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

Question 470: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the breakdown, by county, of the funding which is being made available by his Department in 2009 for the upkeep of protected structures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17394/09]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 501: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason for the delay in issuing funding under the conservation grant scheme to Roscommon County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18057/09]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 501 together.

Allocations for the various programmes and schemes under the 2009 built heritage capital programme could not be finalised pending publication of the Revised Estimates for the Public Service 2009. Allocations for the various programmes and schemes, including the Conservation Grants Scheme for protected structures, are currently being finalised and will be announced shortly.

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

Question 471: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the measures he has put in place to protect unlisted structures contained in the draft Inventory of Architectural Heritage since assuming his position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17395/09]

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

Statutory protection of the architectural heritage of their area is primarily a matter for each planning authority under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000. The Act also enables me, as Minister, to make recommendations to a planning authority concerning the inclusion of specific structures in the authority's 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) surveys. I have issued recommendations for the inclusion of specific structures in their Record of Protected Structures to 8 planning authorities since I have taken office and there are currently a further 8 NIAH surveys underway.