Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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606. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will request the OPW to carry out an assessment on a protected historical structure (details supplied) to ascertain its current condition and to prepare a plan for its restoration; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10402/19]

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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607. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will request the OPW to remove the cover on a protected historical structure (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10403/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 607 together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ No. 1434 of 7th September 2018 which is copied below.

The site referred to by the Deputy is protected under the National Monuments Acts and any person proposing to carry out works at or in relation to it is required to give the Minister two months’ advance notice. Any such works would also be subject to applicable planning and development legislation, for which the planning authority has specific responsibility.

I am advised that a representative from my Department’s National Monuments Service has visited the site in question on a number of occasions with the Parish Priest and the local authority Heritage Officer to discuss and advise on particular work proposals and that the Department is now awaiting the formal statutory notification required for the works.

I understand that Tipperary County Council's Heritage Officer has been in regular contact with my Department's National Monuments Service in the meantime and that proposals for conservation works at the site are currently being developed.  Once these plans have been finalised they will be submitted to my Department in compliance with the requirements the National Monuments Acts. 

As the monuments are not in the ownership of guardianship of the State, the Office of Public Works would have no function in relation to their management and upkeep.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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608. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Ireland is a signatory of the International Charter for the Conservation and Restoration of Monuments and Sites (The Venice Charter 1964); and if so, if Ireland complies with the principals and objectives contained within. [10426/19]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The 1964 Venice Charter is not an agreement between State parties and there is therefore no mechanism for State ratification, signature or accession to it.

Conservation theory and practice is continually evolving and Ireland is guided by the most up to date principles and objectives of international best practice.