Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
555. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding in place to renovate old houses with heritage features that are not in GLAS (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38768/18]
View answerMy Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through a number of schemes which are generally administered by local authorities.
The Structures at Risk Fund (SRF) 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 €1.3m for the SRF in 2018.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of protected structures, designed to leverage private capital for investment in small scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled conservation professionals and tradespeople. I have allocated funding of €2m nationally for this Scheme in 2018. Details of all projects approved for funding under both of these schemes in 2018 are published on my Department’s website and local authority websites.
While no specific structure has been mentioned by the Deputy, the best advice for owners in relation to individual historic structures is to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer in their local authority who is very well placed to provide expert advice and assistance.
The closing date for the 2018 schemes has now passed. My Department remains in contact with local authorities throughout the year to ensure the best use of all funds under the schemes, including the reallocation of funds where, for example, projects do not proceed.
In terms of future funding, Investing in our Culture, Language and Heritage 2018 – 2027 represents a major capital investment scheme of €1.2 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.
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 are advertised by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie.
