On World Heritage Day, there has been mixed news for the cash-starved heritage sector in Ireland.
The Heritage Council has released figures detailing the extent of cuts to its grants programme, which is open to projects run by community groups, non-governmental organisations and local authorities among others.
The amount the State body spends on these grants has fallen from €7.1m in 2008 to €1.3m in 2012.
It normally funds around 500 heritage projects a year under the scheme, but this year only 273 projects have been allocated funding.
It also warns that "overall budget constraints" mean that it is "very unlikely" to be able to offer any funding through the grants programme in 2013.
Minister for Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht Jimmy Deenihan today acknowledged the pressures facing the heritage sector.
He was speaking at a joint Heritage Council/ICOMOS Ireland Conference on new initiatives for engaging communities in interpreting and presenting heritage.
The minister outlined imminent changes to the rules governing the LEADER programme that will make it possible for community groups to apply for funding for projects involving the conservation and presentation of archaeological or historical monuments.
He described the new funding arrangements as "a very positive development that will provide practical support for community participation in many new heritage initiatives".
The minister also said that a tentative list of new World Heritage sites had been drawn up by an Expert Advisory Group as possible additions to the existing sites at Brú na Bóinne, Skellig Michael and the Giant's Causeway.
The potential candidates include: the Royal Sites of Tara, Cashel, Dún Ailinne and Rathcroghan; the Monastic Sites, including Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Kells and Glendalough; the Burren in Co Clare and the Céide Fields/North Mayo Boglands that are of importance to both cultural and natural heritage; and Dublin City for its literary contribution to world culture.
