Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 November 2004
211 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of heritage projects being promoted by his Department; his plans in this regard in 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27677/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra218 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of heritage projects in County Kildare which are supported by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27684/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra220 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has examined proposals for the restoration and improvement of heritage sites or buildings in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27686/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 218 and 220 together.
An ongoing programme of capital investment works, involving the restoration and improvement of heritage sites in State care, is conducted by the Office of Public Works in agreement with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under the programme, the OPW has two projects in County Kildare, at Jigginstown House in Naas and Castletown House in Celbridge. My Department also supports conservation projects under the architectural protection grants scheme which is administered by the local authorities.
The total original provision for the architectural protection grant scheme in my Department's Vote for 2004 is €3.9 million. Additional funding of €500,000 has since been made available to the scheme. It will not be possible to indicate the levels of funding which will be available for the architectural protection and conservation grant schemes in 2005 until the 2005 Abridged Estimates Volume has been published. Information on details of the allocations from the overall fund are a matter for the relevant local authorities.
My Department operates conservation grants under the urban and village renewal measure which is part of the local infrastructure sub-programmes of the regional operational programmes which run between 2000 and 2006. The total provision in my Department's 2004 Vote for the conservation grants under the urban renewal measure is €1 million. Grants of €10,000 for each of Castletown schoolhouse No. 1 and Castletown schoolhouse No. 2 were allocated in County Kildare under the scheme.
