Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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37. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the degree to which she continues to support, maintain, preserve and promote heritage sites throughout the country with particular reference to the need to ensure that nothing is lost that can be preserved for future generations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20075/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My role is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.

I recently launched Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018-2027, a major capital investment of close to €1.3 billion in funding for culture and heritage over the next 10 years. This plan will see increased investment in protecting and celebrating our built and natural heritage across the country.

Investment will include targeted supports for our built heritage such as the Built Heritage Investment Schemeand the Historic Structures Fundwhich help the owners and custodians of our heritage buildings to protect our valuable built heritage and ensure that vital traditional building skills are not lost. A major investment programme in our National Parks is envisaged with significant investment in visitor facilities and a strong emphasis on conservation and protection of biodiversity. The investment will also enable us to make our archaeological heritage more open to everyone, through better conservation, improved facilities and access.

Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritagewill also support significant investment in recreational facilities including trails networks. The plan provides €60 million over 10 years for biodiversity. It is envisaged that this will be spent on maintaining and restoring important habitats such as peatlands. The funding will directly support employment in the heritage, conservation and archaeological sectors. By safeguarding and preserving our heritage sites, we will also promote tourism and sustainable regional development.

More details on the commencement and completion dates for projects and programmes, as well as the timing of the expenditure in relation to them, will emerge as we go through the process of appraisal and planning as required under the Public Spending Code. These will be designed and delivered with a strong emphasis on conservation and allow us to protect and preserve our most fragile environments and, investing in our culture, language and heritage, provide a well-being benefit for all.

Ireland’s archaeological heritage is of international significance. I am the owner or guardian of almost 1000 national monuments in State care right across the country ranging from prehistoric burial monuments, to medieval fortifications and religious sites. Our national monument portfolio also includes more modern structures such as the eighteenth-century terrace at 14-17 Moore Street. Local authorities are responsible under the National Monuments Acts for maintaining the national monuments of which they are guardians.

The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants and supports for the protection and preservation of our 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. Grant schemes for 2018 are advertised by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie.