John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress which has been made to establish some form of a national trust within the State that might acquire, maintain and refurbish heritage buildings such as the Kilmainham Mills by the Camac River in Dublin 8 or other historic properties that might benefit from State funding and support for their protection, maintenance and enhancement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3931/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not propose to acquire the Kilmainham Mills complex, which is in private ownership and has recently received a planning permission for redevelopment from An Bord Pleanála subject to conditions designed to protect its historic and archaeological significance.

The purpose of a national trust initiative would be to develop methods of ensuring the preservation of key heritage buildings beyond the model of direct State ownership. The resource implications of maintaining the present State portfolio of some 750 national monuments and historic properties are significant. Accordingly, innovative alternatives to State acquisition to ensure the protection of heritage properties under threat need to be explored. In light of this, my Department engaged consultants to examine the issue of facilitating the emergence of a national trust and other trust type organisations which might, independently of Government and without State aid, acquire and manage such heritage properties.

My Department is at present evaluating the recommendations in the consultant's report. In the event that I am satisfied that the establishment of a national trust and other trust type organisations is warranted, I will submit proposals for Government approval.