Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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537. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason that Dublin was removed from the UNESCO World Heritage Organisation tentative list given that Ireland's 2010 list included the historic city of Dublin as a cultural landscape important for its contribution to literature, art, music and architecture; the deadline for inclusion on the tentative list; the reason for the omission or removal of Dublin; when such a decision was made; the way that Dublin will be reinstated on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30598/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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In line with UNESCO advice that World Heritage Tentative Lists be reviewed at least every ten years, my Deartment launched a call for applications in January 2019 to update Ireland’s World Heritage Tentative List. The Tentative List is essentially an inventory of potential sites that Ireland intends to nominate for inclusion on the World Heritage List. 

My Department's policy is for applications to be sponsored by the relevant local authority or other statutory bodies in order to ensure continuity throughout the process. The role of the local authority is crucial in order to facilitate public consultation and wider stakeholder engagement, particularly in light of the requirement under UNESCO Operational Guidelines for participatory planning and stakeholder consultation.

In December 2018, prior to the launch of the call for applications, and again in July 2019, my Department contacted the Chief Executive Officers of each of the County or City Councils involved with properties on the 2010 list to advise that the list was under review. My Department also organised outreach events including facilitating two World Heritage Workshops, in conjunction with ICOMOS Ireland.

My Department received the following six applications for inclusion on a new Tentative List by the deadline of 30 June 2021, as follows: 

1. The Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands, County Clare;

2. Iniscealtra (Inis Cealtra / Inishcaltra / Holy Island), County Clare;

3. Trans-Atlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia, County Kerry &Heart's Content, Newfoundland, Canada;

4. The Royal Sites of Ireland; 

5. The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo; and 

6. Glendalough Valley, County Wicklow.

No application was received in respect of the Historic City of Dublin, in effect removing itself from consideration for the tentative list.

I established an independent Expert Advisory Group (EAG) to evaluate each of the applications received based on their ability to demonstrate Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), integrity, authenticity, long-term protection and management frameworks, and evidence of local stakeholder support - all critical components of a future nomination dossier. 

I intend to make an announcement on the composition of a new Tentative List for Ireland in July.  Only those sites whose applications clearly demonstrate potential OUV will be included on the new Tentative List.

It is envisaged that Ireland’s Tentative List process will be reopened for review within the next five years to allow my Department assess other sites that may be proposed and which may demonstrate OUV. This may include sites on the 2010 Tentative List for which applications were not submitted under the current Tentative List review.