Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who could not be here to address the issue.

The National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage administers the community monuments fund, CMF, through the local authorities. It was established in 2020 under the July jobs stimulus package and had an initial fund of just over €1 million. I am delighted that the grants awarded under this scheme totalled €6 million for 2022, including a grant to St Canice’s, which indicates the success of the fund over the past few years. The community monuments fund invests essential capital in our valuable archaeological heritage and helps owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.

Part of this funding is prioritised for local authorities, private owners and custodians and community groups for the care, conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments and the provision of any required measures to ensure safe access over the past few years of the Covid pandemic.

The impacts of climate change on our monuments is increasingly evident. With increased weathering and severe climate events, the repair cycle on built heritage is likely to become shorter. Increased maintenance and repair will be key to building resilience in our monuments, to enable them to withstand the effects of a changing environment. The CMF plays a key role in mitigating the effects of climate-related events at our national monuments.

The core aims of this fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and presentation of archaeological monuments. It enables conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support. It also builds resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change and it encourages access to monuments and improves their presentation. In addition, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage encourages projects to incorporate a traditional skills training element.

The community monuments fund has three streams. Stream 1 offers grants aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments. Stream 2 offers grants for development of conservation management plans and reports and detailed specification of works that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access. Stream 3 offers grants for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation, including virtually and online, at our archaeological monuments. St. Canice’s graveyard is a national monument in the ownership of the local authority. I am pleased to confirm that it was awarded a grant of just under €30,000 in 2021 and a further award of €85,000 in 2022. It is important that be recognised. I have no doubt an application for further funding will be made in the year ahead.

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