Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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1054. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the position regarding a Heritage Council grant in respect of a project (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20529/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across its range of programmes, given competing priorities within the heritage sector.

The Heritage Council’s Grants Programme is administered and assessed independently by the Council and, as Minister, I have no role in that regard.

Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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1055. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the steps Monaghan County Council would have to take to apply for funding to carry out restoration works to the court house/market house, Castleblayney, County Monaghan; the criteria that must be complied with in submitting an application for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20831/15]

Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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1056. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding that is currently available from her Department to carry out emergency works on the court house/market house, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, which is in the ownership of Monaghan County Council, is a building of architectural heritage and is on the list of protected structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20832/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1055 and 1056 together.

Recently I announced the awarding of €624,000 in funding under the Structures at Risk Fund 2015to enable conservation works to 28 heritage structures throughout the country, in both private and public ownership, deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration and which are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended. This Fund, which is being administered through the local authorities, encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure the preservation of protected structures, which might otherwise be lost. The Fund was open to 2 applications per local authority, of which 1 application may be in respect of a privately-owned building. The deadline for applications to this Fund for the current year has now passed and my Department did not receive any formal application for funding from Monaghan County Council for funding conservation works to the Court House/Market House in Castleblaney.

The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. The Council recently announced funding for 197 heritage projects for its 2015 Community-based Heritage Grants Scheme totalling €547,000. The scheme, which supports the continuing conservation and development of Irish heritage through local community based groups, is expected to generate total investment of more than €1 million. Monaghan County Council may wish to contact the Heritage Council at regarding the issue of eligibility for funding for any future Council schemes.

Officials in my Department are available to advise local authorities on the conservation, reuse and regeneration of historic structures, where applicable.