Ireland

 

More detailed report: National Policy Report

Thesaurus: Thesaurus terms, core languages

Glossary: Terms in English

National coordinator: Jacqui DONNELLY

CULTURAL HERITAGE POLICY

A monument may be protected under the National Monuments Acts in one or more ways as follows:

  1. By reason of being a national monument in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht or a Local Authority or subject to a preservation order or a temporary preservation order (i.e. a national monument);
  2. As a monument or area entered in the Register of Historic Monuments (i.e. a registered monument);
  3. As a monument entered in the Record of Monuments and Places (i.e. a recorded monument).

The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has several functions in relation to the protection of the architectural heritage including making recommendations to local authorities regarding structures to be added to the record of protected structures; issuing guidance; and making submissions on certain developments by, or on behalf of, state authorities.

There are approx. 550 architectural conservation areas and 44,000 protected structures in total in the country, the vast majority of which are in private ownership. There are no grades of protection under the legislation. Each local authority is responsible for development applications in its area and all those affecting archaeological, architectural and natural heritage are referred to the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and a number of other prescribed authorities including the Heritage Council, An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland, the Arts Council and Fáilte Ireland (the national tourism authority). .

Grant aid to owners and occupiers of protected structures for conservation and repair is made available from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht through the local authorities. The Department also operates the Structures at Risk Fund. The Heritage Council also provides grant aid to historic buildings and structures.

The Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides tax relief to the owners and/or occupiers of certain approved buildings and gardens in respect of expenditure incurred on repair, maintenance or restoration. Fiscal incentives are also available under the Living City Initiative for refurbishment or conversion of certain buildings within special regeneration areas within six cities: Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway and Kilkenny. The Living City Initiative is focussed on the regeneration of retail and commercial districts and encouraging people to live within historic city centres.

 

INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

It oversees the identification, protection and presentation of Ireland’s heritage and cultural assets. The objective of the Department is to conserve and manage the unique heritage of Ireland for the benefit of present and future generations, as a support to economic renewal and sustainable employment and in compliance with legal obligations. The Department is responsible for the nomination of sites to UNESCO for the World Heritage List, and for coordinating implementation of the Government Policy on Architecture and the National Landscape Strategy for Ireland.

National Monuments Service (NMS)

Within the Department, it is responsible for the formulation and implementation of legislation and policy relating to the protection of Ireland’s archaeological sites and monuments, including historic wrecks that are over 100 years old. NMS has responsibility for the maintenance of the Sites and Monuments Record for the state, and for updating the Record of Monument and Places. There are over 138,800 recorded archaeological sites and monuments, most of which are in private ownership. NMS has responsibility for the regulation of archaeological excavations, the use of detection devices for archaeological purposes, diving on historic wrecks and other underwater archaeological sites, and is the consenting authority in relation to works at national monuments. NMS provides advice to planning and other consent authorities on development proposals which might impact upon archaeology, and operates a series of Codes of Practice with a range of infrastructure providers ..

Built Heritage and Architectural Policy section

It is responsible for the development, promotion and implementation of policies and legislation for the protection of architectural heritage and to promote best practice in modern architecture and urban design. Its objectives include the promotion of increased public awareness and appreciation of architecture and built heritage. The section includes:

National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH)

It is engaged in recording and publishing a representative sample of structures on a county-by-county basis and also publishes a survey of historic gardens and designed landscapes.

Architectural Heritage Advisory Unit (AHAU)

It provides technical advice to local authorities, other government departments and agencies, private owners, developers and the general public. It also provides support to the network of architectural conservation officers employed at local authority level.

Heritage Council

It was established as a statutory body under the Heritage Act 1995. It advises government on policy relating to archaeological, architectural and natural heritage and supports a network of heritage officers based in local authorities throughout the country.

Office of Public Works

Il has responsibility for the conservation, maintenance and day-to-day management of some 780 national monuments and historic properties in state ownership and the provision of visitor services at 70 of these sites.

Autorités locales

The primary responsibility for protection of the architectural heritage lies with the 31 Local Authorities (city and county councils), each of which is obliged to identify and protect all structures of special interest in its area by including them in a record of protected structures, and to protect the character of areas of special interest by designating architectural conservation areas. Architectural conservation officers are employed by the local authorities to carry out the functions relating to protection of architectural heritage. Statutory guidance on the protection of architectural heritage is issued to the local authorities by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

National Museum of Ireland

Il is established under the National Cultural Institutions Act 1997. It is the custodian of much of Ireland’s portable cultural heritage. The National Monuments Acts establish the role of the Director of the National Museum of Ireland in asserting the state’s ownership of archaeological objects which are found and which have no known owner. They also provide for the Museum’s role as a regulatory body in Irish archaeology. The Director has a consultative role with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the licensing of archaeological excavations and in relation to Ministerial Consents for work at national monuments and the issuing of directions in relation to archaeological activities on approved road developments. The Museum is also responsible for processing of licences for export and alteration of archaeological objects and is also involved in the drafting and revision of heritage legislation.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Archaeological heritage is protected under the National Monuments Acts 1930-2004. Responsibility for this legalisation lies with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Architectural heritage is primarily protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), in particular Part IV. The responsibility for this legislation lies with the Department for the Housing, Planning and Local Government.

List of Acts and Regulations

  • National Monuments Acts 1930-2004
  • European Union (Environmental Impact Assessment of Proposed Demolition of National Monuments) Regulations 2012
  • Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), in particular Part IV - Architectural Heritage
  • Planning and Development Regulations 2001 (as amended)
  • Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999
  • Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (in particular Section 482 – Relief for expenditure on significant buildings and gardens)
  • Heritage Act 1995
  • National Cultural Institutions Act 1997

All acts of the Oireachtas (Houses of Parliament)

 

INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS RATIFIED

Ireland has ratified the following conventions on cultural heritage:

Council of Europe

  • European Cultural Convention, 1954. Ratified 1955.
  • Convention for the Protection of the Architectural Heritage of Europe, Granada, 1985. Ratified 1997.
  • European Convention on the Protection of the Archaeological Heritage (revised), Valletta, 1992. Ratified 1997.
  • European Landscape Convention, Florence, 2000. Ratified 2002.

UNESCO

  • UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2003. Ratified 2015.
  • UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, 1972. Ratified 1991