Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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339. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the independent expert advisory group established by him to evaluate applications for inclusion on Ireland’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites Tentative has completed its evaluation and made recommendations as to which properties should be considered for inclusion on a new list by early September 2021 as anticipated; if he will publish the evaluations and recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44052/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The Expert Advisory Group (EAG) that I appointed earlier this year to assess the six applications to Ireland’s new Tentative List of World Heritage Properties is currently finalising its report and recommendations, and I anticipate receiving these in the coming weeks.

Once I receive these recommendations, they will then be considered further by my Department and myself before any final decision is made as to what properties will be progressed for inclusion on the new Tentative List. We will liaise with all six applicants before any announcement is made.  

Inclusion on a Tentative List is the first step on a long and detailed process to be nominated as a World Heritage Site. In addition to the recommendations of the EAG, I must also take cognisance of UNESCO requirements and the completeness of individual nomination dossiers in relation to progressing sites on the World Heritage List.

The EAG’s recommendations will be published when a final decision has been made on what properties to include on the new Tentative List.

This new Tentative List of World Heritage Properties will be submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre in 2022.