Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1548. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the current status of heritage sites in the State to include the number of sites registered, those at risk, and funding allocated to each for their preservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42261/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Following clarification with the Deputy, in responding to this question I am taking heritage sites to mean buildings of architectural merit that are listed on the Register of Protected Structures (RPS) under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) rather than other forms of heritage sites, such as archaeological sites or monuments, cultural locations, or other forms of heritage properties.

My role with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended), 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 in their area by including structures of special interest on the RPS. Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives local authorities powers to safeguard their future. At present there are almost fifty thousand protected structures around Ireland.

While the addition of buildings and structures to the RPS is a reserved function of the Local Authority, I can make recommendations to local authorities for buildings and structures to be included. These recommendations arise from the surveys of this Department's National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH). The final decision for inclusion or removal of structures rests with the local authority.

The National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) was established in 1992 in ratification of the Granada Convention of 1985 and was established on a statutory basis under the provisions of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1999 to identify, record and assess the post-1700 architectural heritage of Ireland, consistently and uniformly, as an aid in the protection of that architectural heritage.

The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) within my Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible 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).

The BHIS is a grant scheme that seeks to help the owners and custodians of historical buildings to maintain and conserve these important structures. Grants of between €2,500 and €50,000 are available. This year, some 650 projects received funding totaling over €8 million for the repair and conservation of protected structures, under the scheme. The window for applications for the 2026 iteration of this scheme will open shortly.

The primary focus of the Historic Structures Fund is to invest essential capital in our valuable built heritage, which aims to assist the conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the broader benefit of communities and the public. The HSF offers grants from €50,000 up to €200,000. This year 28 projects received funding under HSF totaling over €3.5 million for the repair and conservation of protected structures. All applications for both HSF and BHIS are made to the relevant local authority.