Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 2

Written Answers. - Architectural Heritage.

Austin Deasy

Ceist:

230 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans, if any, she has under the new heritage Bill to set up a network of stately homes of historic significance which would be refurbished and maintained by the State and open to viewing by the public. [26954/98]

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

I assume the Deputy is referring to the proposed Bill to place the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage,

NIAH, currently being carried out by Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department, on a statutory basis. The inventory will act as a crucial database in identifying buildings throughout the State which are worthy of protection. This proposed legislation is part of a package of measures for the protection of the architectural heritage approved by Government and announced by myself and my colleague the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Deputy Dempsey, in May 1998. The NIAH legislation is currently being finalised and I expect to be able to publish it shortly.

The new protection measures include the establishment of a new grant-aid scheme for approved conservation works to buildings listed for protection. This scheme, which will commence in 1999, will be administered by the local authorities, will have funding of approximately £4 million per annum, and will be operated in accordance with national criteria and standards currently being drawn up by an advisory group made up of representatives of my Department, the Department of Environment and Local Government and the Heritage Council. This scheme should be of assistance to owners of stately homes of historic significance listed for protection in local authority development plans.