Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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205. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the action that he has taken to protect and restore listed buildings identified as being at risk on the An Taisce list (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44382/22]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I am committed to working in partnership with all stakeholders in the heritage sector, and welcome An Taisce's highlighting of historic buildings at risk.

My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.

Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect the architectural heritage by including particular structures on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) and overseeing their proper development and maintenance accordingly. As Minister, I can make recommendations to local authorities for buildings and structures to be included on the RPS. These recommendations arise from the surveys of my Department's National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH).

My Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage structures through the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). Earlier this year, I announced combined funding of €8m – an increase of 33% on 2021 – to 590 projects under these schemes. I was pleased to note that these projects included some of the structures listed by An Taisce.

It is intended to run these schemes again in 2023 and information will be made available in November of this year. Applications from the owners of any of the listed structures would be welcome and intending applicants should liaise with their relevant local authority for further details. Officials in my Department are also available to provide advice to owners on these schemes.