COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF DEVELOPMENT PLAN MEETING

Tuesday, September 01, 2009

MOTION NO. 288

MOTION: Councillor W. Lavelle

To add the Marian Grotto at Dodsboro Road, Lucan to the Record of Protected Structures in recognition of it’s important cultural significance to the local community.

REPORT:

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage is a unit within the Department of the Environment Heritage and Local Government engaged in compiling an evaluated record of the architectural heritage of Ireland. The Minister may make recommendations to a planning authority under Section 53 (1) of the Act concerning the inclusion in the Record of Protected Structures of a structure. Where an NIAH survey has been carried out, those structures which have been attributed a rating value of international, national or regional importance in the inventory will be recommended by the Minister to the planning authority for inclusion. Should the planning authority, following consideration, decide not to comply with a Ministerial recommendation, it is obliged to inform him in writing for the reason for this decision.

A planning authority must decide whether a structure is worthy of inclusion in the RPS by identifying the characteristics of special interest which would merit its inclusion. The Planning and Development Act 2000 requires that a protected structure be of special interest under one or more of the following categories:

·        Architectural;

·        Historical;

·        Archaeological;

·        Artistic;

·        Cultural;

·        Scientific;

·        Technical and

·        Social.

Following the survey of South Dublin County in 2003 the Council was provided with information on the structures within the area included in the survey. A large number of structures were recommended for addition and subsequently added to the Record of Protected Structures under the County Development Plan 2004-2010.

The Marian Grotto at Dosdborough, Lucan was not identified in the NIAH Survey of South Dublin County. The Conservation Department has assessed the Marian Grotto and it is considered that it merits a rating value of local importance. The Grotto is not considered to be of Archaeological, Artistic, Cultural, Scientific, Technical or Social interest. It is considered that the Grotto does not merit the level of protection afforded by the Record of Protected Structures. 

Manager’s Recommendation:

It is recommended that this Motion not be adopted.