Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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159. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which he or his Department is engaged in the restoration of major historical or cultural sites throughout the country at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11475/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department is involved in a range of actions and initiatives aimed at improving the presentation, preservation and understanding of our national heritage. In the built heritage area, a fund of €5million has being made available under the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012. This fund will support a significant number of projects across the country and employment in the conservation and construction industries. The scheme will operate throughout 2014 and will be administered by the local authorities. More generally, under section 53 of the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2012, I am empowered to make recommendations to planning authorities to include in their Records of Protected Structures any buildings that I consider merit such recognition and the associated protection that would then apply to their particular architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest.

My Department’s National Monuments Service also works in close collaboration with the Office of Public Works on survey, excavation and research work to optimise the protection, management, interpretation and presentation of national monuments in State care. While my Department is not at present directly engaged in the restoration of any major historical or cultural sites, it is currently undertaking refurbishment works at Killarney House, located within Killarney National Park, at the National Gallery of Ireland and at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, home of the Irish Museum of Modern Art.