Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 402: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will support a group which is endeavouring to preserve a building (details supplied) which has had literary significance for more than a century; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26487/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The conservation principles of care and protection of the architectural heritage are set out in Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000. Generally, under the Act, planning authorities have a clear obligation to create a record of protected structures. Under section 58 of the Act owners and occupiers of protected structures have a duty to protect such structures from endangerment. Sections 59 to 78 of the Act give planning authorities powers with regard to the protection of these structures, including powers to require works to be carried out in relation to endangerment of protected structures and to require restoration of the character of protected structures.

The local authority conservation grants scheme provides grant assistance for the conservation of protected structures i.e. those buildings which are listed in the record of protected structures contained in each local authority development plan. This scheme is administered by the local authorities on behalf of the Department and specific queries on the scheme should be addressed directly to the relevant local authority. In addition, the heritage management grants scheme administered by the Heritage Council, with funding from my Department, includes works to ensure the survival of a heritage building or structure. Information in relation to the scheme is available from the Heritage Council.