Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2023
859. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the plans, if any, he has in relation to safeguarding and preserving the built heritage of Aldborough House on Portland Row; and his views on the campaign by the Dublin Civic Trust, the Irish Georgian Society, and An Taisce to have the building saved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37707/23]
View answerPart IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage in their area by including structures of special interest on the Register of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives local authorities obligations and powers to safeguard their future. I note that the structure in question is already on the RPS of Dublin City Council.
For obvious reasons the State must be selective in its acquisition of historic buildings. Purchasing protected structures solely for purposes of conservation would introduce uncertainty as to where responsibility for safeguarding lies, and may lead to perverse outcomes. Acquiring historic buildings for other public purposes would require a clear plan for their use and a strong rationale in terms of cost and public good. No proposals along these lines have been made to my Department in respect of Aldborough House.
As a building on the Register of Protected Structures, Aldborough House is eligible for financial support provided by my Department through the relevant local authority under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Applications by the owner of the property for HSF support have been successful in recent years, with €50,000 awarded in 2021 for repairs to the cut granite façade, conservation of timber sash windows, and other repairs. This year, a further €44,000 was awarded for further conservation and repair of timber sash windows and the timber panelled entrance doors. These schemes, operated by my Department, provide assistance to owners of historic buildings in following through on their duty of care to these important historic structures.
