Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
644. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding avenues which are available to the owners of protected buildings in order to carry out essential works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46463/18]
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 Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a scheme for the repair and conservation of buildings 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 and tradespeople. I have allocated funding of €2m in total for this Scheme in 2018.
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 €1.3m for the Structures at Risk Fund nationally in 2018. The Structures at Risk Fund will be revamped for 2019 and will become the Historic Structures Fund. The Fund will open for applications shortly, together with the Built Heritage Investment Scheme for 2019.
Details of these funding schemes are available on my Department’s website and on local authority websites. A list of projects approved for funding is also published on the Department's website.
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 generally 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.
Projects funded in Longford and Westmeath
The Structures at Risk Fund - 2018
|
Local Authority |
Site Name, Address |
Grant |
|
Longford County Council |
Clondra Lockhouse, Old Strokestown Road, Clondra, Co. Longford |
€15,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
St. Catherine's Church, Ballymacormack, Co. Longford |
€15,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
Gandon Gates, Porters Lodge, Carrick Estate, Co. Longford |
€20,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Tullynally Castle, Castlepollard, Co. Westmeath |
€9,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Drumcree House, Drumcree, Co. Westmeath |
€15,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Equine Barn, Rathcam House, Gaybrook, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath |
€19,000 |
The Structures at Risk Fund - 2017
|
Local Authority |
Site Name, Address |
Grant |
|
Longford County Council |
Gandon Gate, Carriglass Demesne |
€30,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
Kilglass House, Glebe, Legan, Co Longford |
€8,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Ardnurcher Church, Horseleap, |
€23,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Tullynally Castle, Castlepollard, |
€6,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
Moate Gaol, Main Street, Moate, |
€23,000 |
Built Heritage Investment Scheme – 2018
|
Local Authority |
No. of Projects |
Grant |
|
Longford County Council |
11 |
€50,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
5 |
€50,000 |
Built Heritage Investment Scheme – 2017
|
Local Authority |
No. of Projects |
Grant |
|
Longford County Council |
12 |
€50,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
7 |
€60,410 |
