Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 November 2015
14. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the level of funding that has been provided to the Heritage Council in 2015; and the increase in this funding that is being provided under budget 2016. [39529/15]
View answerThe Heritage Council, which my Department funds, has been allocated a sum of €5.593 million in 2015 to fund its role of supporting heritage infrastructure and promoting pride and best practice in the conservation and sustainable management of heritage assets. This figure excludes an additional and separate €0.378m allocated to the Heritage Council in 2015 as part funding for the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
I refer the Deputy to my answer to priority question number 1 today with respect to the increase in funding for 2016. As I pointed out there, my Department is currently considering the funding available for the protection and conservation of the built heritage in 2016 in the context of its overall allocation and I will publish details of funding schemes for 2016 as soon as these are finalised. In this regard and in order to maximise all potential efficiencies, my Department in consultation with the Heritage Council, will be conducting a specific expenditure review of the Heritage Council in early 2016.
As outlined in my 2016 Budget statement, I have secured an additional €2 million for the heritage sector for next year. This is being allocated to a scheme being run by my Department to support built heritage projects.
