Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015
612. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the types and amounts of grant aid schemes available to conserve protected structures in private ownership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17836/15]
View answerFunding for the protection and conservation of built heritage will continue to be provided by my Department in 2015 via a number of schemes, which may be directly administered, or delivered through local authorities or the Heritage Council.
Yesterday (5 May, 2015), I announced grant funding of €624,000 to 22 local authorities under the Structures at Risk Fund 2015, which will enable conservation works to 28 heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts 2000, as amended, and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This Fund, which is being administered through the local authorities, encourages the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and helps to secure the preservation of protected structures, which might otherwise be lost. The Fund was open to 2 applications per local authority, of which 1 application may be in respect of a privately-owned building. The amount of funding available per project was subject to a minimum level of €15,000 and a maximum level of €60,000. Since 2011, almost 130 structures will have been funded under this scheme.
