The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has announced that the very successful Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Structures at Risk Fund will operate again in 2018. The two schemes will provide a €3.3 million in investment in 2018 for the repair and conservation of protected structures. These schemes supported more than 500 projects across the country in 2017 and helped to provide employment in the conservation and construction industries.
Minister Humphreys said:
“This investment of €3.3 million in the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and Structures at Risk Fund will encourage the investment of private capital in small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve historic structures. This will improve the appearance and structure of historic buildings across the country and will also support jobs in the conservation and construction industries.
“Well-maintained historic buildings contribute positively to the vitality of our cities, towns, villages and countryside. Local communities have a great sense of pride in their built heritage, which in turn can help to provide an important source of local employment by boosting tourism.
“Both schemes will operate on the same model as the 2017 schemes, which were a great success, funding over 500 projects across every local authority area in the country. They will help to regenerate urban and rural areas, and will come as a welcome boost to the custodians of heritage properties.”
House on the Square, Durrow, conserved with funding from the Built Heritage Investment Scheme in 2017
Scheme documents for 2018 available to date are below. Further details will be published when available.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme
All works carried out under the BHIS must be capital works. Full details of all requirements are in the Circular BHIS 18/1.
The BHIS will operate in 2018 with funding available to the amount of €2,000,000 nationally. The amount available to each Local Athority has not yet been published.
The total funding available for each individual project cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost.
The minimum funding available under the BHIS will be €2,500 up to a maximum grant of €15,000.
The closing date for receipt of completed applications is 31st January 2018.
Full Scheme Terms and Conditions: BHIS 2018 Circular November 2017
Application Form: BHIS 2018 Appendix II – Application Form A
Details of works which qualify for funding: BHIS 2018 Appendix I – Qualifying and Non Qualifying Works
Structures at Risk Fund
All works carried out under the SRF must be capital works. Only structures or parts of structures in immediate danger of significant deterioration will qualify for consideration for funding.
The SRF will operate in 2018 with funding available to the amount of €1,324,000; €74,000 of which will be allocated for funding towards the type of house covered by An Action Plan for the Sustainable Future of the Irish Historic House, launched in 2015.
Due to the limited resources available for the operation of the scheme in 2018, DCHG will consider four applications per local authority, only one of which may be a publicly-owned building. A fifth application may be made if it relates to an Irish Historic House in private ownership.
The total funding available for each individual project shall not exceed 80% of the total project cost. The minimum funding available under the SRF will be €15,000 up to a maximum grant of €30,000. The minimum funding available for a fifth project in respect of a historic house in private ownership will be €5,000 up to a maximum of €10,000. The closing date for applications is 31st January 2018.
Full Scheme Terms and Conditions: 1. Circular SRF 2018 – FINAL
Application Form: 2. Appendix I – APPLICATION FORM A – OWNER_APPLICANT