacts.

The Regulations provide for the referral of such applications in relation to:

- a cave, site, feature or other object of archaeological, geological, scientific, ecological or historical interest,

- a monument or place recorded under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994 (No. 17 of 1994),

- a historic monument or archaeological area entered in the Register of Historic Monuments under Section 5 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987 (No. 17 of 1987),

- a national monument in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2004.

The foregoing represent of the order of 140,000 archaeological sites and monuments nationally.

Between 2014 and 2017, there were 703 such referrals to my Department in relation to planning and development matters in Co Tipperary. In response, the Department recommended the inclusion of conditions relating to archaeological protection in 144 cases. The Department advised that it could not support the granting of permission in 5 cases and appealed 2 grants of permission to An Bord Pleanála.

In responding to planning referrals, archaeological recommendations are made in line with national policy on the protection of the archaeological heritage as appropriate to the circumstances in each case. My Department's practice in all cases is to seek the inclusion of suitable conditions or design changes rather than recommending refusal which would only be considered as a last resort. This is evidenced by the small number of cases where the Department has indicated that it is not in position to support a grant of permission or has found it necessary to appeal against a planning approval.

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