Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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717. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she is aware of the cultural and economic importance of an institution (details supplied) in County Mayo, the commercial threat to the future of that institution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36420/15]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is fully aware of the cultural and economic importance of the institution in County Mayo referred to by the Deputy and of the threat to its future. In the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage for the county, the related building was rated of ‘National’ significance.

In recognition of that significance, conservation works have been undertaken in recent years to the building with public funding support in the region of €2m being channelled through the Heritage Council. This was directed at the vital re-roofing works necessary to secure the survival of the fabric of the asset.

However, as the Deputy can appreciate, the scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant reduction in the public finances. Funding for the protection of built heritage continues to be provided by my Department in 2015 via a number of schemes, which are either directly administered or delivered through local authorities or through the Heritage Council. The remainder of my Department’s built heritage capital budget for 2015 is focused on the conservation and presentation of the State's heritage portfolio, which is managed by the Office of Public Works.

I am aware of the growing risk to the sustainable future of the remaining stock of large Irish Historic Houses, where owners have consistently struggled throughout the last century to find sustainable alternative means of meeting the on-going costs of their maintenance. My Department is also aware of the recent economic report commissioned by Mayo County Council by CHL Consulting Ltd showing visitor numbers in relation to the institution referred to.

I am prepared to work closely with the owners of such properties. In February 2015, I approved the establishment of an Irish Historic Houses Committee, with representatives from relevant Government Departments, the Irish Historic Houses Association (a representative body for Historic House owners), Fáilte Ireland, relevant non-governmental organisations and a number of individual house owners.

The Committee’s main objective was to provide me with advice regarding strategies to support the sustainable future of Irish historic houses. There are, in particular, complexities of balancing private ownership with public benefit. I also see the need to examine if existing supports provided by government departments, local government, State agencies and non-governmental organisations could be better co-ordinated in order to better support the owners who are the custodians of these properties.

My Department has now concluded a draft Action Plan in this regard that I hope to publish shortly.