Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress on the built heritage investment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4180/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), which I launched in 2015, is one of a number of State financial supports that provide for the conservation and preservation of heritage structures. The scheme was developed to assist with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). In certain cases, the scheme is also available for the conservation of structures within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) where, in the opinion of the local authority, a need for works to enhance the character and appearance of an ACA has arisen and has been demonstrated.

The 2016 Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), with an allocation of €2 million, was operated via the local authorities, on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014. In 2016, the scheme supported over 270 projects across the country, creating over 17,000 days of employment in the conservation and construction industries, while helping to regenerate urban and rural areas. The scheme has also leveraged aggregate investment just under €5.5 million; more than double the scheme’s allocation of €2 million.

I announced recently that the scheme will operate again in 2017. It will provide a €2 million euro investment this year for the repair and conservation of protected structures and will again be operated by the Local Authorities. This scheme will support a significant number of projects across the country and help provide employment in the conservation and construction industries.

The focus and priority of the scheme is on heritage-led job creation. As a result, local authorities are required to report to the Department on the number of jobs created under this scheme. The scheme aims to leverage private capital for investment in a significant number of labour-intensive, small-scale conservation projects across the country. It also supports the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment.