Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
229. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline the efforts to protect heritage sites in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45587/23]
View answerThe vast majority of known archaeological monuments in County Meath are subject to legal protection by reason of being included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) as established under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. Accordingly, it is illegal to carry out work at or in relation to them without giving the Minister two months’ notice of the proposed work. A range of monuments in County Meath are also subject to a requirement for the consent of the Minister for specified categories of work at or in proximity to them by reason of being national monuments of which the Minister or a local authority is owner or guardian or being subject to a Preservation Order made under the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended).
The newly enacted Historic and Archaeological Heritage Act 2023, when commenced, will strengthen the protection afforded. For the first time, all newly discovered archaeological monument of classes set out in regulations (“prescribed monuments”) will be automatically protected. The establishment of the new Register of Monuments will facilitate inclusion of a wide range of sites discovered since the current RMP was issued. The default level of protection for entries in the Register will be similar to that for prescribed monuments, but there will be the option in appropriate cases to assign a higher level of protection under which a licence from the Minister will be needed in all cases. This higher level of protection will also be deemed assigned to Registered Monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister or the local authority. Entries in the Register will be able to include an area surrounding the site or structure itself.
In addition, in line with Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts, structures of built heritage interest are identified through the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (which is part of my Department), but decisions relating to the designation and management of Architectural Conservation Areas and Protected Structures are a matter for the local authority.
