Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2019
220. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the number of round towers nationally in need of improvement, restoration works or both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8959/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraRound towers that are, or form part of, national monuments in my ownership or Guardianship under the National Monuments Acts, 1930-2014, are conserved and managed on a day-to-day basis by the Office of Public Works, in close cooperation with my Department's National Monuments Service, which ensures their long-term preservation. National monuments are fully protected under the provisions of the National Monuments Acts, and any works at or in their vicinity may only be conducted with Ministerial Consent under Section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended).
Other round towers which comprise national monuments in the ownership of a local authority are the responsibility of the relevant local authority, while Ministerial Consent is also necessary for works at or in their vicinity. Other round towers may also be in local authority ownership, or may be in the ownership of other organisations or individuals. The upkeep of such structures is the responsibility of the relevant owners. Those that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) or Register of Historic Monuments (RHM) are protected by the provisions of Section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994, and Section 5 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1987, respectively. Anyone proposing works in relation to a monument that is included in the RMP or RHM must give my Department two months' prior notice before works can start.
My Department also provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through grant schemes which are generally administered by the local authorities.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) provides assistance for the repair and conservation of 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, tradespersons and craftsmen and women.
The Historic Structures Fund (HSF) (formerly the Structures at Risk Fund) is for conservation and enhancement to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, for the benefit of communities and the public.
In November 2018, I announced a total of €4.3 million in funding for the BHIS and HSF for 2019. Full details of both of the schemes are available on my Department’s and local authorities' websites.
The Heritage Council, which my Department funds, also provides grants for the protection and preservation of our architectural heritage. It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports. Details are published by the Heritage Council on its website www.heritagecouncil.ie.
