Plans to protect national monuments and historic buildings from extreme weather conditions caused by climate change are to be developed as part of a new strategy to safeguard the country’s heritage.
Other measures include finding ways to modernize protected buildings and negotiating affordable insurance for private owners.
A dedicated fund will be set up to enable local authorities to urgently carry out stabilization work on vulnerable assets or to acquire them by expropriation, if necessary.
A national center for traditional construction and conservation know-how should also be established.
These are among 158 actions in the Heritage Ireland 2030 plan to improve the condition of the built and natural landscape, and the culture and traditions they support.
They come amid growing criticism from environmental and conservation groups over the abandonment of the built landscape and the degradation of the natural landscape.
The plan was designed to give greater visibility to heritage and bring the many public agencies and community groups involved to work more closely together.
This was a key request from more than 2,000 submissions made by the public during a consultation seeking opinions on how the treatment of heritage was lacking.
Organizations that will be involved include the Heritage Council, Office of Public Works (OPW), National Parks and Wildlife Service, Waterways Ireland and town and county councils.
A National Heritage Forum, led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, will coordinate activities, and an annual Irish Heritage Forum will be held each year in a different part of the country.
Junior Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan said the idea was to have a permanent structure for collaboration.
“It offers a series of structures in which all those concerned with the care, protection and promotion of heritage at community, local and national levels can work together.”
The aim was “to bring coherence and informed policy and to break down silos”, he said.
Many of the 158 measures involve the continuation or extension of existing projects and programs.
A soft approach is adopted on the other actions. The plan will “encourage” local authorities to appoint conservation and repurposing officers, to revive neglected buildings of heritage value.
It will “encourage and support” local authorities to reduce the use of pesticides and seek to improve access to parks, monuments and historic properties by extending opening hours “where appropriate”.
Other measures include a review of the law and its application on the protection of hedgerows, native forests and wetlands
A “young heritage” network will be set up and a “junior range” system put in place.
The plan also references a long-awaited review of National Parks and Wildlife Service resources.
The highly critical review has been leaked extensively but has yet to be officially released.
Mr Noonan said he would present it to Cabinet shortly with proposals to address the issues it raises.
