Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021
97. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he has considered plans for the protection and restoration of heritage structures and listed buildings which might be deemed at risk throughout Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12446/21]
View answer100. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which he plans to restore listed buildings deemed to be at risk by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12449/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 100 together.
My role with regard to the protection and management of our archaeological and architectural heritage is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, including the Planning Acts and the National Monuments Acts, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners.
As Minister, I am the owner or guardian under the National Monuments Acts of approximately 1,000 national monuments located at approximately 750 sites. The Acts allow me to make a preservation order where I consider a national monument to be at risk.
Responsibility for management and maintenance of historical buildings and sites in State ownership and management of related visitor facilities, rests with the Office of Public Works (OPW) which also maintains a significant ongoing programme of conservation works. My Department will allocate funding to the OPW for the maintenance of certain historic buildings and sites over the course of the year as works begin to progress again.
With regard to the safeguarding of protected structures, Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 gives primary responsibility to local authorities to identify and protect architectural heritage by including particular structures on their respective Records of Protected Structures (RPS). Inclusion on the RPS places a duty of care on the owners and occupiers of protected structures and also gives planning authorities powers to deal with any development proposals affecting them.
My Department provides financial support, however, for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF). Last year some 450 heritage projects across every county in the country were allocated funding from a combined sum of over €4.3m under these schemes and an extra €1m in funding was secured for built heritage projects under the July Jobs Stimulus Package 2020, which aimed to offset some of the effects of Covid-19.
The BHIS and HSF for 2021 were launched in November 2020, with a combined allocation of €6m, an increase of nearly 40%. Due to Level 5 Covid-19 restriction the deadline for applications by local authorities, and direct applicants to the Department, has been extended to Friday 12 March 2021. Intending applicants are advised to contact their relevant local authority for details of local deadlines. Full details are available on my Department’s website and on the website of each local authority.
My Department also announced a call for projects in September 2020 under the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) for investment in our archaeological heritage, which was being funded under the July Jobs Stimulus Package 2020. The CMF is prioritised for local authorities, private owners and custodians, and community groups for the care, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites and the provision of any required measures to ensure safe access during the Covid-19 pandemic. A total of €1.15m was allocated to 69 projects nationally in 2020. I hope to announce a continuance of the scheme for this year, shortly.
As the Deputy will be aware, preparation is well advanced in my Department on Heritage Ireland 2030, Ireland’s new national heritage plan. It will be a coherent, comprehensive and inspiring framework of values, principles, strategic priorities and actions to guide and inform the heritage sector over the next decade. Heritage Ireland 2030 will be published shortly and will address priority issues for heritage, including those identified in the Programme for Government.
