Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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349. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if funds are available for the upkeep of protected structures on the grounds of schools or other institutions that do not have their own resources for such work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38381/20]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Both schemes would accept applications for works to conserve protected structures on the grounds of schools or other institutions, provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria. Eligible structures would normally be on the Record of Protected Structures of the relevant local authority. In the context of a particular protected structure on the grounds of a school or other institution, the best advice for the owner may be to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer in the Local Authority. They will be able to advise on the various types of funding available to assist with the building.

In 2020, 450 heritage projects across every county in the country were awarded a combined sum of over €4.3m under these schemes. In addition a further €1m was announced for 52 built heritage projects under the Government's July Jobs Stimulus Package. The funding will supplement 28 projects already approved under the BHIS and HSF, as well as 13 new projects categorised as urgent built heritage works. The funding will also support one project under priority actions identified in the Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for the Built and Archaeological Heritage, and will assist with the progression of 10 projects with a climate change element at properties managed by the Irish Heritage Trust.

I recently announced details of funding for the 2021 grant schemes, under which €3m is being made available under the BHIS and a further €3m under the HSF. Details are available on my Department’s website here

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and on the website of each local authority. Applications to the local authorities are open generally until 29 January 2021.