The scope for funding for the conservation of the built heritage is currently constrained by the significant demands on public finances within the context of a recovering economy that is facing a challenging national and international environment. Financial support is being provided by my Department through a number of structured schemes for the conservation and protection of heritage buildings. My Department operates Structures at Risk Fund to enable conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. This fund is administered through the local authorities and seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties, and give support to owners/occupiers in their long-term commitment to securing the future of the architectural heritage which might otherwise be lost. Applications for this scheme have now closed for 2016, and recommended projects are currently being finalised.
On 21 October 2015, I launched a new €2 million scheme - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme - for the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). This scheme is operating via the local authorities on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014. Its aim is to support a significant number of labour-intensive, small-scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment. The scheme for this year is now fully allocated.
The terms and conditions for both these schemes can be found on my Department’s website at www.ahg.gov.ie
My role, as Minister for Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as is the role of local authorities. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 provides for the protection of architectural heritage and gives local planning authorities primary responsibility to identify and protect architectural heritage by including structures on the Record of Protected Structures. The making of an addition to, or a deletion from, the Record of Protected Structures is a reserved function of the relevant planning authority. As the structure referred to by the Deputy is currently not on the local authority’s Record of Protected Structures, and therefore not protected under the Planning and Development Acts, I would suggest that the local authority is contacted with a view to enquiring about this process.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. For 2016, the Council is administering a community based heritage grants scheme available for projects that contributed to particular heritage themes. The Council would be able to advise if the particular structure referred to by the Deputy would be eligible for funding, now or in the future. Further details can be found at www.heritagecouncil.ie.
