Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 83: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will give support towards the refurbishment of the old courthouse in the centre of Castleblayney town, County Monaghan; his views on whether this is an important heritage building needing urgent repair to safeguard the structure and is of importance to the town and community of Castleblayney; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10078/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The civic structures conservation grant scheme, which is administered by my Department, provides grants for the restoration and conservation of buildings of significant architectural heritage merit and which are in civic ownership or occupation and generally open to the public. The deadline for the receipt of applications under the 2009 grant scheme was 27 February 2009, and I understand that no application was received for funding towards the conservation of Castleblayney Courthouse.

The Planning and Development Act 2000 enables me, as Minister, to make recommendations to a planning authority concerning the inclusion of specific structures in its Record of Protected Structures, and a planning authority must have regard to any such recommendations. My recommendations are based on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) of a particular county. My Department has yet to complete the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) for County Monaghan.

However, I understand that Castleblayney Courthouse is included in the Record of Protected Structures for Castleblaney in the Monaghan County Development Plan 2007-2013.