Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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253. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the progress on the built heritage investment scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40758/17]

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 is operated in partnership with the local authorities.  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 also leveraged aggregate investment of just under €5.5 million, more than double the scheme’s Exchequer allocation of €2 million.

The 2017 Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) was announced in January 2017. It has an Exchequer allocation of €3.5 million.

Nationwide, more than 500 projects across 31 local authority areas received funding approval in 2017.

Work is currently under way on the  vast majority of these projects, with a number of them already completed. My Department keeps in close contact with all local authorities throughout the year to ensure the smooth running of the scheme and that the best possible use of funding is achieved.

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is very popular and successful and I expect the full €3.5 million to be expended in 2017, supporting the owners of protected structures, creating employment in traditional construction and leveraging and encouraging private investment in protecting our heritage buildings.