Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 404: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of heritage sites, including ring forts, currently accessible to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22434/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Seven hundred and fifty seven national monument sites are in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The number of individual monuments on these sites would be greater since some contain more than one monument. Generally monument sites owned by the Minister are publicly accessible with 69 having visitor services provided by the Office of Public Works. Some monuments acquired in the past do not have a public right of way. It is, however, my Department's policy to acquire rights of way to such sites, where possible, with the agreement of landowners and this practice will continue. In the region of a further 120,000 monuments are protected under the National Monuments Acts. Although most are located on private lands, public access is available in many cases under local arrangements. There are also 6 publicly accessible national parks and 78 nature reserves managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 406: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number and location of endangered heritage sites or buildings throughout the country; his future intentions in regard to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22436/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000, each planning authority is required to include in its development plan a Record of Protected Structures. The making of an addition to, or deletion from, a Record of Protected Structures is a reserved function of the planning authorities. Inclusion in the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future.

Section 59 of the 2000 Act provides for a planning authority to serve notice to require works to be carried out in relation to endangerment of protected structures. On the basis of information submitted by the planning authorities to my Department, there were 19 such notices served in 2008, 27 in 2009 and 10 in 2010. I have given approval for my Department to undertake a review of the operation of Part IV (Architectural Heritage) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This review will focus on possible minor legislative amendments and a possible up-date to regulations where appropriate.

Archaeological and natural heritage sites are subject to particular legal frameworks to ensure their protection. They are also subject to monitoring undertaken by my Department. This monitoring helps to ensure that risks for and threats to these sites are detected and addressed as early as possible thus avoiding endangerment.