Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 390: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grants will be made available for the renovation of listed buildings in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4786/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Due to the current national economic difficulties and the significant contraction in the capital allocations provided to my Department, the Deputy will appreciate that the resources available for the provision of grants for the protection of the built heritage are limited at this time.

In 2011, the operation of the Local Authority Conservation Grants Scheme and the Civic Structures Conservation Grants Scheme were suspended. However, a Structures at Risk Fund was established by my Department to assist with works to safeguard structures, both in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010. Categories of structures eligible for grant assistance include those in the Record of Protected Structures of the local authorities and those in Architectural Conservation Areas, where exceptional circumstances are deemed by my Department to apply. This fund was administered by local authorities. I intend to provide an allocation for the Structures at Risk Fund in 2012 and I will be notifying local authorities of the details of the scheme shortly.

It should be noted that the Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, also provides funding for the protection of the built heritage.