Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he expects to carry out restoration works towards the protection of buildings throughout the country in the next three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21987/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 421: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number and location of endangered heritage sites or buildings throughout the country; his future intentions in regard to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21988/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he has examined the possibility of availing of the opportunities arising from the economic downturn to improve, upgrade or refurbish heritage sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21993/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 421 and 426 together.

My Department is responsible for the legislative framework, general policy development and promotional awareness of Ireland's built heritage. My Department also provides some limited funding for the built heritage directly or through the OPW. €2,005,000 has been provided in this year's Estimates for built heritage capital. My Department also provides funding to the Heritage Council which in turn supports many heritage projects throughout the country. My Department is providing a total of €4,811,000 of Exchequer Funding for the Heritage Council in 2012 together with €1,500,000 from the Department's share of the Environment Fund. Final allocations for future years have not been decided.

The management and delivery of specific conservation projects is generally carried out through bodies such as the OPW, local authorities and heritage organisations that receive grants awarded by the Heritage Council. This does not include private investment in conservation projects. Information in relation to the total number of endangered heritage sites, buildings and excavations suitable for conservation and restoration projects is not available to my Department.

In relation to protected structures, section 59 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 provides for a planning authority to serve notice to require works to be carried out in relation to endangerment of such structures. On the basis of information submitted by the planning authorities to my Department, there were 19 such notices served nationwide in 2008, 27 in 2009 and 10 in 2010, figures for 2011 will be available shortly.

In 2011 my Department set up an Expert Advisory Committee representing key stakeholders to review the operation of Part IV (Architectural Heritage) of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This review includes an examination of how the legislation is operating in practice regarding the protection and management of architectural heritage from a central and local government perspective and the need, in the light of current economic circumstances, to consider alternative ways of supporting the conservation of protected structures.

In the context of the Government Policy on Architecture 2009-2015, the Department is developing various policy actions which contribute to the protection and appropriate re-use of our built heritage and aims to deal with on-going strategic objectives indirectly effecting our architectural heritage such as climate change, adaptive re-use for historic properties and a forward plan-led approach to cultural heritage and urban design in our towns and cities.

The scope to provide additional funding for the protection, conservation and development of the State's built heritage is constrained by the current national economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances. However, my Department will continue to provide funding for the protection, conservation and development of our built and natural heritage, in so far as resources allow.

Question No. 422 answered with Question No. 120.

Questions Nos. 423 and 424 answered with Question No. 419.