Written answers

Tuesday, 8 July 2014

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Departmental Programmes

Photo of Sandra McLellanSandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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458. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht his plans to expand the successful historic towns initiative; and if he will provide in tabular form the amount spent on historical towns initiative for each of the past four years. [29950/14]

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael)
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My Department is developing the heritage-led Historic Towns Initiative in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland and the Heritage Council. A pilot programme for this initiative in Westport, Youghal and Listowel operated through 2013 and will conclude in 2014. My primary objective with this pilot is to ensure that the participating towns have access to, and an understanding of, appropriate guidance to assist them in best conserving their heritage assets and, in so doing, underpin the sustainability of their community and local economy. It is my hope that meeting these goals will also, by extension, significantly enhance the visitor experience in these towns, thus helping to maximise the potential positive contribution of tourism to each of these towns and their respective hinterlands.

Each participating town has set up a local Historic Towns Initiative working group consisting of representatives of local government, businesses, community groups and other stakeholders. The local groups are responsible for drawing up a vision for their town with specific objectives supported by a clear action plan. Funding was allocated by my Department to the towns for projects in 2013 and 2014 and this is set out in the table below. Additional support was provided to the initiative by Fáilte Ireland and the relevant local authorities. Projects funded under the initiative include public realm enhancement works, heritage interpretation works and conservation works to heritage structures.

On conclusion of the pilot programme later this year, 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 previously advised to the Deputy, 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.

YearAllocation to Historic Towns Initiative
2013€240,000
2014€120,000

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