Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 472: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress of the Irish National Trust in acquiring and presenting significant heritage properties; the budget of the trust in the years 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010; the number of staff employed by it in each of those years; the remuneration awarded to each of the board members and chief executive officer in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36521/10]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Irish Heritage Trust was established to acquire for public access major heritage properties where the State does not wish to acquire them directly and where there is an imminent risk to their heritage value. The Trust is designated as a charity under the Companies Acts. The staff of the Trust are not public servants and the salaries set are a matter for the Trust.

The Irish Heritage Trust has acquired one heritage property, to date, Fota House in County Cork. My Department provided endowment funding to the Trust of €5 million towards the conservation and presentation of the property. The Trust has also used the provisions of Section 1003A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997, as amended, to enable the donation of the Richard Wood Collection of Irish Art and Furniture to the Trust. This collection is now presented in Fota House. At the Fota House property, the Irish Heritage Trust has established an innovative events programme, guided tour visitor experience, volunteer programme, and an online educational initiative as well as carrying out necessary conservation works to the property.

In the current economic and budgetary circumstances, the Irish Heritage Trust is focusing on partnership/acquisition projects that will not require State endowment funding.

The budgetary and other information requested in relation to the Irish Heritage Trust is set out in the following table.

Outturn data refers to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Vote (Irish Heritage Trust Subhead)