Colm Brophy
Question:103. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the schemes available to support historic buildings that require repair; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39727/18]
View answerTuesday, 2 October 2018
Questions (103)
Written answers
My 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) supports 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 this year and 76 projects across the country have been approved for funding under the scheme.
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 and 355 projects have been approved for funding.
Details of all of the projects awarded funding under both of these schemes in 2018 are published on my Department’s website and on local authority websites.
The closing date for the 2018 schemes has now passed. My Department remains in contact with local authorities throughout the year, however, to ensure the best use of all funds under the schemes, including the reallocation of funds where, for example, projects do not proceed.
I have also provided funding of €1m in 2018 for the Historic Towns Initiative, which is a joint initiative of my Department and the Heritage Council. This initiative is supporting six historic towns in 2018 who are carrying out significant heritage regeneration projects.
The best advice for owners in relation to individual historic structures is to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer in their local authority who is well placed to provide expert advice and assistance.
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, as part of Project Ireland 2040. 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.