A protected structure is a structure that a planning authority considers to be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social, or technical point of view. Every planning authority is obliged to have a Record of Protected Structures (RPS) that includes structures of special interest in its functional area and into which details of protected structures are entered. The RPS forms part of the Development Plan.
Section 51 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides that a record of protected structures shall be maintained by the Planning Authority and included in the development plan. These are structures or parts of structures which form part of the architectural heritage and which are of special architectural, historical or archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
Section 57 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides that the carrying out of works to a protected structure or proposed protected structure shall be exempted development only if the works would not materially affect the character of the structure or any elements of the structure, which contributes to its special, architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.
Works is defined as any act or operation of construction, excavation, demolition, extension, alteration, repair or renewal and, in relation to a protected structure or proposed protected structure, includes any act or operation involving the application or removal of plaster, paint, wallpaper, tiles or other material to or from the surfaces of the interior or exterior of a structure. The Department has issued guidelines entitled “Architectural Heritage Protection” 2004.
Record of Protected Structures - Offaly County Development Plan - 2009-2015.pdf (size 7.2 MB)
Record of Protected Structures -Tullamore Town & Environs Development Plan - 2010-2016.pdf (size 2.1 MB)
Record of Protected Structures - Birr Town & Environs Development Plan - 2010-2016.pdf (size 2.9 MB)
Conservation Grant Scheme
Conservation Grant Application Form 2011.doc (size 264.7 KB)
Explanatory Notes Conservation Grant Application 2011.doc (size 288.8 KB)
NB Note for Conservation Grant Applications 2011.doc (size 27.1 KB)
RPS Seminar June 2009.pdf (size 1.1 MB)