Approximately €4.5 million has been pledged under this year's Historic Structures Fund (HSF) to support schemes nationwide.
This funding will support owners and custodians of historic and protected structures to safeguard and maintain their properties. It will also boost local construction and heritage trades by facilitating works with a total value of over €8m and generating more employment, including for specialist heritage roles such as thatching and stone work.
The HSF is one of two built heritage funding schemes which work in partnership with owners and the 31 local authorities to protect our built heritage – a key aim of Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan launched by the Minister last year. This announcement follows the awarding earlier this month of €4.5m in funding under the Department's other built heritage grant scheme – the Built Heritage Investment Scheme.
By providing grants of between €15,000 and €200,000, the HSF assists owners of heritage structures – including those on the local authorities' Record of Protected Structures and those in Architectural Conservation Areas – to meet their obligations to care for their properties. The scheme provides assistance to a wide range of heritage structures, including castles, churches, mills, bridges, shopfronts, and thatch structures, as well as to private houses.
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Some of the projects to secure funding include the Birr Castle Suspension Bridge in County Offaly and the conservation of the Former Mansion House at Mercy University Hospital, Cork.
Announcing the awards today, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD said: "I am delighted to announce another €4.5m investment in our built heritage. This year's Historic Structures Fund will assist 95 owners and custodians of historic and protected structures across the country as they carry out hundreds of conservation projects to repair and safeguard our built heritage. I am particularly pleased to announce the increased number of awards made to vernacular structures. Through this investment, this Government continues to celebrate the value and diversity of our built heritage, while also supporting traditional building skills. These actions also continue to help us deliver on our commitments to built heritage under Heritage Ireland 2030, the national heritage plan which I launched last year."
Commenting on the announcement, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD, added: "It is great to see the increased number and range of projects which will be supported by this investment of €4.5m under the Historic Structures Fund. Along with the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, this Government is continuing its commitment to safeguard our rich built heritage, keeping many buildings in use and helping to bring many others back into use. The funded works will also have an economic benefit by generating employment for heritage contractors and other skilled crafts and tradespeople across the country."
