Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grants available from a heritage perspective, to refurbish and repair an old house of historical relevance, which has suffered significantly from dampness, and needs significant roof repairs, windows and other such repairs, in order to restore it to habitable condition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21069/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the scope to provide grants for the protection of our built heritage is constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. However, my Department will continue to provide funding for the protection, conservation and development of our built heritage, insofar as resources allow.

In 2012, my Department is providing €500,000 through a "Structures at Risk Fund" to assist with works to safeguard structures, both in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011. This funding is focused primarily on those protected structures most at risk. The fund will be administered by local authorities and my Department has recently notified each City and County authority of the details of the scheme for 2012.

The closing date for receipt of completed applications by my Department from local authorities passed last Friday.

The Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, also administers a number of conservation grants schemes which provide assistance for conservation of the built heritage. However, as I understand matters, the closing dates for applications under these schemes for 2012 have now passed also.