Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 24 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 6

Written Answers. - Architectural Heritage.

John Gormley

Ceist:

255 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands her policy on protecting the heritage value of areas like Bray seafront, its foreshore and Bray Head; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25422/01]

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

The protection of the architectural heritage of Bray, including its sea front, is a matter for the planning authority. Under the Planning and Development Act, 1999, the planning authority may place individual structures on the record of protected structures and it may also designate architectural conservation areas.

The Deputy will be aware that regulation of development of the foreshore at Bray and generally is, under the Foreshore Acts, 1933-1998, a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Marine and Natural Resources.

Bray Head is a candidate Special Area of Conservation – Site Code 714 – under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). The site was advertised locally in July 1999 and was formally transmitted to the European Commission in November 2000.

Bray Head has good examples of two habitats – sea cliffs and dry heath – listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. It also supports a number of rare plant species and has ornithological importance. The protective provisions of the European Communities (Natural Habitats) Regulations, 1997 apply in relation to this site.