James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 423: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will follow up his endorsement of a preservation order on the Fr. Mathew Hall and designate it as a heritage museum, with particular focus on the life and early career of Count John McCormack, in the interest of such a valuable part of Ireland's cultural heritage being preserved for posterity. [12888/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Statutory protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for each planning authority in the exercise of its functions under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Under the provisions of the Act, each planning authority is required to include in its development plan a Record of Protected Structures (RPS) for its functional area for the purpose of protecting structures, or parts of structures, which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.

In October 2007, I published my Department's National Survey of the Architectural Heritage (NIAH) of County Westmeath. Included in the survey are structures throughout the county, including Fr Matthew Hall, Athlone, which are rated as being of regional or higher importance. Under Section 53 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, I recommended to Athlone Town Council that this structure be included in the RPS. The addition to, or deletion of, a structure from the RPS is a reserved function and, as such, is a matter for the elected representatives of the local authority.

I am advised that no decision has been made, so far, in relation to the inclusion of the Fr Matthew Hall in the RPS; Athlone Town Council, as owner of the building has, however, decided to retain the structure, to extend and refurbish it, and to identify an appropriate use for it in the future.