Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Statutory protection of architectural heritage is primarily a matter for the planning authorities to which the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government provides advice in the exercise of their functions in that regard under the Planning and Development Act 2000. Under the provisions of that Act, each planning authority must, for the purpose of protecting structures or parts of structures which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, include in its development plan a record of protected structures within its functional area. That may be done when a development plan is being prepared or at any other time, where appropriate. The 2000 Act places a duty of care on owners of protected structures and gives planning authorities enhanced powers not only to deal with development proposals which affect them but also to safeguard their future.

The Department has published architectural heritage protection guidelines for planning authorities, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library. Paragraph 2.5.8 of the guidelines, which provide extensive guidance on the assessment of structures for protection, deals with buildings of historic interest. I understand that the building referred to by the Deputy is not included in Dublin City Council's record of protected structures.