The Irish Heritage Trust is to take over responsibility for Fota House in Co Cork from September. It is the first acquisition by the new body. For the past 14 years, the house has been managed by the Fota Trust, which was established by University College Cork (UCC) represented by Prof Tom Raftery, Cork City Council and Cork County Council. The extensive arboretum and gardens are in the care of the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Irish Heritage Trust was formally established in July last year, and Fota House is the first acquisition under its mandate to acquire properties of significant heritage value, "where there is a risk to such value", and to provide the necessary conservation, maintenance and preservation of such properties. The decision to take over Fota has been welcomed by David Bird, chairman of the Fota Trust, who said yesterday it had been understood that this was the most likely outcome of Fota's application to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government for assistance with the management of the historic property.