Heritage budget cutbacks will affect historic buildings

THE 77% budget cut for the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government’s Heritage Unit is likely to be felt in rural areas through cessation of grant aid for looking after historic buildings and thatched houses.

Skills such as heritage architecture thatching could be hit.

Community-based heritage organisations all over Ireland, such as the Burrenbeo Trust in Co Clare, have spoken out against the swingeing cuts.

The National Parks and Wildlife service, whose remit includes protection of natural heritage, suffered a 56% budget cut. The Heritage Council, which protects, preserves and enhances national heritage, suffered a 47% cut (on top of a 30% cut in 2010).

As a result of cuts, the Heritage Council will no longer be able to local community groups, non-governmental organisations, charities, individuals, small businesses, local authorities and others, which in turn employ conservators, thatchers, ecologists, archaeologists, conservation architects, museum curators and other specialist workers, such as researchers and data collectors.

Conservation work on churches and cathedrals of all denominations will be hit. In 2010, €600,000 of grant aid went to this category, which is estimated to have created direct employment for 16 people.

The Heritage Council said conservation work on historic walled town defences (such as in Kilkenny, Cashel, Drogheda, Dublin city, Wexford) will be scaled back, with the loss of 25 contracting and supervisory jobs.