Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is a short technical Bill, necessary to allow for the transfer of functions relating to heritage under a number of enactments to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. One aspect of legislation it amends is section 52 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This provides that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall:

issue guidelines to planning authorities concerning development objectives— (a) for protecting structures, or parts of structures, which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, and

(b) for preserving the character of architectural conservation areas.

I urge the Minister of State to use his newly-found freedom under this Act to protect the Hill of Allen from inevitable destruction if it continues to be left unprotected. It is home to Aylmer’s Folly, a tower which was built in 1859, and to an ancient burial chamber and burial mound. On St. Brigid’s Day, lights shone from the tower and were visible from all over Kildare, and this was a beacon of hope in these dark times. I ask the Minister of State to take steps to add these structures to the record of monuments and places, the register of historic monuments, and ask that the option of bringing the site into public ownership be explored by the Department.

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