Written answers

Thursday, 3 October 2024

Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government

Heritage Sites

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding options a group can access (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39529/24]

Photo of Malcolm NoonanMalcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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As Minister, I have no function in relation to famine graveyards.

However, the National Monuments Service of my Department administers the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) through the local authorities and there may be eligible monuments in or near famine graveyards. The CMF invests in our valuable archaeological heritage and helps the owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.

The CMF:

  • enables conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support;
  • builds resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change;
  • encourages access to monuments and improve their presentation.
The Community Monuments Fund has 3 Streams:1. Stream 1 offers grants up to €100,000 aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monument.

2. Stream 2 offers grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.

3. Stream 3 offers grants of up to €30,000 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/) at archaeological monuments.

The fund provides funding for projects in relation to:

(i) Archaeological Monuments that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) under the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended);

(ii) Archaeological Monuments that are identified in the Sites and Monuments Record compiled by the National Monuments Service.
Eligible projects are drawn from the following categories:
a) projects proposed by a Local Authority in relation to archaeological monuments in public ownership, where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated;

b) projects proposed by a Local Authority on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of relevant archaeological monuments where there is a tangible public benefit;

c) projects with a clearly defined heritage focus and community or public benefit proposed directly to the Department by a State-funded organisation working in the heritage area.
The scheme for 2025 will be announced in November this year.

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