Vol. 526 No. 6
344 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands if she will provide details of the way in which the funding for heritage projects, which she announced recently, is to be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27287/00]
The funding will be provided through the capital allocation for the built heritage in the Vote of my Department and the total programme reflects the funding to be made available to me from the Exchequer under the national development plan.
In deciding on where funding for the built heritage should be allocated in the period to 2006 I gave full consideration to the 740 properties under my control and reached the decision that the emphasis for the period in question should shift from the provision of new or improved facilities for visitors at heritage sites, which has been the main focus for the last decade or so, to the conservation of heritage properties. To this end, and following the review of properties I just referred to, I identified approximately 100 sites which I considered were in need of investment from either a conservation, protection or presentation point of view and, as I announced on 5 November 2000, allocated £65 million to allow the necessary work to be undertaken in a phased manner in the period to 2006.
345 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands her plans in relation to restoration and or renovation works at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27288/00]
I propose to undertake a programme of conservation works to the cathedral walls under the national development plan. It is expected that this work will continue over the next five years.
I am also examining ways to improve access to the site in order to alleviate congestion caused by large number of visitors during the peak season.
