Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 June 2012
486 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he and his Department continue to monitor Heritages Sites and buildings deemed to be at risk throughout in each of the past five years to date in 2012 on a county basis; the action taken of any on foot of such investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27499/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra487 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he or his Department have received reports of threats of damage to any heritage sites or buildings throughout the country in each of the past three years to date; the action taken or pending arising therefrom; the location of such building or sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27500/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra492 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of conservation measures in respect of sites or building taken in each of the past three years to date at various locations throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27505/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra495 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will list the various conservation measures currently in place or proposed in the context of the preservative of buildings, sites or other locations throughout the country at present, those with EU legal base and otherwise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27508/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 486, 487, 492 and 495 together.
My Department has a broad range of responsibilities in respect to the protection of our natural, architectural and archaeological heritage and, in each case, there is a different suite of legislative instruments that provides for protection of the relevant national heritage sites. The primary conservation measures for which the Deputy has sought information are as follows:
Natural Heritage Areas (NHA), Special Areas of Conservation Areas (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA), Nature Reserves, Flora Protection Orders and Refuges for Fauna made under the Habitats Regulations 1997-2011, transposing the EU Habitats and Birds Directives and the Wildlife Acts 1976-2000;
Structures included in Record of Protected Structures and Architectural Conservation Areas under Part IV (Architectural Heritage) of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011; and
Sites protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004.
My Department directly manages 6 national parks and 66 nature reserves. In addition, as noted above, it has responsibility for the monitoring of European nature sites established under the Birds and Habitats Directives, as well as a range of sites established under the Wildlife Acts. All sites designated for nature conservation have been identified as requiring protection and are monitored on an on-going basis.
Under the provisions of Part IV (Architectural Heritage) of the Planning and Development Acts, each planning authority is required to include in its development plan a Record of Protected Structures. The making of an addition to, or deletion from, a Record of Protected Structures is a reserved function of the planning authorities. Inclusion in the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them, seek to safeguard their future and serve notice to require works to be carried out in relation to endangerment of protected structures.
Section 59 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011 provides for a planning authority to serve notice to require works to be carried out in relation to endangerment of such structures. On the basis of information submitted by the planning authorities to my Department, there were 19 such notices served in 2008, 27 in 2009 and 10 in 2010. My Department does not have the relevant information for 2007 and figures for 2011 are currently being finalised.
The 757 national monuments in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht are managed and maintained by the Office of Public Works on a day to day basis. Local authorities are responsible for monuments in their ownership or guardianship. The vast majority of recorded monuments (approx 120,000) are, however, privately owned and, while they are protected under the National Monuments Acts, the owners are responsible for their maintenance. Appropriate action is taken where my Department becomes aware of threats or damage to monuments, including advice to owners, prosecution under the National Monuments Acts or, occasionally, rescue excavation work.
The management and delivery of specific conservation projects is generally carried out through bodies such as the OPW, local authorities and heritage organisations that receive grants awarded by the Heritage Council. This does not include private investment in conservation projects.
In the context of the above, my Department does not collate comprehensive information on the numbers of reports of actual damage or threats of damage to protected structures and sites. Information on the number of conservation measures in respect of sites or buildings taken in each of the past three years by location is not available to my Department.
The Deputy will appreciate that the scope to provide for the protection of the State's heritage assets is constrained by the current national economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances. However, my Department will continue to provide funding for the protection, conservation and development of our built and natural heritage, in so far as resources allow, in accordance with best practice and legal requirements, both nationally and internationally, and will intervene as provided by law to protect such sites.
Finally as regards current and on-going initiatives to assist in the safe guarding of our Built Heritage, I would draw the Deputy's attention to a number of key developments.
In 2011 my Department set up an Expert Advisory Committee representing key stakeholders to review the operation of Part IV (Architectural Heritage) of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011. This review includes an examination of how the legislation is operating in practice regarding the protection and management of architectural heritage from a central and local government perspective and the need, in the light of current economic circumstances, to consider alternative ways of supporting the conservation of protected structures.
In the context of the Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015, my Department is developing various policy actions which contribute to the protection and appropriate re-use of our built heritage and aims to deal with on-going strategic objectives indirectly effecting our architectural heritage such as adaptive re-use for historic properties and a forward plan-led approach to cultural heritage and urban design in our towns and cities.
My Department is responsible for the legislative framework, general policy development and promotional awareness of Ireland's built heritage. My Department also provides some limited funding for the built heritage directly or through the OPW. €1,252,000 has been provided in this year's Estimates for built heritage capital. My Department also provides funding to the Heritage Council, which, in turn, supports many heritage projects throughout the country. My Department is providing a total of €4,811,000 of Exchequer Funding for the Heritage Council in 2012, together with €1,500,000 from the Department's share of the Environment Fund. Final allocations for future years have not been decided.
While the current national economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances pose considerable challenges, my Department continues to work creatively across Government and with partner bodies such as the Heritage Council, the Irish Heritage Trust, Fáilte Ireland, the LEADER Programme and other heritage interests in seeking to ensure that resources are directed towards the heritage sector.
