The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has issued statutory guidelines to planning authorities on their obligations to protect the architectural heritage. Although primarily aimed at planners, the document will also be of interest to owners of protected structures, their architects and others interested in architectural conservation.

The guidelines are in two parts. Part 1 deals with the legislative and administrative provisions for protecting the architectural heritage under the Act. Part 2 contains detailed guidance notes on identifying and protecting elements of a building. Guidance is given on a range of subjects including the content of planning applications, the concepts of curtilage and attendant grounds and meeting the requirements of the Building Regulations. Appendices outline potential research sources and advise on the content of architectural heritage impact assessment reports. The publication is extensively illustrated and fully indexed. There is a bibliography of some related texts and a brief glossary of building terms.

Architectural Heritage Protection Guidelines for Planning Authorities was launched by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on 23 February 2005. Copies are available from the Government Publications Sales Office, Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, priced €10, or can be downloaded from the Department's website: www.environ.ie