Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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679. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will commission an assessment of an area (details supplied), with a view to placing it on Ireland’s tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination, in recognition of its unique natural, cultural and historical significance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48602/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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680. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has engaged with Cork City Council regarding the motion previously passed by the Council requesting an area (details supplied) be advanced for UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48603/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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681. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has carried out, or will carry out, an ecological survey of an area (details supplied) in view of its distinctive biodiversity, flora and fauna; and if the findings will be used to support heritage recognition, including possible UNESCO designation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48605/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 679, 680 and 681 together.

In July this year I launched the www.worldheritageireland.ie/strategy-for-world-heritage-in-ireland-2025-2035/ Ireland’s first national strategy for UNESCO World Heritage. The first action of the Strategy commits to undertaking an extensive review of Ireland’s Tentative List by 2030, ensuring other sites have an opportunity to be added to the List. This is in line with UNESCO advice that World Heritage Tentative Lists be reviewed and updated at least every ten years. My Department has not received any communication from Cork City Council regarding an application to the Tentative List for Murphy’s Rock, Cork City and it has not carried out any assessments of the site.

The Tentative List is essentially an inventory of potential sites that Ireland intends to nominate for inclusion on the World Heritage List. Each site on the Tentative List must demonstrate potential 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.

For UNESCO to decide that a site has OUV it must be so exceptional as to transcend national boundaries and to be of common importance for present and future generations. Inclusion on the Tentative List does not guarantee inclusion in the World Heritage List. Exclusion from the list in no way devalues the heritage significance of a site, rather it means that the site does not meet specific World Heritage standards.

Ireland’s current Tentative List comprises:

1. The Passage Tomb Landscape of County Sligo
2. Transatlantic Cable Ensemble: Valentia, County Kerry-Heart’s Content, Newfoundland and Labrador (a serial transnational nomination with Canada)
3. Royal Sites of Ireland: Dún Ailinne, County Kildare; Hill of Uisneach, County Westmeath; Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary; Rathcroghan County Roscommon; and Tara County Meath (a potential serial transnational nomination to include Emain Macha/Navan Fort, County Armagh)
4. The Historic Astronomical Observatories of Ireland: Birr Castle and Demesne, Offaly and Dunsink Observatory, Dublin (a potential serial transnational nomination to include Armagh Planetarium and Observatory, County Armagh)