Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 April 2015
706. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she has received an application for funding from a group (details supplied) in County Donegal; if she will be in a position to grant funding to this group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15255/15]
View answerMy Department is currently operating a Structures at Risk Fund to enable conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000, as amended, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund, which has an allocation of €624,000 in 2015, is administered through the local authorities and encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost. The fund, which is now closed, was open to two applications per local authority. My Department did not receive any formal application under the Structures at Risk Fund 2015 from the relevant local authority for funding for the group referred to by the Deputy.
Given the many competing priorities for funding built heritage, resources are not currently available from my Department to consider funding this group at present. My Department’s built heritage capital budget is fully allocated for 2015 and is focused on the Structures at Risk Fund and the conservation and presentation of the State’s heritage portfolio, which is managed by the Office of Public Works. Officials in my Department are available to advise and assist local authorities on the continued reuse and regeneration of historic areas, where applicable.
