Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 25 Nov 1998

Vol. 497 No. 3

Written Answers - Heritage Conservation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

168 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the buildings, land, including bog lands, in north Kildare which she considers worthy of protection or preservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25147/98]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

171 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands if she has identified the number of castles and race houses in north Kildare deemed worthy of refurbishment or restoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25153/98]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

172 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the number and location of historic buildings, houses or ruins in north Kildare which are either listed or worthy of preservation or restoration; the plans, if any, she has in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25154/98]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

Tógfaidh mé Ceisteanna Uimh. 168, Uimh. 171 agus Uimh 172 le chéile.

Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, is primarily concerned with buildings of the pre-1700 AD period and the resources available are mainly directed towards national monuments and historic properties in State care. There are a total of 17 national monuments and historic properties in County Kildare in State care at present, as detailed in Table 1. There are no current plans to acquire any further such properties in County Kildare.

Regarding recorded monuments and places, while fully complete statistics are not available for the total number of historic buildings, houses or ruins including castles and great houses not in State care, the Record of Monuments and Places identifies the vast majority of these properties and affords legal protection to all the Monuments and Sites listed.

Such a record has been established for over 1,600 sites in County Kildare and is available for inspection at various venues locally including the Kildare County Council Offices, Kildare County Library, farm development offices and Teagasc offices in the county. The more detailed inventory stage of the Archaeological Survey of Ireland is currently in progress in respect of County Kildare and, on completion, will considerably add to the

Regarding architectural heritage, a national inventory of architectural heritage is being undertaken by Dúchas. There are a projected one mi ion structures to be recorded making it a long-term project which is aimed for completion by 2010. Surveying has not yet commenced in Country Kildare.

The Government has agreed to the establishment of a new grant-aid scheme for approved conservation works to listed buildings which will commence in 1999. This scheme includes measures for the protection of the architectural heritage, including the new grants scheme for listed buildings, agreed by Government and announced by the Minister for Environment and Local Government and myself in May 1998. The new grants scheme will be administered by the local authorities. It will have funding of approximately £4 million per annum and will be opera in accordance with national criteria and standards to be drawn up by an advisory group comprising representatives of the two Departments and the Heritage Council. Draft Bills to provide for further protective measures and to establish the inventory on a statutory basis are being prepared.

Regarding natural heritage sites, the following sites in County Kildare have been proposed for designation as Natural Heritage Areas, NHAs: Ballina Bog, Ballynafagh Lake, Barrow Valley at Tankardstown Bridge, Carbury Bog, Corballis Hill, Curragh (Kildare), Derryvullagh Island, Donadea Wood, Dunlavin Marshes, Grand Canal, Hodgestown Bog, Kilteel Wood, Liffey at Osberstown, Liffey Valley Meander Belt, Mouds Bog, Oakpark, Poulaphouca Reservoir, Red Bog (Kildare) and the Royal Canal.

The following sites were proposed for NHA designation and were also proposed as candidate special areas of conservation under the EU Habitats Directive: Ballynafagh Bog, Pollardstown Fen and Rye Water Valley/Carton. I have arranged to send a map indicating the location of these sites to the Deputy.

Table 1: National Monuments and Historic Properties in State care in County Kildare

County	Monument (pre 1700)	Townland
Kildare	Castledermot Abbey (Fran)	Abbeyland
Kildare	Round Tower, Crosses	Castledermot
Kildare	Furness Church	Forenaghts Great
Kildare	Grange Castle	Grange West
Kildare	Memorial House	Jigginstown
Kildare	Castle, Church, Cross	Kilteel Upper
Kildare	Castle	Maynooth
Kildare	Ringfort	Mullaghreelan (Athy Forest)
Kildare	High Crosses, Round Tower	Old Kilcullen
Kildare	Round Tower, Church	Oughterard
Kildare	Standing Stone	Punchestown
Kildare	Castle	Rathcooffey Demesne
Kildare	St. John's Tower	Skenagun
Kildare	Church and Graveyard (Monastic site)	Taghadoe
Kildare	Round Tower	Taghadoe
	Historic Properties
Kildare	Palladian House	Castletown
Kildare	Obelisk (Conolly's Folly)	Castletown