Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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As Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I am aware of the growing risk to the sustainable future of the remaining stock of Irish Historic Houses in private ownership, where owners have consistently struggled, throughout the last century, to find sustainable alternative means of meeting the on-going costs of their maintenance. I have also recognised that these Houses are often a hugely important resource for local communities and a vital attraction for tourists, which can and do contribute significantly to the local economy. It is within this context that I had the Action Plan for Irish Historic Houses in PrivateOwnershipdeveloped and secured Government approval for it. I was very pleased, therefore, to subsequently launch the Action Plan on 30November last.

The objective of the Action Plan is to assist historic houses in general with their on-going protection, management and promotion into the future. Specific actions include

- working with the local authority to develop a more streamlined, partnership approach with the local economy;

- seeking to optimise the provision of existing supports and fiscal incentives; and

- seeking to develop new initiatives that might help to establish priorities by way of targeted support mechanisms.