Dáil debates

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions

Historic Towns Initiative

10:35 am

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if specific consideration will be given to the protection and restoration of market towns and their centres in the context of a future historic towns initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16781/19]

Photo of Eugene MurphyEugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I understand Deputy Aindrias Moynihan is taking the question.

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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This question relates to the historic towns initiative, a small but important fund which can have a great impact on communities where it is deployed. It provides an opportunity for market towns to restore buildings and facilities such as the Briery Gap in Macroom, County Cork, which stands adjacent to the fantastic market square. Is the Minister considering additional funding in this area and supports to the historic towns initiative?

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.

The historic towns initiative is a joint undertaking between my Department and the Heritage Council. Historic towns include those of medieval and pre-medieval foundation, plantation towns, planned estate towns and those established around local industries. While almost all Irish towns are historic in origin, the historic towns initiative guidelines state a town seeking to benefit from the initiative should possess significant cultural and heritage assets and have a distinctive sense of place.

Each local authority is invited to apply in respect of one historic town with an indicative minimum population of 1,500 inhabitants. Priority is given to projects that are plan-led and likely to make a meaningful contribution to the heritage-led regeneration of the town.

The existing initiative commends itself fully to market towns for their consideration. While it is not a criteria for funding, all the towns awarded grants can be described as market towns. On 27 February, with the Heritage Council, I announced funding of €1 million shared by six towns under the 2019 programme round. These towns are Kilrush, County Clare, Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ballina, County Mayo, Navan, County Meath, Boyle, County Roscommon, and Nenagh, County Tipperary.

Deputy Niamh Smyth has inquired about the Market House, Castleblayney. Monaghan County Council was granted €140,000 in funding under the historic towns initiative. I am not sure if Macroom has applied for funding but it will be open again next year.

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for her reply.

The scheme as it stands is limited. Some counties have multiple projects which they would like to put forward for the scheme. While the €1 million in funding made available is welcome and will make a difference to various areas, it is also limited. For example, redevelopment of the Briery Gap in Macroom would cost in excess of €4 million but there is only €1 million available in the entire fund.

What other options is the Minister considering for projects such as this? Is there an opportunity to broaden it out in order that local authorities which have more projects can put them forward to be considered?

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The term “market town” has no legal effect but it is still used loosely to describe a town which functions or functioned historically as a commercial centre for a rural hinterland. All the towns given grants under the historic towns initiative could be described as market towns but this is not a criterion for funding. The grant circular suggests an indicative minimum population level of 1,500 inhabitants and asks local authority applications to set out various criteria such as the significance of the town and its heritage.

There are supports available for local authorities interested in applying for the initiative. Information is available from the Heritage Council and from its website. In the past, the Heritage Council has held well-attended workshops for local authority personnel who are interested in applying for the scheme. It is proposed to run similar events in the future. In November 2018, I announced €4.3 million in funding for the built heritage investment scheme and the historic structures fund in 2019. This scheme is for the repair and conservation of structures on local authority records of protected structures. There is also funding available from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Photo of Aindrias MoynihanAindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I have outlined the cost of the redevelopment of the Briery Gap in Macroom at €4 million and I note funding has been made available in respect of the Market House in Castleblayney. However, it falls short of what would achieve a good result there. Is the Minister willing to commission a short, targeted survey of the level of funding required for projects such as the market towns with a view to ascertaining if the scale of funding is adequate? Are there ways of broadening it out to ensure the towns and the aforementioned projects can reach their full cultural and tourism potential?

Photo of Josepha MadiganJosepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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There is always room to streamline and improve existing schemes and funds. I am satisfied with the amount of grants available, €1 million, for market towns in 2019. Towns which have benefitted are Kilrush, Letterkenny, Ballina, Navan, Boyle and Nenagh. In 2018, a further €1 million was given to market towns such as Youghal, Ballinrobe, Kells, Carrick-on-Suir, Portlaoise and Kilmallock, County Limerick.

Monaghan County Council had applied for funding for works to the Market House in Castleblayney and was granted €140,000. These works were to commence the process of stabilising the building. That application was later withdrawn, however, by the local authority because of its growing appreciation of further works which needed to be done and the likelihood, therefore, that the funding awarded would not have made a significant difference to the future of the building, which needs a much larger-scale intervention. There was a Commencement matter in the Seanad specifically on the Castleblayney project on 19 February 2019.