Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 518: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of funding obtained by Ireland from the European Union for the preservation of heritage buildings over the past five years throughout the country; and the breakdown by county of national expenditure for the preservation of heritage buildings over the same period. [23454/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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EU co-financing has operated in relation to my Department's Architectural Conservation Grants under the Urban and Village Renewal Scheme. Conservation grants are paid to local authorities and bodies such as Civic Trusts to upgrade public buildings of significant architectural and heritage merit. A sum of €2,141,358 has been recouped from the European Commission in respect of expenditure under this scheme for the years 2001-2004 inclusive. The 2005 claim has yet to be submitted.

My Department funds a scheme of Architectural Conservation Grants for protected structures which is administered by the local authorities. The breakdown by county of expenditure for the years 2001-2005 is outlined at Table 1.

My Department also has overall responsibility for the Built Heritage Capital Programme which is implemented principally through the Office of Public Works. The Heritage Council also provides grant assistance from its overall budget in respect of heritage buildings at risk. The Heritage Council provides a comprehensive breakdown of its expenditure in its annual reports, which have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Details are also available on its website, www.heritagecouncil.ie.

The breakdown of the Department's funding through the OPW under the Built Heritage capital Programme since 2004 on a county-by-county basis is being compiled and will supplied to the Deputy when completed.