Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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896. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department will provide urgent consideration to the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Cavan, in view of its potential for development as a tourism and heritage project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14814/15]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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921. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if consideration will be given to the purchase of a property (details supplied) in County Cavan by her Department or agencies under the remit of her Department, in view of its potential for development as a tourism and heritage project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14941/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 896 and 921 together.

The property referred to by the Deputy is a fine example of a Palladian villa of the 18th century and is considered of significant architectural importance. My Department, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works, may acquire heritage properties of national significance and in exceptional circumstances. However, given the many competing priorities for funding built heritage, and due to the significant reduction in funding to my Department in recent years, resources are not available from my Department to consider the purchase of the property in question.

My Department has been working closely with the relevant local authority in the maintaining and safeguarding of the property's future. Both my Department and the local authority will continue to assist and advise in determining any suitable or viable uses for the property into the future.