Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 57 together.

From 2006 to date, the Irish Heritage Trust has received €9.235 million in funding from my Department. This figure includes €2.53 million towards the operational activities of the trust and endowment funding of €5 million towards the conservation and preservation of the Irish Heritage Trust property, Fota House, in County Cork. This funding comes from the Irish Heritage Trust subhead within the Vote of my Department. In addition, €1.705 million has been provided from the built heritage capital programme of my Department towards conservation works at Fota House. The trust also received additional grants totalling €34,000 from the Heritage Council.

It was originally envisaged that each property acquired by the trust would be accompanied by an endowment fund - largely provided by the State - sufficient to conserve, maintain and present the property to the public into the future. The level of State endowment funding was to diminish as the trust's property portfolio grew. However, as a result of the difficult budgetary position, it has not been possible to continue State endowment funding to the trust beyond the first acquisition.

In the dramatically changed economic circumstances, the trust is focusing on property acquisition projects which do not require endowment funding from my Department. For some of these projects to be realised, utilisation of the provisions of section 1003A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended, may be required. This section provides for a scheme of tax relief of up to €6 million in any one year in respect of heritage properties and contents donated to the Irish Heritage Trust. For a donor of a property to the Irish Heritage Trust to qualify for tax relief on the donation, I must determine, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Act, that the property is suitable for acquisition by the trust.

Against this backdrop and in accordance with the intention that it would be reviewed after its initial period of operation, my Department has commenced a review of the operation of the trust. I invited and have received observations on an issues paper, prepared by my Department, regarding the operation of the trust during the past five years. The issues paper and the observations received will form the framework for discussions with the trust with a view to the completion of the review over the coming months.

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