Vol. 503 No. 6
53 Mr. D. Carey asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he has examined the system of financial incentives for the preservation of listed buildings; and the current programme being supported by his Department. [6885/99]
Last year the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and I announced a comprehensive package of legislative and other measures to strengthen the protection of our architectural heritage. One of these measures is the establishment of a new scheme of grants to assist owners and occupiers to carry out conservation works to protected structures. Work on the terms and conditions of the scheme has reached an advanced stage and I intend to announce full details together with financial allocations to local authorities next month. A total provision of £3.9 million has been made available for the scheme in 1999.
