Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Architectural Heritage.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

443 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the reason Dúchas does not have the power or the resources to safeguard heritage in emergency situations such as at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 24 which has list one status and is due for demolition; if her Department or Dúchas were consulted on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16525/01]

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

The protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for the planning authorities. My role is to provide advice to them in the exercise of their functions. This is reinforced in the recently enacted Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1999.

This legislation places a duty of care on the owners of protected structures and also gives planning authorities enhanced powers, not only to deal with development proposals affecting them, but also to safeguard their future. This is the proper framework for the protection of our architectural heritage. Under the legislation, responsibility for the making of an addition to, or a deletion from, a record of protected structures rests with the elected representatives. In this regard, I understand that, in drafting its 1998 development plan, South Dublin County Council decided to delete the property referred to by the Deputy from its list of protected structures. This was done without particular reference to my Department. I am advised that the owner subsequently secured planning permission to demolish the buildings. This application was not the subject of a referral to my Department. My officials have been in contact with the owner's agent seeking to have those items of interest salvaged from the site, despite this not being a condition of the planning permission.

In this instance, it is clear that the planning authority has taken a decision, which I regret, although my officials have tried to persuade the owner to preserve some of its heritage value. The Deputy will appreciate that, given the decision by the local elected representatives and the fact that my main role is advisory, I do not propose taking any further action in the circumstances of this case.