Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
678. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs her views on the application to the Heritage Council by a person (details supplied) for part funding for the re-thatching of a listed thatched building at the same address; if there are other schemes managed by her Department from which funding could be sourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13977/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the Heritage Council is funded by my Department, it is a statutorily independent body and as such, I have no role in respect to the matter referred to. My Department has two schemes which are operated through the local authorities to assist in the conservation of our built heritage and which could include thatched structures. However, the final date for receipt of applications for both schemes by the local authorities has now closed for this year.
I launched a €2 million scheme - the Built Heritage Investment Scheme - for the repair and conservation of protected structures in October 2015. This scheme operated in 2016 and is being operated again in 2017, on the same model as the very successful Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which ran in 2014.
The Structures at Risk Fund enables conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and are deemed to be at significant risk of deterioration. It seeks to encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures which might otherwise be lost.
My Department does not administer a funding scheme specifically for thatched structures. However, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government administers a grant scheme for the renewal or repair of thatched roofs of owner occupied houses. Full details are available from their website or by contacting the Thatching Grants Section of that Department.
