Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
360. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Céide Fields lost its place on UNESCO's tentative list for world heritage status, considering its significance as a world-renowned heritage site and its historical evidence of Ireland's first farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29174/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra383. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the Céide Fields no longer appear on Ireland’s UNESCO world heritage tentative list; and if an application for inclusion was received for the site during the most recent application process. [29375/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that a site (details supplied) was not included on a new list as announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29701/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 360, 383 and 391 together.
In line with UNESCO advice that World Heritage Tentative Lists be reviewed and updated at least every ten years, my Department launched a call for applications in January 2019 to a new Tentative List for Ireland. The Tentative List is essentially an inventory of potential sites that Ireland intends to nominate for inclusion on the World Heritage List. Each site on the Tentative List must demonstrate potential Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), integrity, authenticity, long-term protection and management frameworks, and evidence of local stakeholder support - all critical components of a future nomination dossier.
My Department's policy is for applications to be sponsored by the relevant local authority or key stakeholders/landowners in order to ensure continuity throughout the process. This is crucial in order to facilitate public consultation and wider stakeholder engagement, particularly in light of the requirement under UNESCO Operational Guidelines for participatory planning and public consultation.
Before and during the call for applications, my Department contacted the Chief Executive Officers of each of the County or City Councils involved with properties on the 2010 Tentative list to advise that the list was under review. My Department received six applications for inclusion on a new Tentative List by the deadline of 30 June 2021, as follows:
1. The Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands, County Clare;
2. Iniscealtra (Inis Cealtra / Inishcaltra / Holy Island), County Clare;
3. Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia, County Kerry &Heart's Content, Newfoundland, Canada;
4. The Royal Sites of Ireland;
5. The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo; and
6. Glendalough Valley, County Wicklow.
No application was received in respect of the Céide Fields, in effect removing itself from consideration for inclusion on the current Tentative List, but does not preclude it from being included in future iterations.
After an extensive twelve month review, the new Tentative List for Ireland was announced in July 2022 and a comprehensive Technical Valuation was published which sets out how each site was evaluated and the basis for its inclusion in the new list. That report can be found at worldheritageireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/World-Heritage-Tentative-List-Technical-Evaluation.pdf.
It is envisaged that Ireland’s Tentative List process will be reopened for review within the next five years to allow my Department assess other sites that may be proposed and which may demonstrate potential OUV. This may include sites on the 2010 Tentative List - such as the Céide Fields - for which applications were not submitted in 2021. The World Heritage Unit of my Department is available at all times to advise prospective applicants on the Tentative List process.
The Céide Fields are rightly recognised as a unique and extensive Neolithic archaeological site, celebrated for the hugely complex and extensive remains of ancient field systems and habitations. Fáilte Ireland, the Office of Public Works and my Department together have invested over €2.6million in a new immersive experience at the Céide Fields visitor centre, which opened last summer that will ensure that the Céide Fields and north Mayo are a must visit destination along the Wild Atlantic Way route.
