Vol. 523 No. 5
249 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the plans she has to grant aid the refurbishment of listed houses; if she will have her Department, in co-operation with the local authorities, carry out an up to date listing of houses and buildings of historical and architectural interest not currently listed to prevent further loss of structures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21515/00]
In general, my Department does not directly provide financial support for the restoration of buildings in private ownership. However, one source of public funds for such projects is the Heritage Council, which has powers to provide advice and assistance, including financial assistance, in relation to the protection, preservation and promotion of the physical heritage. It should be noted that, although my Department funds the Heritage Council, it is an independent statutory body established under the Heritage Act, 1995 and I have no function in relation to any decisions by it regarding the disbursal of grants.
In addition, the Deputy will be aware that in May 1998, together with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, I launched the Package of Proposals for Strengthening the Protection of the Architectural Heritage. That package, which is being progressively implemented by both Departments, adopts a comprehensive approach to the protection of our architectural heritage in its many and varied forms rather than singling out individual aspects of that heritage. As part of the package, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government launched, in 1999, a grant scheme for the conservation of protected structures, which is being administered by local authorities with funding in the order of £4 million per annum. All inquiries relating to this scheme should be directed to the relevant local authority.
The owner or occupier of a building which is determined by me to be a building which is intrinsically of significant scientific, historical, architectural or aesthetic interest, and which is determined by the Revenue Commissioners to be a building to which reasonable access is afforded to the public, can apply under section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 for relief in respect of expenditure incurred in the repair, maintenance or restoration of the building. Ultimately, the decision to allow tax relief in respect of an approved building is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners.
Under the provisions of the Architectural Heritage (National Inventory) and Historic Monuments (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1999, a nationwide survey is currently being carried out by my Department to help identify structures and buildings which are of architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest. The Government is committed to completing all interim county surveys within the next two years and the complete national inventory within a period of 12 years.
In addition, under the provisions of the Local Government (Planning and Development) Act, 1999, each planning authority must, for the purpose of protecting structures or parts of structures which are of special architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical interest, include in its development plan a record of protected structures within its functional area. Under section 4 of the Act, I may recommend to a planning authority that specific structures be included in its record of protected structures. To date, I have recommended that 791 buildings be included in the record of protected structures of a number of planning authorities.
