Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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76. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funds which have been allocated to the 2018 built heritage investment scheme and structures at risk fund; her Department's priorities in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3071/18]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Will the Minister tell us how much is proposed to be allocated for 2018 and the number of projects that she anticipates will be funded under the assistance programme for architectural heritage, that is, the built heritage investment scheme and the structures at risk fund.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is, as I stated earlier, set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets. Financial support for the protection of architectural heritage is provided by my Department through a number of schemes. These schemes, some of which the Deputy referred to, are administered via the local authorities.

The built heritage investment scheme was developed to assist with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. The scheme leverages private capital for investment in a significant number of labour-intensive, small-scale conservation projects throughout the country and supports the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspersons and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment. The funding allocated to the built heritage investment scheme in 2018 is €2 million. Applications are currently being accepted by all local authorities.

There is also the structures at risk fund. This fund encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost in both private and public ownership. The funding allocated to the structures at risk fund in 2018 is €1.324 million and applications are currently being accepted for this scheme also. Both of these schemes are vital to the preservation of our built heritage and they are priorities for me in terms of resource allocation.

Details of these are available on the Department's website. There were 412 projects under the built heritage investment scheme in 2017. Both schemes are open for applications until 31 January 2018.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In the context of the Minister's comments about heritage and the restoration of building, is there any truth in the rumour? Having looked at the previous allocations, the constituencies of Ministers, particularly Ministers for art and culture, seem to have done particularly well. I am aware that in the Minister's constituency there is a public building which is currently closed and which has the fine appearance of a mid-20th century pebble-dashed substantial office or dwelling house, namely, Stepaside Garda station. Has the Minister any plans to receive positively any proposals on it? Looking at the list of her predecessors' allocations of the fund, and while I understand the fund is administered by the local authority, somehow or other there has seemed to be much synergy between the Minister of the day and his or her local authority. I can see Deputy Niamh Smyth smiling because the list in relation to the Minister's predecessor shows the quantum of funding allocated was significant. Would the Minister entertain an application from the Garda for the refurbishment of Stepaside Garda station, seeing as the Committee of Public Accounts would seem to have denied it?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has exceeded by half a minute.

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Leave poor Shane alone.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I will steal a march on the Minister of State's well-known colleague who perhaps has been more to the fore in this than the Minister of State has been.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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It is not up to me to comment on the eligibility for these schemes. Under the built heritage investment scheme, all protected structures, proposed protected structures and structures that contribute to architectural conservation are eligible. There are other criteria for the structures at risk fund.

In Deputy Burton's constituency, Castleknock Castle received funding of €40,000 in total - €10,000 from the built heritage investment scheme, BHIS, and €30,000 from the structures at risk fund, mainly for works to keep the walls. There was also the stud at the Gables in Porterstown Road in Luttrellstown which received €8,000 under the structures at risk fund.

Throughout the country, there will be projects for each individual constituency. I hope that people in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown do apply, and that they do so by 31 January. A local authority can request an extension of the deadline.

At the end of the day, it is all about the quality and scale of the projects. Deputy Burton correctly stated that good heritage is important. That is why good heritage officers in the local authorities are very important in terms of driving this.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Would the Minister agree then, because she seems to be hinting as much, that the acting Garda Commissioner might well consider making an application given that the Garda would obviously prefer to see its limited capital funds devoted in the first instance to areas with bigger crime problems? In asking the Minister whether she is entertaining the idea of an application for that late mid-20th century structure to which I referred, I also would like to know to what extent apprentices are employed in the conservation work projects. As the Minister will probably be aware, the Government has a dreadful record when it comes to the employment of apprentices. The building sector can barely recruit apprentices because of the Government's failure to adapt apprenticeships to modern building and construction arrangements. Will the Minister look specifically at the issue of providing for young people, many of whom are often left without any qualifications, particularly if they have left school early without a qualification and have worked in construction? In other countries, such conservation projects are widely used to train young people.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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In these schemes, the priority is job creation. As I stated, there were 412 projects in 2017 and the funding ranges from €2,500 to €15,000. The built heritage investment scheme is for applications developed to assist with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Act. The structures at risk fund encourages regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost in both private and public ownership.

I understand there are four to five projects per county. Each would be taken on its own criteria as an application for it is made to the scheme. The private-public investment ratio is 50:50. In Cork County Council, for example, there were 15 different projects.

The priority is to protect buildings from a historic perspective. I am sure that the criteria are used stringently. These schemes are positive and it is good to see them being highlighted.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We have four minutes left. I suggest that Deputy Boyd Barrett forfeits his 30 seconds, the Minister takes Question No. 78 and I will allow the Deputy one supplementary question. In doing that, I am being generous.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Two supplementary questions. Come on.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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May I make a contribution then?

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We will start anyway. I call on the Minister to respond to Question No. 78.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Not much time, Peadar.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Excuse me?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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We will hear the Minister's response first.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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We will hear the Minister's response. We are forfeiting the 30-second introduction.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Is this Deputy Boyd Barrett's question?

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Yes.