Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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39. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide details on the Historic Towns Initiative, and the way funding support was allocated under this scheme; the cost of this initiative; the total number of projects supported; if she will consider extending this initiative to other towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23553/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) aims to promote heritage-led regeneration of the historic cores of our rural historic towns by harnessing the cultural heritage assets of participating towns. The wider objective is to help stall and, ultimately, reverse the trend towards depopulation, loss of vibrancy, vacancy and dereliction which currently exists. This approach has been successfully used throughout Europe as a means of creating vibrant urban quarters with integrated historic buildings; transforming the public realm; and conserving historic cores, to positive advantage for residents and visitors. During 2013 and 2014, my Department, in conjunction with Fáilte Ireland, the Heritage Council and three local authorities, ran a pilot HTI programme in Youghal, Listowel and Westport. Central to the programme was that it was driven at local level, with guidance by a national steering group comprising officials from each local authority, my Department, the Heritage Council and Fáilte Ireland. An HTI guidance manual was also developed to assist each town in the pilot programme.

A capital investment from my Department consisting of €240,000 in 2013 and €101,500 in 2014, supported by investment by Fáilte Ireland, and with additional funds from the local authorities, chambers of commerce and private individuals, funded the pilot initiative, which, in total, supported over 38 projects for the three towns. A preliminary review, undertaken by my Department, of the pilot programme concluded that a roll out of the HTI could bring substantial benefits in terms of the economy, employment, and the social and cultural fabric of our historic towns.

A national roll-out of the HTI is currently under consideration but will be contingent on the level of funding available to my Department.