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Architectural Heritage

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 July 2020

Wednesday, 22 July 2020

Questions (120, 121, 122, 123)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

120. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which she plans to identify and address and-or restore heritage houses, castles or sites nationally over the next five years thereby maximising their potential in the promotion of Irish culture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17683/20]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

121. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which she has carried out an inventory of at-risk ancient and heritage sites, buildings or locations nationally with a view to initiating a programme for their improvement, restoration and safekeeping; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17684/20]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number and location of heritage sites and houses throughout County Kildare in public ownership; the extent to which an ongoing programme exists to ensure their retention and safety in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17685/20]

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Bernard Durkan

Question:

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number and location of sites, buildings or ruins of a historical or heritage nature throughout County Kildare which are not part of a protection or restoration programme; her plans to address same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17686/20]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 to 123, inclusive, together.

My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.

As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the National Monuments Acts of approximately 1,000 national monuments located at approximately 750 sites. The Acts allow me to make a preservation order where I consider a national monument to be at risk. Responsibility for management and maintenance of historical buildings and sites in State ownership, and management of the visitor facilities, rests with the Office of Public Works (OPW) which also maintains a significant ongoing programme of conservation works.

Local authorities are responsible under the Acts for maintaining the national monuments of which they are owners or guardians. Any works to national monument, either managed by the OPW or those in the care of a local authority, require my consent under Section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 as amended.

Under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, my Department has established and maintains the Record of Monuments and Places, which affords legal protection to over 120,000 other recorded archaeological sites and monuments in the State. Anyone proposing works in relation to a monument that is included in the Record of Monuments and Places must give my Department two months prior notice before works can start. The Department’s National Monuments Service also continuously updates an inventory of archaeological monuments in the State to ensure protection of all newly-discovered archaeological sites. Furthermore, investigations are carried out where the Department receives a report of a threat or damage to a monument. The maintenance of privately owned sites listed on the Record of Monuments and Places is the responsibility of the relevant owner.

The Record of Monuments and Places, including details of entries for County Kildare, may be found on my Department’s National Monuments Service website – www.archaeology.ie. Further details of sites managed by the Office of Public Works may be found on its Heritage Ireland website - www.heritageireland.ie. This year, my Department has allocated €350,000 to the OPW for the maintenance of historic buildings and sites. The maintenance of sites listed on the Record of Monuments and Places is the responsibility of the relevant owner.

Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility however, to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including particular structures on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.

As Minister, I can make recommendations to local authorities for buildings and structures to be included on the RPS. These recommendations arise from the surveys of my Department's National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH).

My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). This year 450 heritage projects across every county in the country will benefit from a combined sum of over €4.3m under these schemes.

Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 119.
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