Written answers

Thursday, 18 June 2015

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Architectural Heritage

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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28. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details on the steering group set up by her to advise on the future of Irish historic country houses; when the group will report to her; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23554/15]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has established an Irish Historic Houses Steering Group, the objectives of which is to advise me with regard to strategies to support the sustainable future of larger Irish historic houses, in particular with regard to the complexities of balancing private ownership with public benefit, and to ascertain if existing supports provided by various government Departments, local government, State agencies or non-governmental organisations can be better co-ordinated in order to better support the owners who are the custodians of these properties.

With this in mind and in collaboration with the Irish Historic Houses Association (IHHA), my Department convened a steering group in February of this year, which comprised of owners or their representatives, stakeholders in government Departments and agencies, including heritage organisations active in the sector, to meet on four occasions between March and June to advise my Department in relation to sustainable futures for these houses.

It is expected that a short action plan with recommendations and associated actions will be the outcome of this process. The objectives of a final action plan will be to assist historic houses in general in terms with the on-going protection, management and promotion of these important architectural heritage assets into the future. It is hoped that an initial action plan will be completed shortly.

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