Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 601: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the funding available towards the restoration of a mill along the River Barrow in Bagenalstown, County Carlow. [35563/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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My Department funds a scheme of grants for the conservation of protected buildings, which is administered by the local authorities. It is a matter for each individual local authority to assess and prioritise applications and approve funding. The scheme is aimed at assisting owners and occupiers to carry out conservation works on structures of architectural significance in the Record of Protected Structures, which the Local Authority has listed under the Planning and Development Act 2000. It is possible, therefore, that funding for the conservation of the mill in question would be available from Carlow County Council.

In addition, under the Urban and Village Renewal Operational Programme 2000-2006, my Department administers a scheme of EU co-financed grants for the restoration and conservation of buildings of significant architectural heritage merit and which are in public ownership or open to the public generally. The 2006 grants scheme has closed but a replacement scheme for 2007 onwards is being considered in the context of the National Development Plan 2007-2013.

It should be noted that the above schemes are targeted at conservation work only. Where a building of architectural merit is being converted for a contemporary use, only the portion of works relevant to conservation would be eligible.

My Department also funds the Heritage Council which administers a number of further heritage and architectural grants schemes. Information in relation to these schemes may be obtained from the Heritage Council.