Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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702. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the grant schemes available to refurbish a building (details supplied). [37478/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My role, as Minister, 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. The building referred to by the Deputy is on the Record of Protected Structures for the relevant local authority. As such there is a duty on the owner/occupier to protect it from becoming endangered whether through damage or neglect. The building is also a recorded monument, and any proposal to carry out work to the building would require two months notification under the National Monuments Acts.

My Department provides grant aid to for conservation and repair works to Protected Structures (i.e. structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures).

The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures. Both schemes are administered via the local authorities and Circulars setting out the terms and conditions of the schemes are available on all local authority websites, and my Department’s website. Owners of certain designated structures can avail of tax relief under Section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act.

The Heritage Council, which is funded by my Department, also provides grants for works to heritage buildings. In the context of a particular building, the best advice for the owner may be to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer in the relevant local authority who will be able to advise and assist on the above as applicable.