Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018
46. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of heritage sites and buildings deemed to be at risk throughout the country; if particular actions are proposed to address issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27079/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our built heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.
I am the owner or guardian of almost 1,000 national monuments in State care right across the country ranging from prehistoric burial monuments, to medieval fortifications and religious sites. Our national monument portfolio also includes more modern structures such as the eighteenth-century terrace at 14-17 Moore Street. These sites benefit from the full protection of the National Monuments Acts.
Sites in my ownership or guardianship are maintained by the Office of Public Works. Conservation matters in relation to these sites are managed through regular liaison between the OPW and my Department, identifying condition issues and proposing appropriate conservation actions, carried out under consent where relevant.
Under the National Monuments Acts, local authorities are responsible for maintaining the national monuments of which they are owners or guardians.
The recent securing by my Department of €30 million over the next 10 years for our national monument estate will enable my Department, working closely with the OPW to identify, resource and implement necessary conservation measures to ensure these wonderful sites, some dating back almost 6,000 years, will continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including relevant structures on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on 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 and to seek to safeguard their future.
I draw on information provided by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, maintained by my Department, to recommend structures for inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures. The final decision, however, is a reserved function of the planning authority.
Through the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), my Department manages a property portfolio in respect of national parks and reserves of approximately 87,000 hectares. The existing National Parks are managed from a conservation perspective, and they are ‘core assets’ which play a very important role in Ireland’s tourism industry.
In addition to the statutory role of Local Authorities, Financial support is provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings. €2m has been provided for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2018 and 370 projects have been approved for funding. €1,324,000 has been provided for the Structures at Risk Fund 2018 and 76 projects across the country have been approved for funding.
In terms of funding for future years, Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027 represents a major capital investment scheme of close to €1.3 billion in funding over the next 10 years. This plan will see increased investment in protecting and celebrating our built heritage across the country. More details on the commencement and completion dates for projects and programmes, as well as the timing of the expenditure in relation to them, will emerge as we go through the process of appraisal and planning as required under the Public Spending Code.
