Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he hopes to offer financial assistance to heritage projects in the next four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37145/11]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Due to the current national economic crises, and the significant reductions in the capital allocations provided to my Department, the resources available to me for the provision of grants for the protection of the built heritage are limited.

In 2011, I am providing €650,000 through a "Structures at Risk Fund" to assist with works to safeguard structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts with a further €1.25 million in capital assistance to the Office of Public Works to assist in the conservation and presentation of historic properties and national monuments in State care. My Department is also providing funding of almost €7.5million to support the work of the Heritage Council. The Council supports a number of conservation grants schemes. The level of funding available in the next four years to provide financial assistance to heritage projects will be subject to the normal Budgetary and Estimates processes. I hope to finalise the 2012 allocations as soon as possible once final Budgetary decisions are made.