Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In respect of acquiring or accepting properties, my Department acquires heritage structures and monuments, which are either of national importance or strategic importance, from time to time as resources and opportunities permit. Usually this is in the interests of the protection, preservation, conservation and management of monuments or sites. Such acquisitions are considered within the context of available resources which includes public expenditure management considerations.

In all cases, my Department assesses potential acquisitions carefully, taking into consideration similar existing properties within the State portfolio, gaps in the State portfolio, any conservation works required, and the cost of acquisition and maintenance over the short and longer term to the Exchequer.

Accordingly, my Department is only ever in a position to make a very limited number of acquisitions as all related expenditure must be met from within existing voted allocations.