Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 160: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to consolidate the national monuments code; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16419/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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There have been significant changes in responsibilities and the transfer of functions for the built and natural heritage between a number of Departments since June 2002. This has resulted in a re-organisation and a rebranding of heritage administration and its incorporation into my Department's remit as finalised in April 2003. Despite these functional and organisational changes, significant preparatory work was done to consolidate and modernise existing national monuments legislation, culminating in an initial draft Bill being completed by parliamentary counsel in April 2003.

In the interim the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 2004 was made in July 2004 in response to new challenges to the protection of the archaeological, architectural and historical heritage and to take account of, and give effect to, various Supreme and High Court judgments. Five direct pieces of existing legislation now require to be consolidated under the national monuments code in addition to potential consequential impacts on other statutory codes. It has been necessary to review these developments and assess the adequacy of the draft 2003 Bill in order to progress the consolidation exercise to conclusion. My Department is working to this end and I expect significant progress in this regard to be achieved by the end of the year.