Cost of the Town Centre Health Check Programme

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Culture; Heritage and the Gaeltacht the estimated cost per annum of the town centre health check programme; the number of checks undertaken per annum since its inception; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

A pilot Town Centre Health Check training programme was developed in late 2016 by the Heritage Council working in collaboration with universities and other bodies. The operation of the programme is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council. 
I understand that seven towns have participated to date and funding of €15k has been allocated. An evaluation of the pilot programme is underway and a full report is expected to be published this year. 
It is primarily a matter for the Heritage Council to decide how its funding should be allocated across the range of research, education and conservation programmes it supports, having regard to competing priorities for limited resources, however my Department will continue to work closely with the Heritage Council to ensure continued investment is appropriately targeted within the heritage area.
Further information on the programme is available from the Heritage Council and on their website www.heritagecouncil.ie