Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 April 2019
221. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which employment prospects are created nationally arising from various activities and restoration works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16951/19]
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 protected 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 and tradespeople.
In 2018, €2m was provided for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and 284 projects were funded. Based on returns received from local authorities, 17,377 days of employment were created by the scheme during 2018 .
The Structures at Risk Fund, which operated up to 2018, supported conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership, which were deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. The Structures at Risk Fund was replaced in 2019 by the Historic Structures Fund, which is for conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership. The primary focus of the Historic Structures Fund is on conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the benefit of communities and the public.
In 2018, €1.324m was provided for the Structures at Risk Fund and 73 projects were funded. Based on returns received from local authorities, 7,271 days of employment were created by the fund in 2018.
On 28 March 2019, I announced that 478 heritage projects will benefit from a combined €4.3m under this year’s Historic Structures Fund and Built Heritage Investment Scheme. Figures for the number of days of employment created by both schemes will be available towards the end of the year.
