Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 January 2012
131 Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if grants will be available in 2012 for the conservation works on historic or listed buildings, not in public ownership, in line with the grant scheme that was available for this purpose through local authorities in previous years; when persons can make an application for such a grant scheme in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4256/12]
View answerDue to the current national economic crises, and the significant reductions in the capital allocations provided to my Department, the resources available for the provision of grants for the protection of the built heritage are limited.
In 2011, the operation of the Local Authority Conservation Grants Scheme and the Civic Structures Conservation Grants Scheme were suspended. However, a Structures at Risk Fund was established by my Department to assist with works to safeguard structures, both in private and civic ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000-2010. This fund was administered by local authorities. I intend to provide an allocation for the Structures at Risk Fund in 2012 and I will be notifying local authorities of the details of the scheme shortly. It should be noted that the Heritage Council also provides some funding for the protection of the built heritage.
