David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the plans of Irish Heritage Trust to acquire for public access any other major heritage properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16443/11]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht further to Parliamentary Question No. 37 of 11 May 2011, when the review of the operation of Irish Heritage Trust will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16442/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 34 together.

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 was established as an alternative mechanism to acquire major heritage properties, assisting in preventing a further decline in the nation's architectural heritage portfolio and opening them up to realise significant social and economic benefits. It is designated as a charity under the Companies Acts.

The reasons behind the foundation of the Trust are as valid today as they were in 2006 when it was established. The economic environment has, however, changed dramatically and this has impacted significantly on the availability of resources, both private and public, to support the work of the Trust.

My Department has commenced a review of the operation of the Trust against this backdrop, and in accordance with the intention that the Trust would be reviewed after its initial period of operation. I expect that the first phase of the review will be completed shortly. This will form the framework for discussions with the Trust with a view to the completion of the review over the coming months.

With regard to potential acquisitions, it was envisaged at its inception that each property acquired by the Trust would be accompanied by an endowment fund, largely provided by the State, sufficient to conserve, maintain and present the property to the public into the future. The level of State endowment funding was to diminish as the Trust's heritage portfolio grew. The Irish Heritage Trust has acquired Fota House in County Cork and my Department provided endowment funding to the Trust of €5 million towards the conservation and presentation of the property. Due to the difficult budgetary position, however, it has not been possible to continue State endowment funding to the Trust beyond the first acquisition.

In the dramatically changed economic circumstances, the Trust is focusing on property acquisition projects that will not require endowment funding from my Department. For some of these projects to be realised they may require the utilisation of the provisions of section 1003A of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The Deputy will appreciate that, due to the sensitive nature of the Trust's discussions with individual property owners, it would not be appropriate for me to refer to any specific potential property acquisition.