Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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394. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider taking in charge a historic site of significant heritage importance (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52911/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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The number of national monuments in State care already take in some 1,000 sites at over 760 locations around the country. These entail considerable resource commitments in terms of both funding and personnel. Nevertheless, in the interests of preservation, conservation, management and presentation of built and archaeological heritage, my Department acquires certain additional heritage properties and monuments from time to time as resources and opportunities permit. These properties may come onto the open market, may be bequeathed to the State or may be offered to it free of cost. In all cases my Department examines the potential acquisition carefully, taking into account the conservation needs of the property and Value for Money principles.

There are currently no proposals before my Department in relation to the acquisition of the structure referred to by the Deputy. My Department is only ever in a position to make a very limited number of such acquisitions. Should this property come on the market, my Department will certainly examine the possibility of acquisition.

The property referred to by the Deputy is included in the statutory Record of Monuments and Places (KE047-048) and, as such, is protected under the National Monuments Acts. Notwithstanding the fact that the structure appears to have no registered owner, as a recorded monument, it may be eligible for grant funding under the Community Monuments Fund as a project proposed by the Local Authority in partnership with a local community or heritage group.

The Community Monuments Fund is there to support local authorities, private owners, custodians, and community groups in the care, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites, such as this one. The scheme is administered through the local authorities and it is expected that the 2022 scheme will be announced shortly.