Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 April 2019
14. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if she will provide a summary of the level of interest in the built heritage investment scheme and historic structures fund in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16673/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides financial support for the protection of heritage buildings and historic structures through the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), formerly the Structures at Risk Fund (SRF), which are administered by local authorities.
On 28 March I announced funding of €4.3m for 478 projects under these schemes. Details of these projects are available on my Department's website and on local authority websites.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is designed to leverage private capital for investment in a significant number of labour-intensive, small scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of the historic built environment. The scheme helps with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts or within Architectural Conservation Areas. It is administered by local authorities.
Under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, local authorities assess the applications before sending them to my Department for approval. My Department does not request the total number of applications received by the local authority. In 2019, 13 projects proposed by Kildare County Council were approved under Built Heritage Investment Scheme to the value of €79,000, an increase of 58% over 2018.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme – Kildare 2019
|
Name and Address of Structure |
Grant |
|
|
|
|
Church of Ireland Kilberry |
€7,000 |
|
St. Michael's Church, Athy |
€7,000 |
|
Johnstown Graveyard & Church, Johnstown |
€5,000 |
|
An tSeanchill, Donaghcumper, Celbridge |
€3,000 |
|
Church of the Holy Saviour Narraghmore |
€5,000 |
|
Ard Na Gréine, Canal View, Sallins |
€7,000 |
|
7 Canning Place, Newbridge |
€8,000 |
|
Leixlip Boathouse, Leixlip |
€8,000 |
|
Pebble Hill House, Maynooth |
€7,000 |
|
Riverstown House, Kildangan |
€10,000 |
|
Grattan Vault, Tea Lane Graveyard, Celbridge |
€3,000 |
|
Mill Cottage, Millicent Sth, Sallins |
€4,000 |
|
Thatch cottage Tomastown |
€5,000 |
|
Total |
€79,000 |
The Historic Structures Fund is for conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership. The primary focus of the Historic Structures Fund is on conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the benefit of communities and the public. The fund is generally administered through the local authorities who prepare a shortlist of applications and each one can send a maximum of three private and one public project forward for assessment by my Department.
Grants under Stream One of the Historic Structures Fund are for amounts of between €15,000 and €50,000. Under Stream Two a small number of larger grants, up to €200,000, was also available for historic structures in private and public ownership.
Kildare County Council indicated they had received 9 applications under the Historic Structures Fund in 2019, of which 3 were put forward to the Department for consideration. Following assessment, one project, Newbridge College Clock Town (Junior House) was approved in County Kildare to the value of €25,000.
