Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the total number of heritage sites, buildings or other structures in County Kildare; if any are in danger of damage or decay; his plans, if any, to assist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37150/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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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. I understand that details of the relevant buildings protected in this Record are available from Kildare County Council.

Details of archaeological monuments in County Kildare are contained in the Record of Monuments and Places, which may be viewed in my Department's Dublin offices. Copies are also available countrywide in planning authority offices, public libraries and county and city/town museums. In addition, details can be accessed on the website www.archaeology.ie, which my Department also maintains.

In relation to protected structures, 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 such structures. On the basis of information submitted by the planning authorities to my Department, there were 19 such notices served nationwide in 2008, 27 in 2009 and 10 in 2010. On the basis of information provided by Kildare County Council, no such notices were served in 2008, 1 in 2009 and 1 in 2010.

My Department has limited resources to assist protected structures which may be endangered. In 2011, I am providing €650,000 through a "Structures at Risk Fund" to assist with works to safeguard structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts. The level of funding available in 2012 and future years for the purpose of assisting such heritage sites, buildings or other structures will be subject to the normal Budgetary and Estimates processes. In this regard, the Deputy will be aware that the total capital budget for my Department will see a further decrease in the coming years.