Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to assist owners of thatched roof structures and dwellings, which are recorded as protected structures by their local authorities, to obtain affordable insurance cover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26258/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 236 of 2nd November 2011.

Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011 provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage, including thatched buildings, by including them on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on 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.

While the overall number of thatch roofs declined in the second half of the 20th century, increased legislative protection for the architectural heritage and heightened awareness of this part of our national heritage has meant that this decline has stabilised. The issue of insurance for historic buildings, including thatched structures, has been raised by my Department with both the Financial Services Regulator and the Irish Insurance Federation. My Department will continue to keep this issue under review.