Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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2. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a detailed progress report to date on the Historic Towns Initiative Pilot Scheme; if he will provide a detailed report of its financial return in terms of heritage tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26102/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department is currently developing a heritage-led historic towns initiative with Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council. My primary objective with this initiative is to ensure that the participating towns in the pilot scheme - Westport, Youghal and Listowel - will have access to and an understanding of appropriate guidance to assist them in best conserving their heritage assets. In so doing, they can underpin the sustainability of their communities and local economies. It is my hope that meeting these goals will also significantly enhance the visitor experience in these towns and will help to maximise the potential positive contribution of tourism to each of them.

Following the launch earlier this year of a framework document, funding has been allocated by my Department and by Fáilte Ireland to the three towns for projects in 2013. Each town will make an additional contribution in the form of direct financial aid or contribution-in-kind and the pilot phase will run through 2013 and continue into 2014. The pilot towns are currently implementing the steps set out in the framework document and each has set up a local historic towns initiative working group consisting of representatives from local government and community groups and other stakeholders. The local groups are responsible for drawing up a vision for their towns, with specific objectives supported by a clear action plan. It is intended that the first projects identified in the action plans will commence this summer.

I understand that the three town councils, with financial support from Fáilte Ireland, will shortly undertake a baseline survey to gauge the views of the local community, various business stakeholders and visitors regarding the issues they see facing each town. This survey will be used to monitor the effectiveness of the pilot phase of the initiative, its return in terms of heritage-led regeneration and the impact on tourism. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is too early at this stage in the project to provide a detailed report of its financial return in terms of heritage tourism.

Acting Chairman:

I wish to inform Members that there is one minute for each supplementary question and each answer, giving a total of four minutes overall.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. Despite the fact that work remains ongoing, I can say with great confidence that Youghal, the town in which I live, has benefited hugely from this project.

Youghal has a public realm plan, as I am sure Westport and Listowel do. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to roll out their plans.

The pilot scheme has had a knock-on effect, in that many businesses are decorating their premises. The towns benefit greatly from this. There is a clear connection between a town's visual impact and its ability to attract tourists. Does the Minister plan to extend the scheme and will there be a second phase of funding for the three towns involved if the scheme is deemed successful?

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge Deputy McLellan's support for this initiative. She was present in a supportive capacity at the public occasions at which we launched the programme, including the occasion in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government's heritage section. The town of Youghal has embraced this opportunity and is making something special out of it.

The project's future is one of my main priorities in office. Some 34 towns were designated heritage towns by Fáilte Ireland, primarily in the early 1990s. It seems that fewer than half of them are actively promoting themselves as such. I will revisit 31 of the towns and try to re-energise them. Some are availing of the brand whereas others are not.

Of the network of 21 walled towns, some also happen to be heritage towns. The walled towns network is an all-Ireland initiative and presents a great opportunity for North-South co-operation through Tourism Ireland, which promotes all of the island abroad, to expand the heritage town concept to Northern Ireland. The two categories can be marketed together.

I will extend the pilot scheme and will probably choose a further three towns based on certain criteria that I will outline. It is a worthwhile initiative. As Deputy McLellan stated, it is working in Youghal.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Very much so.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I have seen it working in Listowel and Westport.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Youghal is also the second largest walled town in Ireland after Derry in Northern Ireland. In the current climate of mass emigration and high rates of unemployment, it is impossible to overestimate the importance of schemes like the historic towns initiative for each of the three towns involved. I hope that it can be expanded. I have a slight concern that the abolition of town councils might have a negative effect, as the scheme must be done in co-operation with local authorities.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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One of the criteria for choosing Youghal, for example, was the presence of an architectural conservation officer in the county. I am sure that every county with a heritage town has such an officer. This is an essential criterion. The changing format of local government will not affect the scheme. Actually, it might help. In some cases, a county may have more resources than an urban authority. I am anxious to continue the scheme and to re-energise it as much as possible.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question No. 3 is in the name of Deputy Finian McGrath, who is not present. Unless there are arrangements for someone else to take his question, we will pass on to Question No. 4.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I would normally read out the question.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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We could hear the answer.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised to move to Question No. 4 by the clerk.

Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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The Minister would normally read out his answer.

Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The person who nominated the question must be in the Chamber for the answer to be read. I have learned something new today.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I accept the Chair's ruling.