Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the thatch steering group that is being established within his Department; the persons that will be on the steering group; the remit of the group; if the group will address the difficulties obtaining insurance for thatched properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25946/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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My Department is in the process of setting up a thatch steering group which will assist with the implementation of A Living Tradition: a strategy to enhance the understanding, minding and handing on of our built vernacular heritage, which was launched last December. The steering group will meet for the first time in the coming weeks.

The challenges of thatch in Ireland are complex and require the input of a range of stakeholders. The steering group will be advisory in nature and will comprise representatives of local authority architectural conservation officers, local authority heritage officers, thatchers, my Department's thatching grant section, the Heritage Council and the Department for Communities (Northern Ireland). All of these groups are aware of the issues facing the owners of thatched properties, and the steering group will further consult building owners in the course of its work.

The thatch steering group will assist my Department in implementing Action 6 of the Living Tradition strategy, relating to improving the situation for thatched buildings and their owners. One of the principal areas to be dealt with will be the issue of insurance for thatched properties.