Vol. 469 No. 5
57 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the discussions, if any, which have taken place between his Department and other Government Departments in relation to the implementation of the promised conservation of the built environment legislation. [17694/96]
63 Mr. O'Malley asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the discussions, if any, which have taken place between his Department and local authorities in relation to the mandatory listing of buildings of architectural, historical or artistic importance. [17691/96]
67 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the discussions, if any, which have taken place between his Department and other Government Departments in relation to the implementation of the promised conservation of the built environment legislation. [17693/96]
69 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht the discussions, if any, which have taken place between his Department and local authorities in relation to the mandatory listing of buildings of architectural, historical or artistic importance. [17692/96]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 57, 63, 67 and 69 together.
The report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Strengthening the Protection of the Architectural Heritage, which was established by myself and my colleague, Deputy Howlin, Minister for the Environment, and comprised representation from my Department, the Department of the Environment and the Office of Public Works, was published on 17 September 1996, and contains 64 recommendations including a proposal that listing of buildings for preservation be a mandatory statutory function of planning authorities.
In examining the issues arising from its terms of reference, the working group engaged in broad consultations with a wide range of intertested parties, including inviting all planning authorities to make submissions. The published report has also been sent to all planning authorities inviting them to forward any observations they may wish to make on the recommendations contained therein.
Prior to publication, the report of the working group was circulated to relevant Government Departments and Offices, and they have now been invited to make observations on the recommendations in the published report.
It is my intention, with the Minister for the Environment, to bring forward to Government without delay a package of specific financial, administrative and legislative proposals based on the recommendations in the report and taking into account any observations received.
