Denis Naughten
Question:134 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government his plans to increase the level of grant available to refurbish listed buildings. [20067/02]
Written Answers. - Housing Grants.
The conservation grant scheme for protected structures was introduced in 1999. The standard grant is 50% of the approved cost of works subject to a maximum of €13,000. A local authority may, at its discretion, vary this amount downwards, or in exceptional circumstances upwards, subject to a maximum allowable grant of 75% of the cost of the approved cost of works or €25,000 whichever is the lesser. Accordingly, the scheme is not intended to meet the full cost, but is designed to assist owners or occupiers of protected structures to undertake necessary works to secure their conservation.
Local authorities administer this scheme and each local authority is allocated a fixed amount of funding for grant purposes in each calendar year. Local authorities are required to prioritise applications on the basis of a scheme of priorities drawn up by the authority. This is a statement by the local authority of the criteria that will be used in prioritising grant applications.
In 2003 an amount of €2.888 million is being made available to local authorities under the scheme. The allocation for 2003 was the maximum that could be made available having regard to the wider budgetary situation. My Department will continue to monitor its operation closely.
In addition to the protected structures scheme, funding of €1 million will also be available in 2003 under the urban and village renewal measure of the regional operational programmes. Applications for funding under this scheme are invited from local authorities, civic trust and other not-for-profit bodies to upgrade buildings of significant architectural and heritage merit and which are in public ownership or open to the public generally. I will be allocating this funding to specific projects following the evaluation of the grant applications currently before my Department. The Heritage Council will also be providing €1.27 million in grant aid this year for architectural conservation projects.
Question No. 135 answered with Question No. 123.