Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I will come back in on two points made by Deputy Ó Snodaigh. It is important to have these skills at local authority level. We have budgeted in 2024 to ensure that all local authorities have an architectural conservation officer, ACO. Currently, they do not all have one. There is the wider recognition of ACOs at local authority level. It is something we have worked on with the Heritage Council. It is to be hoped this year we will be able to roll out further ACOs in other local authorities which do not have them. The Deputy is correct in the point he made on protected structures. They open up opportunities for grant schemes from the Department and other Departments. It is of benefit. The benefit needs to be communicated.

When I was a member of a local authority, the most contentious part of the development plan process was trying to remove elements from the RPS. Communicating the benefits of being on the RPS is probably a larger challenge and something that local authorities endeavour to be progressive on, but I agree with the Deputy. Having a protected structure is a benefit and should be seen as such by the owner of such premises.