Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the recent report on the present and future protection of thatched structures in Ireland, which states that there are only 2,000 thatched houses left here; the action he will take to further encourage protection of these homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36614/05]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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In view of the importance of the thatched roof as part of our built heritage, I established a steering group of key interests and agencies in Ireland and Northern Ireland to commission the recently published report on the present and future protection of thatched structures in Ireland. A copy is available in the Oireachtas library.

The report includes useful data for owners of thatched buildings, their professional advisers and the building industry, including a list of thatchers, suppliers of thatching materials and insurers of thatched houses. I have invited comment and feedback from all stakeholders in order to develop an improved approach to conserving the surviving stock of thatched buildings. Some of the actions proposed in the report are already being implemented, and a number of local authorities have commissioned inventories of the thatched buildings in their areas.

My Department provides thatching grants set at two-thirds of the approved cost, subject to a maximum of €3,810 in respect of non-medical card holders, rising to 80% of the cost or a maximum of €6,350 in respect of medical card holders. In the case of a house situated on certain specified islands off the west and south coasts of Ireland, the maxima are €5,714 and €8,252, respectively. These grants are payable in respect of necessary works of renewing or repairing existing thatched roofs of houses where the conditions of the scheme are met. Details regarding payments made under the scheme are available in the housing statistics bulletin, which is available in the Oireachtas library.