Ahern announces establishment of Heritage Trust

THE Government is to establish a national trust to safeguard the future of stately homes and heritage buildings, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced last night.

The Irish Heritage Trust will have a similar role to the National Trust in Britain but will not be completely State-funded.

It is envisaged that tax relief will be available to those who donate historic properties to the trust.

Properties donated to the trust will also be granted an endowment fund, which will cover all conservation, maintenance and presentation costs in perpetuity.

Initially, the Government will contribute 75% of the first endowment fund, subject to a maximum of €5.5 million. The remaining 25% will be raised by private and corporate donations.

However, once the trust has been established it is hoped that 75% of funding will be sourced from private donations.

Speaking at the opening of the Annual Historic Houses Conferences at NUI Maynooth last night, Mr Ahern said the trust marked a major addition to existing State measures in support of Ireland’s built heritage.

He said the initiative stemmed from a study of historic Irish houses and estates by Dr Terence Dooley and the findings of a report by independent consultants Indecon. Both studies recommended the setting up of endowment funds and tax breaks for donors.

Mr Ahern said last night that Finance Minister Brian Cowen was considering including additional tax incentives in Budget 2006, in relation to donations of heritage properties to the trust and donations to endowment funds required to maintain each property.

The safeguarding of historic houses and estates became an issue when Lissadell House in Co Sligo - associated with poet WB Yeats - was put on the market by its owners, the Gore-Booth family.

The Government was criticised for refusing to purchase it.

Last night, Mr Ahern said the State owns many important heritage properties.

“That said, the State regularly comes under pressure to buy important heritage properties when these come on to the market. The reality is the State is not always in a position to buy in these circumstances.”