Vol. 414 No. 9
117 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment if he will outline the proposals, if any, he has to give statutory recognition to the role played by the great Irish houses in the built environment; and if he will substantially increase the grant-aid to the Irish Heritage Trust for this purpose.
Under existing planning legislation, each planning authority is empowered to include objectives in the development plan relating to the preservation of buildings of artistic, architectural, geological, or historical interest. These provisions are the basis for the listing system and for bringing within the planning control process demolition or alteration which might otherwise be exempt from planning control.
Planning authorities also have power to attach conditions to planning permissions requiring the restoration or preservation of existing buildings and to contribute, either in cash or kind, to persons or bodies concerned with the preservation of buildings or features. I have no proposals to make grants for these purposes.
