John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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7. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of applications made for funding under the 2018 structures at risk fund; the criteria used in selecting the successful projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27116/18]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) supports conservation works to historic structures, in both private and public ownership, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration.  The Fund encourages the conservation, regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure protected structures which might otherwise be lost. The allocation for the 2018 scheme is €1.324m. 

The 2018 Structures at Risk Fund was announced by the then Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, in November 2017 and open to the public for applications until 31 January 2018. The SRF is generally administered by local authorities, who receive applications from members of the public and select projects to put forward to my Department for funding.

A total of 228 applications were submitted to local authorities in 2018, of which 128 applications were shortlisted by the local authorities and submitted to my Department for assessment. A total of 76 projects were approved for funding.  Due to the volume of applications received this year, and the high standard of applications generally, it was not possible to fund every eligible project.

Applications were assessed by an expert panel within my Department in accordance with assessment criteria as set out the Circular governing the scheme, which is available on my Department’s website and all local authority websites. These criteria are:

- Significance of the Structure

- Urgency of the Works

- Quality of the Method Statement

- Efficacy of the Works

Details of all of the projects approved for funding under Structures at Risk in 2018 are published on my Department’s website and all local authority websites.  

In relation to a particular historic structure, the best advice for the owner or applicant is generally to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer in the local authority who is well placed to offer advice and assistance in relation to the grants and supports available, as well as providing feedback on grant applications and other specialist advice on building conservation.