Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Implicit in the answer is that there will be no scheme in 2015, which is very regrettable and represents a failure on the part of the Minister's Department. I urge the Minister to go back to the Minister for Public Expenditure on Reform to secure the funding involved. As she quite rightly said, a fairly small figure of €5 million unleashed €10 million in private investment, which is badly needed and which delivered worthwhile jobs while allowing us to maintain the fabric of the built heritage of this country. It is very important the built heritage is retained.

All of us in this House see buildings of historic importance across the length and breadth of this country crumbling before our eyes. The thatched cottage is a uniquely Irish phenomenon but I see those cottages falling into decay because their owners cannot afford their upkeep.

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