Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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173. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many thatched houses are falling into ruin in view of the fact that owners cannot afford the 60 or 70 thousand euros needed to redo the thatch; if he will consider revisiting the issue identifying the thatched houses that are realistically capable of being maintained allowing him to then make adequate grant aid available to these smaller amount of houses in order to prevent the vast majority of thatched houses disappearing into dereliction in the next few years. [19320/13]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Part IV of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2011 provides for the protection of architectural heritage. The Act gives primary responsibility to planning authorities to identify and protect architectural heritage, including thatched buildings, by including them on the Record of Protected Structures. Inclusion on the Record of Protected Structures places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with development proposals affecting them and to seek to safeguard their future. While the overall number of thatch roofs declined in the second half of the 20th century, legislative protection and heightened awareness of this part of our national heritage has assisted with the stabilisation of this decline.

As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. There is currently a number of State financial supports providing for the conservation and restoration of heritage structures in general, or specifically aimed at thatched structures. In 2012, my Department provided €500,000 in grant-aid assistance through a Structures at Risk Fund administered by local authorities to assist with works to safeguard structures protected under the Planning and Development Acts which are at significant risk of deterioration. This funding assisted in the conservation of two thatched structures. This fund will operate again in 2013 with today (24 April, 2013) being the closing date for receipt of applications by my Department from local authorities under the scheme.

The Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, grant-aided the restoration of twenty-three thatched structures under their Heritage Management Scheme in 2012. In addition, the Heritage Council, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, also administers a grants scheme to REPS 4 participants on the conservation and repair of traditional farm buildings, known as the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme. Grants are available under this scheme to carry out approved conservation works to the exterior of farm outbuildings, including roofs. It will be a matter for the Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports in 2013 and future years having regard to competing priorities for limited resources.

I am advised that the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government also administers a grant scheme for the renewal or repair of thatched roofs of owner occupied houses.

I understand, from applications for grant aid submitted to my Department, that the cost of re-thatching can vary considerably depending on a number of property specific factors. As part of the Advice Series for owners of historic buildings, my Department plans to publish guidance on the maintenance and repair of thatch in 2013, which will include further practical advice for owners and practitioners. This will be available on my Department's website at .