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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2022

Thursday, 7 April 2022

Ceisteanna (279)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

279. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if further consideration will be given in 2022 to the allocation of funding for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19140/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

In November 2021 I announced €4m in funding for the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2022. The HSF is a competitive grant scheme for conservation works to heritage structures in both private and public ownership. Grants of between €15,000 and €50,000 are available under Stream 1, and of between €50,000 and €200,000 under Stream 2.

Applications are made in the first instance to the local authorities, who send a shortlist to my Department for assessment by an expert panel which makes its recommendations to me for my final approval. Applications are assessed under a series of clearly-defined criteria, the details of which may be found in the HSF circular on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/32ae3-financial-assistance-for-architectural-heritage/.

Under HSF 2022, a total of 129 applications were received by my Department for assessment. While this year’s fund of €4m represents an increase of 33% on 2021, HSF2022 was heavily over-subscribed and it was unfortunately not possible to make awards to all applications that met the minimum assessment criteria. This includes the structure in question.

While further consideration cannot be given to unsuccessful applications, officials in my Department can, at the request of the local authority, provide feedback in respect of an individual application should the applicant wish to apply to the scheme again the following year. It is intended to run the HSF again in 2023 and details of the scheme will be made available this November.

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