I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 329 together.
The Deputy is aware, no doubt, that last November I announced a major investment of over £100 million in the built heritage under the national development plan, including an unprecedented commitment to the continued conservation and protection, in the period up to 2006, of the sizeable portfolio of over 740 national monuments and historic properties in the care of Dúchas, the heritage service of my Department. Having conducted a detailed review of the properties under my control I have identified in excess of 100 sites, which will require major work from either a conservation, protection or presentation point of view, to be funded during the period of the plan.
In general, my Department does not directly provide financial support for the restoration of buildings in private ownership. However, the Deputy may also be aware that the Heritage Council, which is an independent statutory body established under the Heritage Act, 1995, and funded by my Department, operates a buildings at risk register for heritage buildings of architectural significance. The register informs the administration by the Heritage Council of its architectural grant scheme where buildings in need of essential repairs are grant-aided. I understand that the council is making available £1.5 million under this scheme in 2001. Details of the grants provided by the Heritage Council under this scheme are contained in its annual report.
In addition, the Deputy will be aware that in May of 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 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.
