My Department currently provides the primary source of Exchequer funding to the Heritage Council to enable them to undertake their wide-ranging remit of heritage programmes.
Were the funding made available by my Department to the Heritage Council for 2023 to be increased by the proportions suggested by the Deputy, the allocations would be as follows:
|
2023 Allocation
|
+5%
|
+10%
|
Current Funding
|
€ 7,141,000
|
€ 7,498,050
|
€ 7,855,100
|
Capital Funding
|
€ 7,200,000
|
€ 7,560,000
|
€ 7,920,000
|
Total Funding
|
€ 14,341,000
|
€ 15,058,050
|
€ 15,775,100
|
However, it should be noted that the Heritage Council receives separate funding from other Departments for specific aspects of their remit, such as the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme which receives funding from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The Heritage Council itself is best placed to provide a full account of funding received from the relevant Votes since 2003. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department, which includes the Heritage Council, to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email address for the Heritage Council is oireachtas@heritagecouncil.ie .