Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
398. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to the proposal by the Tipperary county councils to obtain UNESCO world heritage site status for the Rock of Cashel; if his Department will provide support for the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26464/21]
View answer399. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the structures in place for developing UNESCO heritage status applications for historic sites in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26465/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together.
My Department's National Monuments Service co-ordinates and oversees Ireland's role and responsibilities under the World Heritage Convention, including the submission of any nominations for World Heritage status to UNESCO's World Heritage Committee.
My Department is currently engaged in a review of Ireland's Tentative List of World Heritage properties. In order for a property to proceed to nomination for World Heritage status, it must first be placed on the Tentative List for at least one year. As part of the review, appropriate bodies, such as local authorities, have been asked to apply to my Department with respect to properties within their areas of responsibility that they believe are suitable for inclusion on a revised and updated Tentative List. My Department has been liaising closely with interested parties and has been providing advice and support as they prepare their applications.
Amongst others, my Department anticipates receiving an application for the Royal Sites of Ireland, of which the Rock of Cashel is a constituent component. The closing date for applications to the Tentative List is 30 June 2021 and, once that deadline has passed, applications will be independently assessed by an Expert Advisory Group (EAG) appointed for this purpose. Following assessment by the EAG of each property's potential to demonstrate Outstanding Universal Value, and the presence of robust local stakeholder support for the project, it will formulate its recommendations to me as the Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage on the future composition of Ireland's Tentative List.
