Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
20. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department plays any role in the protection of buildings from demolition which are of cultural significance in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56214/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy role in regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), as are the roles and responsibilities of local authorities and owners.
Part IV of the Act gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect the built heritage in their area by including structures of special interest on the Record of Protected Structures and overseeing their development and safeguarding accordingly.
As Minister, I can make recommendations to local authorities for buildings and structures to be included on the RPS. I make these recommendations on foot of surveys carried out by this Department's National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH).
It is a reserved function of the local authority then to add or delete buildings from the RPS. The local authority may choose not to include a structure which I have recommended, or it may choose to include a structure which I have not recommended.
When a building is included on the list of protected structures, planning permission is required for works which would affect its character, including demolition. The Act also places a responsibility on owners and occupiers to prevent the endangerment of a protected structure, and requires the local authority, where it has formed the view that the building is or will become endangered, to serve notice on the owner or occupier to carry out remedial works. It is an offence to fail to comply with such a notice.
