Vol. 410 No. 6
1 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Taoiseach if any grants, other than those already announced, are envisaged for the enhancement, restoration and refurbishment of buildings of a historical and cultural significance in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The National Heritage Council distributes, subject to my approval, national lottery funds to heritage projects, including architectural projects. Grants are offered on an ongoing basis, following direct application to and assessment by the council. Assessment and decisions about whether to recommend grant assistance and the amount in any case are matters for the council. The council have a number of requests for funds under consideration at any one time and these can be expected to include some from Dublin. It would not, however, be possible to say whether these are likely to be successful.
Apart from the grants offered by the National Heritage Council, a number of tax reliefs have been provided in the Finance Act, 1991, for the Temple Bar area of Dublin. These include double rent allowance, owner-occupier allowance for private dwellings and "Section 23" allowances for rented residential accommodation. A special new 100 per cent capital allowance is being given for refurbishment of existing buildings in the Temple Bar area. This new capital allowance will cover the actual expenditure incurred on refurbishment plus either the cost of acquiring the building or its value as at 1 January, 1991, exclusive of site cost or value, when the amount spent on refurbishment exceeds the latter.
Recognising what has been done by way of incentives, grants, etc. to promote Dublin as the European capital of culture, would the Taoiseach acknowledge that there is one glaring omission, after half the year has already passed, and that is, that nothing has been done, despite repeated requests, to refurbish or to give any grant aid whatever other than £10,000 from the Soldiers and Sailors Fund for the birthplace of George Bernard Shaw at No. 33 Synge Street which is in a state of considerable delapidation?
That is a special matter worthy of a separate question.
I suppose we would all like to be as generous as we can about these matters but I am afraid that it is not a matter for me.
Would the Taoiseach acknowledge that on 20 March last, following a request from me, he did agree to look at the possibility of lottery funding for this purpose? Furthermore, is he aware that crisis time has arrived for the volunteer group promoting this project, that they have been notified that as and from September of this year, Allied Irish Banks will be looking for immediate repayment of the £54,000 and that if the money is not forthcoming the house will be put on the market?
I will convey that information to the authorities concerned.
May I ask the Taoiseach if he is satisfied with the way in which the council are inclined to consult with local authorities to identify buildings and sites that require preservation? Is he satisfied that the council are up to date on what needs to be done in the general area? May I suggest to him that his answer indicates a weakness in the scheme, whereby it is often left to local initiative to alert the council and to make an application? By way of illustration may I suggest to the Taoiseach that the case of Howth House — which is very close to his own constituency and no doubt well known to him — is a good example of what I am talking about? That building is now close to the point of demolition and there is little a council such as the National Heritage Council can do to save it. Perhaps the council should have had a role at an earlier date in the preservation and protection of the building.
I recollect having had advice concerning the Howth House issue today.
The Deputy has been adroit and circuitous in getting Howth House on to the agenda here in this way. It is not really a matter for the National Heritage Council. The problem in regard to Howth House is entirely a planning matter. On the broader issue of whether I am satisfied with the operations of the heritage council, I certainly am; I think they are one of the most active and effective of such bodies that I know of. They do wonderful work. By and large they respond to applications made to them but they also take their own initiatives, and they have taken a number of initiatives, with regard to particular places, buildings or anything of that kind.
The question refers to buildings of historical and cultural significance in Dublin. I recollect that I have before me a question for consideration on the Adjournment concerning the Howth aspect of the matter to which the Deputy referred.
I will not delay the Taoiseach who has, perhaps, identified a certain circuity in my question. I appeal to him to take a personal interest in the case in question because it could well do with his intervention and support.
I am proceeding to Question No. 2 in the name of Deputy Spring.
