The Heritage Council was established in 1995 as an independent statutory body to propose policies and priorities for the identification, protection, preservation and enhancement of Ireland's heritage. Heritage is defined as including monuments, archaelogical objects, historic buildings, flora, fauna, wildlife habitats, landscapes, seascapes, wrecks, geology, heritage gardens and parks and inland waterways.

The council has a full-time staff of 13 at its headquarters in Rothe House, Kilkenny. It also has four specialist committees dealing with architecture, archaeology, wildlife and inland waterways.