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Gormley announces €11.5m in funding for Conservation and Protection of Ireland’s Built Heritage

08/03/10

Mr. John Gormley, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, today (8th March, 2010) announced a funding package amounting to €11.5m to support built heritage projects in 2010.

The main elements of the programme are as follows:
• €4.3m for the Office of Public Works to support works on heritage properties in State care;
• €3.750m for local authority grants for the conservation of protected structures;
• €1.88m for the Civic Structures Conservation Grants Scheme and the Significant Places of Public Worship Grants Scheme;
• €850,000 to fund the conservation and restoration of walled towns;
• €300,000 for conservation works at heritage properties not in State care.

The Minister stated “This funding package underlines the continued commitment to the preservation and conservation of our rich built heritage by the State. Our built heritage is inextricably linked with our sense of pride in this country and affirms our cultural and historical identity. It is essential that we continue to invest in built heritage conservation to ensure the ongoing preservation of Ireland’s renowned heritage. Investment in the heritage stock can also bring economic benefits in the form of cultural tourism and employment.”

A fundamental part of this programme is the substantial funding of €4.3m being provided to the Office of Public Works for projects at a number of State owned heritage properties.  These projects will demonstrate the highest standards in conservation, and proposed works include: the National Botanic Gardens, Dublin, Heywood Gardens, Co. Laois, Boyle Abbey, Co. Roscommon and Nenagh Castle, Co. Tipperary.

The Minister said that the “funding for the National Botanic Gardens will ensure that the gardens can be appreciated in full during the Global Botanic Gardens Congress, the premier international event for botanic gardens, which will be hosted in Glasnevin this year. In addition, the continued conservation of heritage properties in State care, such as Nenagh Castle, will I hope contribute to our economy and provide a boost to the tourism sector in particular.”

This year’s programme also provides continued support for a number of significant heritage properties held in trust or in private ownership. These projects will be funded through the Heritage Council. The Minister said “the Heritage Council works in co-operation with my Department to identify key heritage properties which require conservation works in order that they can continue to be appreciated and viably used”. 

A further element of the package sees the allocation of €3.750m to local authorities to support the conservation of protected structures. The Minister said “local authorities are best placed for recognising structures at a local level that are deserving of funding and make a significant impact on our built heritage as a whole. Many of the protected structures that receive funding are a valuable and irreplaceable element of our heritage and give character to our cities, towns and villages.”

The Minister also announced funding of almost €1.4m for the Civic Structures Conservation Grants Scheme in 2010. Minister Gormley said “This scheme will provide vital funding for the conservation of structures of significant architectural heritage merit which are in civic ownership or occupation and open to the public. This funding will assist local communities in effecting an improvement in the aesthetic of their local area by improving the condition of such heritage buildings.’

In addition, the Minister has provided €500,000 to the Heritage Council under the Significant Places of Public Worship Grants Scheme. This funding will assist the conservation of some of Ireland’s most important churches and places of worship which are undergoing major conservation works. The Walled Towns Initiative will receive €850,000 in funding to allow conservation works to continue to be carried out on Walled Towns in Ireland.  The Minister said that ”Walled Towns are a significant tourist attraction and contribute positively to the areas that have such iconic features.”

In conclusion, the Minister stated “this funding package of €11.5m covers a broad range of measures which I am confident will contribute to making the necessary improvements in our built heritage and safeguarding it for future generations.”


ENDS

 

APPENDIX I - Heritage Properties in State care (agent: OPW)

€4.3m will be provided to carry out conservation works on the following properties:

Historic Properties (managed by OPW)

  • National Botanic Gardens, Dublin
  • Phoenix Park, Dublin
  • Great Blasket Island, Co. Kerry
  • Heywood Gardens, Co. Laois


National Monuments (managed by OPW)

  •  Apprenticeship Scheme
  • Cormac’s Chapel, Co. Tipperary
  • Nenagh Castle, Co. Tipperary 
  • Boyle Abbey, Co. Roscommon
  • Cadamstown, Co. Offaly
  • Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly
  • Newmills, Co. Donegal
  • Ennis Friary, Co. Clare
  • Western Ossory Crosses
  • Geophysical Surveys
  • Exhibitions


APPENDIX II

Local Authorities Conservation Grants Scheme Allocations

 

 Local Authority

 Amount €

 Dublin City

 622,000

 Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown

 183,500

 Fingal

 110,500

 South Dublin

 87,000

 Cork City

 102,500

 Galway City

 51,000

 Limerick City

 41,000

 Waterford City

 70,000

 Carlow County

 53,000

 Cavan County

 41,500

 Clare County

 99,500

 Cork County

 292,000

 Donegal County

 89,000

 Galway County

 127,000

 Kerry County

 109,000

 Kildare County

 135,000

 Kilkenny County

 103,500

 Laois County

 71,000

 Leitrim County

 25,500

 Limerick County

 180,500

 Longford County

 37,000

 Louth County

 117,500

 Mayo County

 63,000

 Meath County

 144,000

 Monaghan County 

 64,000

 Offaly County

           106,000

 Roscommon County

 76,500

 Sligo County

 59,500

 Tipperary North

 71,000

 Tipperary South

 68,000

 Waterford County

 113,000

 Westmeath County

 55,000

 Wexford County

 110,500

 Wicklow County

 71,000

 Total

  €3.750 million

APPENDIX III - Heritage Properties not in State care/Town Walls Projects

(Agent: Heritage Council unless otherwise stated) 


Town Walls Projects (€850,000)

This funding will be provided via the Heritage Council for the Walled Towns Network to allow conservation works to be carried out on Town Walls in Ireland. Walled Towns in the Network include Athenry, Athlone, Carlingford, Carrickfergus, Cashel, Clonmel, Cork City, Drogheda, Dublin, Fethard, Galway, Kilkenny, Kilmallock, Limerick, Trim, Waterford, Wexford, and Youghal.

Hazelwood House, Co. Sligo (€100,000)

Wonderful Barn, Co. Kildare (€75,000)

Bantry House, Co. Cork (€75,000)


Local Authority Owned Sites

Gunpowder Mills, Ballincollig, Co. Cork (€50,000)

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