Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

282. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number and location of heritage projects currently in hand or proposed with particular reference to potentially at-risk buildings or sites throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55425/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

283. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which protected or listed buildings throughout County Kildare are currently in the course of any remedial or protective works; the extent to which waiting lists have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55426/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together.

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). This year 562 heritage projects across every county in the country were allocated funding from a combined sum of €6m under these schemes, an increase of nearly 40% on 2020.

My Department also provides financial support through the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) for work relating to monument with funding allocated to 139 projects this year, across all local authorities, to a value of just over €4.2m. Details of the projects funded by these schemes have been published on my Department’s website and on local authority websites.

These schemes are run on an annual basis and do not operate waiting lists. I am pleased to inform you, however, that I recently announced the opening of applications to HSF 2022 and BHIS 2022, with combined funding of €8m, an increase of 33% on 2021.I will announce funding in respect of CMF 2022 in the coming weeks. Details of how to apply to all three schemes may be found on my Department's website as well as all local authority websites. 

With regard to financial supports for works at protected buildings in County Kildare, the Historic Structures Fund 2021 is providing €20,000 to Newbridge College Library and €50,000 to Donadea Castle. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2021 is supporting 14 projects as detailed in the following table.