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Conservation in the Republic of Ireland is overseen by a number of statutory and non-governmental agencies, including those with responsibility for conservation of the built environment and conservation of the natural environment in Ireland. Conservation has sometimes been a contentious issue, with debates impacting its progress since the 1960s. Concrete initiatives are sometimes driven by European Union (EU) heritage protection and environmental policies, including EU environmental law, which – as a member – the

Irish government The Government of Ireland ( ga, Rialtas na hÉireann) is the cabinet that exercises executive authority in Ireland. The Constitution of Ireland vests executive authority in a government which is headed by the , the head of government. The gover ...

is obliged to adopt and implement.

Heritage conservation

Heritage conservation Historic preservation (US), built heritage preservation or built heritage conservation (UK), is an endeavor that seeks to preserve, conserve and protect buildings, objects, landscapes or other artifacts of historical significance. It is a philos ...

has been in place in Ireland since the formation as the state, with structures protected under local, national and international legislation.

National legislation

In the 1930s, a national policy was adopted in the form of the National Monuments Act, which established preservation orders, listed national monuments, and outlined standards, prohibitions, and regulations of archaeological objects. The National Monuments Service, an agency of the Office of Public Works, is responsible for National Monuments. As of 2020, the National Monuments Service had responsibility for the conservation of approximately 1,000 individual structures at over 760 different sites.

Local legislation

The Planning and Development Act 2000 establishes that each regional planning authority (administered by county and city councils in Ireland) is responsible for maintaining a Record of Protected Structures. These structures may be protected for conservation from an architectural, historical, archaeological, cultural, social or technical perspective. Owners or occupiers of a listed protected structure are obliged to prevent the structure from becoming endangered through damage or through neglect. As of 2020, the various Records of Protected Structures contained over 40,000 structures nationally.

International conventions

Ireland has been a member of

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a List of specialized agencies of the United Nations, specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international coope ...

, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, since 1961. As of 2020, there are two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Republic of Ireland. These structures are in the

Brú na Bóinne (; 'Palace of the Boyne' or more properly 'Valley of the Boyne') or Boyne valley tombs, is an area in County Meath, Ireland, located in a bend of the River Boyne. It contains one of the world's most important prehistoric landscapes dating from ...

complex in County Meath and on Skellig Michael in County Kerry.

Non-government agencies

A number of non-government and voluntary organisations (including

An Taisce An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland (; meaning "the store" or "the treasury"), established in June 1948, is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) active in the areas of the environment and built heritage in Ireland. It considers itself t ...

(the National Trust for Ireland), the

Dublin Civic Trust The Dublin Civic Trust is an architectural conservation and educational organisation founded in 1991 that works to identify, record, preserve and publicise Dublin's architectural heritage. The trust also comments and assists to a lesser extent w ...

, the Irish Landmark Trust, and the

Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland The Mining Heritage Trust of Ireland Ltd was a voluntary, not for profit organization to celebrate and promote awareness, appreciation and conservation of remains of what is arguably Ireland's oldest industry. This is an industry which commenced ...

) undertake architectural conservation projects on a non-statutory basis.

Environmental conservation

Statutory protections

One of the earliest environmental conservation initiatives in Ireland involved the hosting of an international wildlife seminar in 1970, which was part of its contribution to the European Conservation Year. This seminar played a role in the creation of the Forest and Wildlife Service, which was created in response to the seminar's recommendation for a centralized conservation agency in Northern Ireland. One of the primary functions of the agency involves the identification of sites for conservation purposes. As of the 21st century, government agencies with responsibility for the protection and conservation of the natural environment include the

Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications ( ga, An Roinn Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide) is a department of the Government of Ireland that is responsible for the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors and regulate ...

Environmental Protection Agency A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale ...

, and National Parks and Wildlife Service. The Local Government (Planning and Development) Act 1963 also affords some responsibility for environmental protection to local authorities in Ireland, who can control development in areas "outstanding natural beauty and/or special recreational value" by designating them a "Special Amenity Area".

Voluntary organisations

Voluntary and non-governmental agencies undertaking environmental conservation projects in Ireland include the Bilberry Goat Trust,

Irish Peatland Conservation Council The Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC; ) is a national charitable organisation established in 1982 to conserve and protect a representative sample of Irish bogs, and to campaign on bog-related issues. History Having been for many years in D ...

, and

Native Woodland Trust The Native Woodland Trust is an Ireland, Irish environmental non-governmental organisation established in 2000 with the aims of restoring and protecting Irish native woodland. The Trust is dedicated to protecting the remains of Ireland's ancient ...

. A number of these organisations are members of the

Irish Environmental Network The Irish Environmental Network (IEN) is a network of environmental Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) that was established in 2002. The network is designed to give greater reach and access to funding for disparate and sometimes small member organi ...

References

{{World Heritage Sites in Ireland