Foilseacháin & Tuairiscí

With the changing function of the waterways from commercial navigations to recreational use, the Council sees the need to promote a broad-based approach to the management of this aspect of our heritage resource.

The Heritage Council’s examination of state sector spend on heritage suggests that agriculture as a whole impacts on the entire socio-economic structure of the countryside.

Research work was undertaken in several directions: drafting and circulation of a questionnaire on Building Regulations and their impact on historic buildings to the construction design professions - architects, engineers, and surveyors; drafting of a
similar questionnaire and its circulation to Building Control, Fire and Planning Authorities throughout the State; interviews with
interested individuals; and analyses of legislation, regulation and practice here and in selected countries abroad, notably
the United Kingdom and the United States.

With the increased interest in and awareness of environmental and heritage issues, it is hoped that this report will make a positive contribution to the progression of sustainable development strategies at all levels in Ireland.

This report reviews the threats faced by some of our most important coastal heritage sites, and shows clearly the
enormous task facing statutory authorities in putting in place policies and practices to ensure that there is no further deterioration of the heritage value of these sites.

The aim of this conference was to draw attention to this important element of our heritage - the heritage of churches - by launching the Survey of Churches in Ireland, as well as giving advice onbasic care of churches and their contents.

The Heritage Council was established as a
statutory body under the Heritage Act, 1995. The Heritage Act provides a
definition of ‘heritage’ which is truly comprehensive and includes:
monuments; archaeological objects; heritage objects such as art and
industrial works; documents and genealogical records; architectural
heritage; flora and fauna; wildlife habitats; landscapes and seascapes;
wrecks; geology; heritage gardens; parks and inland waterways.

The introduction to the Act reads as follows:

"An act to promote public interest in and knowledge, appreciation and protection of the national heritage, to establish a body to be known as an Chomhairle Oidhreachta, to define its functions, to provide for the exercise by the Minister for Arts, Culture and The Gaeltacht of functions in relation to the national heritage and to provide for other matters connected with the matters aforesaid." [10th April, 1995]