Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the national monuments, historic properties and national heritage that are recognised or in State care in north city and County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5742/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A statutory Record of Monuments and Places, RMP, is maintained in accordance with section 12 of the National Monuments Act 1994. The RMP is published on a county by county basis and is available for public inspection in the offices of each planning authority and in one library of each library authority.

A number of the monuments listed in the RMP fall within a category defined under National Monuments Act 1930, as amended, as national monuments. These are monuments or remains of monuments the preservation of which is a matter of national importance by reason of the historical, architectural, traditional, artistic or archaeological interest attaching thereto.

Statutory protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for planning authorities in the exercise of their functions under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Each planning authority is required to include in its development plan a Record of Protected Structures within its functional area.

Under the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999, my Department is preparing the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). The purpose of this is to identify, record and evaluate the country's architectural heritage uniformly and consistently. Each NIAH survey, undertaken by my Department within any particular local authority's functional area, provides the basis for recommendations under the Planning and Development Act 2000 to planning authorities for the inclusion of particular structures in the Record of Protected Structures.

In March 2003, arising from the NIAH survey undertaken within the functional area of Fingal County Council, I recommended 665 structures for inclusion on the Fingal County Council Record of Protected Structures. The NIAH survey for Fingal is published on the website www.buildingsofireland.ie. An NIAH survey for the Dublin City Council area has not yet been undertaken.

In addition to the above, a number of historic properties are maintained in State care by the Office of Public Works. A list of the national monuments and historic properties in the northern part of Dublin City and in the functional area of Fingal County Council is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Ivor Callely (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of funding available for the protection and enhancement of Ireland's national heritage in 2007; the criteria to avail of funding for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5743/07]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The total funding available to my Department for heritage purposes in 2007 amounts to almost €70 million. Funding of some €31 million for built heritage includes sponsorship of the Heritage Council for its day to day operations and its capital grant scheme, the provision of capital financing to the Office of Public Works for works to properties in State care, support of local authorities to enable them to provide grant assistance for conservation works to protected structures, and provision for the newly established Irish Heritage Trust.

My Department has designated, and provides funding for a scheme of grants for the conservation of protected buildings. This scheme is administered by local authorities who assess and prioritise applications and approve individual grants. The scheme is aimed at assisting owners and occupiers to carry out conservation works on structures of architectural significance in the Record of Protected Structures which the local authority has listed under the Planning and Development Act 2000. Inquiries about this scheme may be made to the relevant local authority.

Under the National Development Plan 2007-2013, my Department will also administer a scheme of grants for the restoration and conservation of buildings of significant architectural heritage merit and which are in public ownership or open to the public generally. Criteria in relation to the Heritage Council's grant scheme, Buildings at Risk, are available directly from the Council.

Funding of €38.553 million will also be available in 2007 to the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department in respect of our natural heritage. This funding provides for running costs of six National Parks and 66 State-owned Nature Reserves, development of tourism related projects, visitor facilities and related capital projects, and salaries for industrial staff. It also provides for research and scientific study related to all areas of conservation management, and compensatory measures for landowners' costs and losses resulting from restrictions in managing their land in areas designated under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, and for compensation for landowners who cease turf cutting activities. In 2007, this subhead will also provide funding of €750,000 of for Biodiversity Awareness.