Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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5. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will prescribe an oversight mechanism in his Department and under his remit to ensure consistency in local authority local development plans for the protection of historically important sites, monuments or buildings of architectural importance as local authority treatment of important areas and sites is done in a case-by-case manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24541/14]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Will the Minister prescribe an oversight mechanism in his Department and under his remit to ensure consistency in local authority local development plans for the protection of historically important sites, monuments or buildings of architectural importance as local authority treatment of important areas and sites is done in a case-by-case manner?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Ireland's archaeological and built heritage is subject to protection under a number of specific legislative instruments. In regard to national monuments legislation, it should be noted that a comprehensive new national monuments Bill is being drafted for publication later this year. While my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, is responsible for policy, oversight and legislation in the planning and development system, my role in planning is set out in the Planning and Development Acts which establish the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as a prescribed body in matters affecting built and natural heritage.

Local authority development plans must include objectives for the conservation and protection of the archaeological and natural heritage, as well as for the protection of structures of special historical, archaeological or cultural interest. My Department provides advice to planning authorities during the drafting and review of development plans for archaeological, architectural heritage and nature conservation issues. This ensures all planning authorities obtain consistent and coherent advice.

In 2011, I reissued the statutory architectural heritage protection guidelines for planning authorities. Chapters Nos. 2 and 3 concern the protection of architectural heritage in development plans, including the protection of individual structures and architectural conservation areas. The issue of the settings of both protected structures and architectural conservation areas is an integral part of the guidelines.

My Department additionally provides a series of guidance documents on the protection of the built heritage. These are prepared with input from a range of relevant stakeholders, including other Departments, the Heritage Council and local authority representation. In this way, my Department works collaboratively to bring consistency to the consideration of the built heritage at local authority level while recognising the need for local democratic decision-making and prioritisation.

I consider the approach adopted by my Department provides an appropriate oversight mechanism for the protection of our heritage within the planning system.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Currently, there is no national legislation which outlines specific planning rules applicable to sites of development which are near national monuments or listed and preserved buildings. We are talking about the aesthetics of what we have besides national monuments. Conceivably, we could have a massive shopping centre at the entrance to Newgrange or a nightclub right beside the GPO. If legislation were in place, then what happened with the national monument in Moore Street might have been avoided.

I accept the Minister’s remit concerns only national monuments but there has to be a role in deciding on the surrounding areas. That is where the problem is now and where local authorities come in. How much oversight does the Minister have with local development plans to ensure the aesthetics around national monuments?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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For the past three years, I have been pushing a new national monuments Bill. Due to competition from other legislation, especially financial Bills, it has not made the progress I would have liked. It is now almost ready and we are going through the second draft. Hopefully, I will be able to introduce it in September. Then the Deputy will have an opportunity to make an input.

As regards present planning guidelines, there are regional planning guidelines. Every local authority has a development plan which comes up for renewal every six years. My Department then has an opportunity to contribute to them. There is a list of protected structures for each county, as well as a strategic environmental assessment.

I insisted several measures be taken before I gave permission for development around the national monument in Moore Street.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Minister.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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There are existing structures there. We do have architectural input in the planning system. When we are debating the forthcoming national monuments Bill, Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan will have an opportunity to contribute to it. I will be open to any amendments that will be effective.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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Thank you, Minister. The time is up. I will let you back in.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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This will give her and other Members a real opportunity to contribute to this. This will be a Bill of major magnitude which will take a long time to get through here. She will get an opportunity to make her views known on it.

Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Ceann Comhairle)
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I ask Ministers in particular to pay attention to the clock.

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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I hope that legislation will not be too late for what is happening around Moore Street now. There is no way the Amsterdam authorities would allow a similar development to the one on Moore Street besides the Anne Frank house or the Polish authorities allow one besides Auschwitz. Like a Martin Luther King moment, I have a dream for Moore Street in which we have the national monument there with an appropriate surround of housing, bringing people back to live on the street, and small, craft-type, indigenous Irish small industries. If the Minister were the fairy godmother with the magic wand to the 1916 relatives committee, would he agree with that?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My advice to the Deputy is that she work closely with Dublin City Council on this issue because the future of Moore Street is in its hands. I have given the issue my consideration for more than three years and we have come up with a good solution to protect the national monument. There is, however, a broader issue relating to the site that is very much in the hands of the council and An Bord Pleanála. The Deputy should direct her attention to this broader issue.