Written answers

Tuesday, 28 February 2017

Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Architectural Heritage

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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495. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grant assistance is available for the restoration of a listed and protected building (detail supplied) in County Mayo; the detail of the application process for grant assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9827/17]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My role, as Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the role of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets.

There are a number of ways in which my Department and other bodies act in respect of possible heritage sites/buildings deemed to be at risk. Financial support is provided through a number of structured schemes for the repair, conservation, preservation or safeguarding of protected structures, sites or monuments.

Both the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2017 and the Structures at Risk Fund 2017 are open for applications throughout the month of February. Applications are made via the relevant local authority. Details of the schemes are available on my Department’s website and each local authority will have details of the application process for their areas on their own websites.

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2017 is for the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). The scheme aims to support a significant number of labour-intensive, small-scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment. I understand that the building in question was in receipt of grant funding under the scheme of just under €10,000 in 2016.

The Structures at Risk Fund 2017 helps with conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund is again administered through the local authorities and seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties, and give support to owners/occupiers in their long-term commitment to securing the future of the architectural heritage which might otherwise be lost.

My Department also funds the Heritage Council, which provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports annually, having regard to competing priorities for limited resources. They have just announced their Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2017, which is open for applications from 1 March 2017. Information on the scheme is available on their website.

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