Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018
32. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports provided to built heritage projects in County Offaly in 2017 and 2018; her plans in this regard for 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26717/18]
View answerFinancial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures is provided by my Department through a number of schemes which are generally administered by local authorities.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures (i.e. structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures). It is designed to leverage private capital for investment in small scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled conservation professionals. I have allocated funding of €2 m nationally for this Scheme in 2018. In 2017 and 2018, the Built Heritage Investment Scheme provided a total €174,382 in grant aid for 34 projects in County Offaly.
The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. I have allocated €1.324 m nationally for the Structures at Risk Fund 2018. In 2017 and 2018 a total of €42,000 was allocated to two projects in County Offaly under the Structures at Risk Fund.
Details of the projects approved for funding under both schemes are published on my Department’s website and local authority websites.
My Department has provided €350,000 in funding to the OPW in 2018 to assist in the conservation and presentation of historic buildings and national monuments in State ownership. The two Departments continue to work closely together on survey, excavation and research work relating to our national monuments.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of the built heritage. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports. Grant schemes for 2018 are advertised by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie.
In terms of future funding, Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027 represents a major capital investment scheme of close to €1.3 billion in funding over the next 10 years. This plan will see increased investment in protecting and celebrating our built heritage across the country. More details on the commencement and completion dates for projects and programmes, as well as the timing of the expenditure in relation to them, will emerge as we go through the process of appraisal and planning as required under the Public Spending Code.
