Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 2

Written Answers. - Heritage Council.

Michael Ring

Question:

845 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage Gaeltacht and the Islands the funding which was provided in 2000 for the Heritage Council for the maintenance of heritage properties throughout the country; and if funding for the council will be increased in this year's budget. [22159/01]

Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands (Miss de Valera):

Full details of all funding provided for the Heritage Council up to and including 2001 are shown in the published Revised Estimates for Public Services under the Vote for my Department. The total funding for the council in 2000 and 2001 was £5.5 million and £7.986 million respectively.

As an independent statutory body established under the Heritage Act, 1995, the council has autonomy in deciding how it allocates the resources available to it among the various grant schemes which it operates. Details of the amounts expended by the council in the year 2000 on its grant schemes are contained in the council's annual report for 2000 which has been laid before the Oireachtas. The Deputy will appreciate that I am unable at this stage to anticipate what funding will be provided for the Heritage Council in the Estimates for Public Services 2002.