Serving People –
Preserving Heritage
Catherine Desmond, Archaeologist,
National Monuments Section, Department of
Environment, Heritage and Local Government
The Role of the Department in
relation to Built Heritage
To protect, maintain, conserve and preserve
the built and natural heritage of our country
Departmental Structure
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Heritage and Planning Division
1. National Monuments Service
2. Heritage Policy and Architectural
Protection Section
Main Built Heritage Areas
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Protection and Conservation Unit
Archive and Survey Unit
Planning and Licensing Unit
National Inventory for Architectural
Heritage
Architectural Protection
Heritage Policy Unit
Legislative Background
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National Monuments Act
1930-2004
Planning and Development
Act 2000
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Ministerial Consent
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In accordance with Section 14 of the
National Monuments Act 1930, as
amended, where a national monument of
which the Minister or a local authority are
the owners or guardians, or that have
been the subject of a preservation order,
Ministerial Consent is required in order:
a. To demolish or remove it wholly or in
part or to disfigure, deface, alter, or in
any manner injure or interfere with it, or
b. to excavate, dig, plough or otherwise
disturb the ground within, around, or in
proximity to, or
c. to renovate or restore it, or
d. to sell it or any part of it for
exportation or to export it or any part of
it.’
National Policy on Town
Defences
The
known and expected circuits of the
defences (both upstanding and buried, whether
of stone or embankment construction) and
associated features of all town defences are to
be considered a single national monument and
treated as a unit for policy and management
purposes. There should be a presumption in
favour of preservation in-situ of archaeological
remains and preservation of their character,
setting and amenity.
National Policy on Town
Defences
Planning and Development
Act 2000
Planning and Development Act 2000
(Part IV):
local authority measures
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Protect single structures: include
individual lengths of town wall and its
features on the Record of Protected
Structures
Preserve the character of an area:
designate a specific part of a walled town
or distinct area of it as an Architectural
Conservation Area
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The local authority is required to protect,
to educate and to enforce the legislation
Both types of protection may be used together
Architectural Conservation Area
The Planning Authority can target
policies and manage change on a wider
scale than by dealing with individual
structures
ACA designation protects the exteriors
of structures within the boundaries in
order to preserve the character of the
area
The area may include some or
many protected structures
All involved must co-operate for the
designation to be effective
Town Planning and
Structures
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Enhancing the natural and built heritage
Role of State Agencies
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National Museum of Ireland
The Office of Public Works
The Heritage Council
Local Authorities
Failte Ireland
Irish Walled Town Network
(IWTN)
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Founded by the Heritage Council of
Ireland in 2005
To work with local authorities in
managing, conserving and enhancing
historic walled towns in Ireland
To identify, preserve, protect and
enhance the national heritage
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What is a town?
Irish Medieval Towns
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Main Street forming the
spine with narrow lanes
running off it at right
angles
Towns built around early
ecclesiastical sites
Most had a market place,
a church, often a castle
and sometimes defences
Deliberate man made
extensions over time
Urban Archaeology
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Examples of Public Realm
Plans in Ireland
Athenry
 Streetscape
Enhancement
Cashel
 Improved
areas
lighting in public
Youghal
 Improved
Signage
and
orientation
panels
Fethard
 Historic
Features
 Walled Town
Gateways
FUNDING
•Department funding for structures
in public ownership
several town and city walls projects
CONTACT US
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Any plans or programmes or any queries or
clarification required should be forwarded in writing at
the earliest opportunity to:
Development Applications Section
DoEHLG
Dún Scéine
Harcourt Lane
Dublin 2
Ministerial Consent and Notification for attention of
Director of National Monuments Section-Guidance
Document on consent available
RMP and Urban Archaeology Surveys available in all
Local Authorities
Department website www.archaeology.ie
Department publications www.environ.ie