Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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621. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the final national landscape strategy will be published and implemented; the legislative proposals she envisages to provide statutory effect to its provisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49108/14]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A draft National Landscape Strategy for Ireland 2015-2025 was approved by Government on the 1 July 2014. The Strategy was subsequently screened for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment and written submissions or observations invited as part of the screening process. Taking into account the submissions arising from that consultation, I expect to publish the National Landscape Strategy early in 2015. I do not envisage any legislation being required at this stage to give effect to the objectives and actions of the Strategy. Implementation will take place on a phased basis over the lifetime of the Strategy. The overall objective of the Strategy is to

- provide a framework to ensure greater consistency nationwide when dealing with issues of landscape;

- support the decision-making processes regarding our landscapes; and

- help ensure that decisions are made on the basis of factual evidence.