Written answers

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Departmental Funding

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1193. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding mechanisms available through her Department for smaller heritage and tourism projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21367/15]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy can appreciate, the scope to provide funding for the Built Heritage is constrained by the current national economic difficulties and the significant reduction in the public finances. While there is no specific funding mechanisms for the area referred to, my Department is currently operating the Structures at Risk Fund 2015 to support the conservation and repair of heritage structures, in both private and public ownership that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), and which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund, which has an allocation of €624,000, is 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 deadline for applications to this fund has now passed.

The remainder of my Department’s built heritage capital budget for 2015 will be focused on the conservation and presentation of the State's heritage portfolio, which is managed by the Office of Public Works.

Funding will continue to be provided by my Department via a number of schemes, which will be either directly administered or delivered through local authorities and certain agencies.

The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, has also recently awarded funding of €547,000 to 197 heritage projects nationwide, under its 2015 Community-based Heritage Grants Scheme. 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.

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