Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the status of the proposed Irish heritage trust; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30396/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has recently approved the establishment of an independent Irish heritage trust as an important extension to the existing State measures in support of the nation's built heritage. The trust will have a mandate to acquire important heritage buildings on a case-by-case basis where there is imminent risk to their heritage value and to provide for public access.

The Irish heritage trust is being established on the basis of recommendations in Indecon international consultants' report on the issue of trust-type organisations to manage heritage properties, a copy of which is in the Oireachtas Library. The trust will operate on the basis of charities legislation and the Minister for Finance is considering, in the context of the budget for 2006, the necessary tax incentives, both in relation to donations of heritage properties to the trust and donations to endowment funds set up to maintain properties.

Indecon recommended that properties should be accompanied by an endowment fund sufficient to maintain the property in perpetuity. While the trust must raise a large part of these endowment funds through tax-incentivised private and corporate donations, the Government recognises that the trust will require greater support in its early days and it is accordingly intended to contribute 75%, at a cost of up to €5.5 million, for the first property, diminishing as more properties are acquired by the trust and as the trust raises its own funds from the private sector.

The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government will have to certify that the all properties acquired are of appropriate heritage value. The Minister will also have to be satisfied, on the basis of independent financial advice, that the endowment and other supports for each property are sufficient to conserve, maintain and present them for public access.

The Government has approved the provision of funding in 2006 of €500,000 from my Department's Vote to meet the establishment and initial running costs of the trust. However, the trust will also have a strong remit to maximise non-Exchequer resources in support of its activities, and to encourage membership and volunteers. My Department is working on detailed proposals for the structure, governance, chairman and members of the trust.