Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the availability of funding for restoration works on protected buildings throughout Ireland. [27103/12]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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€1,252,000 has been provided by my Department in this year's Estimates for built heritage capital. As part of this capital programme, €500,000 is allocated specifically for protected structures at risk. Applications for this funding are made by local authorities to my Department. However, it should be noted that the deadline for applications in 2012 has now passed.

The remaining built heritage capital allocation supports funding to the Office of Public Works in respect of national monuments and historic properties in State care, a special projects fund and archaeological capital works.

My Department also provides funding to the Heritage Council, which, in turn, supports many heritage projects throughout the country. This year my Department is providing a total of €4,811,000 of Exchequer Funding for the Heritage Council, together with €1,500,000 from my Department's share of the Environment Fund.

Other programmes may also provide funding which could be used to support protected structures, for example, the LEADER Programme.