Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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25. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to expand the successful historic towns initiative. [10603/14]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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The Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) is a joint undertaking by my Department, the Heritage Council and Fáilte Ireland, which have come together to promote the heritage-led regeneration of Ireland’s historic towns. In order to pilot the HTI, three towns – Listowel, County Kerry, Westport, County Mayo, and Youghal, County Cork – were chosen, based on their respective typologies in terms of their geographical locations, form and evolution, and distinct local heritage. The key objective of this HTI pilot is that the cultural heritage of historic towns can be used to create a desirable place in which to live, do business and to visit. With leadership and vision, this initiative can also help generate economic benefits that will enable the historic town to prosper, such as increased visitor numbers and decreased numbers of vacant buildings and commercial premises. A framework document was launched in February 2013 and a working group convened to represent the three partner organisations and town councils in order to develop the framework for the implementation of the pilot phase. The initiative is currently ongoing and my Department has allocated €240,000 in capital funds in 2013 divided between the three towns. Funding was also allocated by Fáilte Ireland to the towns in 2013 and each town made an additional contribution in the form of direct financial aid or contribution-in-kind.

To date the initiative has resulted in a series of innovative programmes of works which have enhanced the heritage character of each town. The pilot phase is due to be completed in mid-2014, following which the operation of the initiative will be reviewed. At that stage I will consider the future expansion of the initiative to other historic towns, along with participating criteria for historic towns. However, any enlargement of the initiative will, as the Deputy can appreciate, be subject to the availability of funding in the context of the many competing priorities for the conservation, preservation and presentation of the State’s heritage.