Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My role, as Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with regard to the protection and management of our built and natural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation. Statutory protection of the architectural heritage is primarily a matter for the planning authorities under Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. Under the provisions of the Act, each planning authority is required, for the purpose of protecting structures, or parts of structures which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, to include in its development plan a Record of Protected Structures and to include in that record every structure which is, in the opinion of the planning authority, of such interest within its functional area. This may be done at the time of the preparation of the development plan or, where appropriate, at any other time.

Section 53(1) of the 2000 Act enables the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to make recommendations to a planning authority concerning the inclusion of specific structures in its Record of Protected Structures. A planning authority must have regard to any such recommendations. Ministerial recommendations are generally based on National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) surveys undertaken by my Department of the post-1700 built heritage of the country. Such a survey for Dublin City is currently underway and, as such, I am not in a position at this stage to make recommendations on the structures referred to by the Deputy. However, I understand generally that industrial heritage sites are being considered, in terms of their significance, in the fieldwork for the survey completed to date. The making of an addition to, or deletion from, a Record of Protected Structures is a reserved function of the planning authorities and in this case is ultimately a matter for Dublin City Council.

I do not accept that the State, as implied, does not place a value on Ireland’s industrial heritage. Appreciation for our industrial heritage is a growing area of interest and can have a contribution to make to Ireland's cultural tourism product. For example, the Irish Architectural Foundation's OPEN HOUSE Dublin programme, which my Department funds, operated a very successful walking tour of the CIE railway works complex at Inchicore in 2010. I further understand that the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, in 2005 in partnership with Dublin City Council, commissioned the Dublin City Industrial Heritage Record (DCIHR).

The conservation and protection of Ireland's built heritage, both for its intrinsic value and as a support to economic renewal and sustainable employment, will continue to be a priority for my Department.