David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 46: To ask the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question Nos 28 and 34 of 22 June 2011, if he will provide details of State funding received by the Irish Heritage Trust to date; his plans to further support the work of the trust in acquiring additional major heritage properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29855/11]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 57: To ask the Minister for Arts; Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 34 of 22 June 2011, if the review of Irish Heritage Trust has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29854/11]

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

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he indicate who is responsible for carrying out the review? Is one person responsible, is it the Department or is it some outside agency or group of people? What is the timescale for the completion of the review and will the results be published? Will the Minister comment on the strategic plan for Fota House under the trust? Will he outline the position regarding the administrative overheads of the trust? He referred to a figure of €2.5 million. Does that money relate to administration? Will the Minister provide a breakdown in respect of the figures for administration?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The review is being carried out by my Department. There was an initial promise to the effect that the operation of the trust would be reviewed following a five-year period. The original idea was that this would be a major initiative and that there would be a great deal of money available to the trust to allow it to take on other large-scale projects similar to the one at Fota House. Unfortunately, economic conditions changed and the initiative could not be continued. It is in those circumstances that my Department is carrying out its review of the trust in the context of the latter's future.

In respect of the strategic plan to which the Deputy referred, I visited Fota House recently and was very impressed by what I saw. Fota House and its gardens provide a major amenity for Cork city and the surrounding hinterland, which extends eastwards throughout the county and on towards Waterford. With proper promotion and a proper strategy - work on which is ongoing - I am of the view that Fota House will in time be in a position to sustain itself. The figure of €2.53 million about which the Deputy inquired relates to the operational activities of the trust.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Is it true that the employees of the trust are all based in Dublin and that they are administering the trust's only property, Fota House, from the capital? Would it not be more efficient to base these employees at a location closer to Fota House? How many people are employed by the trust and will the Minister provide an indication of who these individuals are and where they are based?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I do not have that information with me but I can certainly supply it for the Deputy. When I went to Fota I did not ask the people if they were from there but they seemed very enthusiastic. I can find out the information quite easily and if people are based locally, it is easier to manage or work in a facility. I am sure there is a major local input, although members of the trust may not live there.

With regard to the figures, the attendance has doubled since the trust took over the House. There is major potential for the future and I know Deputy Stanton has a personal interest in the subject. Fota House is a great amenity for the State. The gardens at the back are being restored and have seen some horticultural activity. They are also a very important attraction.