Vol. 571 No. 1
1249 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government if he proposes to provide more funding for the Heritage Council in order that there can be a greater level of grants for places like Westport House and other stately homes which are open to the public. [19620/03]
Funding for the Heritage Council has increased by some 146% since 1997. My Department has no funding available for privately owned heritage houses. However, the Heritage Council will occasionally make grant assistance available for capital projects involving such houses.
The owner or occupier of a building which is determined by my Department to be a building which is intrinsically of significant scientific, historical, architectural or aesthetic interest, and which is determined by the Revenue Commissioners to be a building to which reasonable access is afforded to the public, may apply under section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 for relief in respect of expenditure incurred in the repair, maintenance or restoration of the building. More than 350 buildings have been determined by my Department for this purpose.
