Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans for the conservation of historic buildings that are in a perilous state of repair at present and if funding is available to carry out major conservation work cooperating with other State agencies on a building (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16448/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides funding under the built heritage capital programme to the Office of Public Works (OPW) to assist in the conservation and presentation of historic properties and national monuments in State care. It should be noted that there has been a significant reduction in the budgetary allocation to this programme in recent years.

The 2011 allocation to the programme is €2.005 million. €1.250 million of this funding has been allocated to the OPW. The remainder is being provided for a Structures at Risk Fund and for archaeological protection. The Structures at Risk Fund has been established to assist with works to safeguard structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010. 23 local authorities have been issued with grant offers for a total of 31 projects under the fund.

My Department also provides funding to support the work of the Heritage Council including for a number of conservation grants schemes - the Significant Places of Public Worship Grants Scheme, the Heritage Management Grants Scheme, Large Scale Heritage Properties Grants Scheme, Conservation Plan Led Projects Grants Scheme, and the Irish Walled Towns Grants Scheme.

The building referred to by the Deputy is a national monument in State care. In addition to the Built Heritage Capital Programme referred to above and funded by my Department, the OPW operates an ongoing maintenance programme for all national monuments in State care.