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Agriland
31-07-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Grant of Up to E20000 for Historic Thatched Buildings
Government grants of up to €20,000 are being made available under a scheme to preserve historic thatched buildings. The Housing, Local Government and Heritage has today (Friday, July 25) announced the opening of applications for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2026, which includes a dedicated funding stream for historic thatched buildings. The department said the scheme supports owners and custodians of historic buildings to maintain and conserve the important structures which are an essential part of Ireland's cultural landscape. The scheme, administered through local authorities, provides grant aid of between €2,500 and €50,000 for works to buildings which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts. The funding is also available for vernacular buildings or historic shopfronts without statutory protection. Owners of thatched buildings can apply for dedicated funding for their heritage structures under the separate thatched buildings stream, though only one grant may be awarded per applicant. The department noted that the applicant must provide at least 20% of the project cost from non-state funding. The closing date for applications to local authorities is September 26, 2025. Successful projects will be announced in January 2026. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne said that each year owners of Ireland's historic buildings help to preserve the architectural legacy of our towns and countryside. He noted that owners of these properties are contending with the higher costs and more complex requirements of maintaining older buildings. 'The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a vital support to those people who have taken on the responsibility of protecting the architectural evidence of our past ways of life while also introducing new vitality into our historic buildings. "Whether through inheritance, family connection, the desire for a home, or out of a simple love for the history and character of older buildings, owners and occupiers of historically important structures make a daily contribution to the sense of tradition and character present in so many of our communities," he said. The minister encouraged anyone interested in availing of the grants to contact the architectural conservation officer or heritage officer in their local authority "as soon as possible". The BHIS is complemented by the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), a separate scheme focusing on grants of between €50,000 and €200,000 to assist larger-scale projects. Applications for the HSF will open towards the end of 2025.
Irish Independent
28-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Grant scheme aiming to protect Sligo'sheritage
The grant scheme supports the conservation of the historic environment, supporting owners of heritage buildings to undertake conservation works. Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan announced the opening of applications. BHIS supports owners and custodians of historic buildings to maintain and conserve the important structures which form an essential part of Ireland's cultural landscape. Every year the owners and occupiers of Ireland's historic buildings help to preserve the architectural legacy of towns and countryside. The funding will help owners and custodians of built heritage to undertake the repair and rejuvenation of these historic buildings, presenting them to their best effect today and safeguarding them into the future. Administered through the Local Authorities, the BHIS is designed to support these efforts by providing grants of between €2,500 and €50,000 for works to buildings which are protected under the Planning and Development Acts, and to vernacular buildings or historic shopfronts lacking in statutory protection but which remain essential to our architectural heritage. Owners of thatched buildings can also apply for dedicated funding of up to €20,000 under the separate thatched buildings stream. Announcing the 2026 schemes, Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD, said: 'I am delighted that my Department continues to offer these supports under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme, which also address modern concerns by enabling the utilisation of our traditional building stock to meet housing needs, revitalise communities, and keep historic properties in use for the families and communities of the future. 'I look forward to seeing the impacts of this funding in the coming months and years.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council and Chair of Sligo Heritage Forum, Cllr Donal Gilroy, said: 'I strongly believe in the importance of supporting communities to protect and conserve our shared built heritage and recognise that this relies on the dedication of many different parties, including owners and custodians, skilled craftspeople, and local authority experts. 'Sligo County Council is delighted to support the delivery of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and I would encourage anyone considering applying to get in touch with the Heritage Office, Sligo County Council as soon as possible.' Administered in conjunction with Local Authority Architectural Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers and Planning and Administrative staff, both grant schemes will assist hundreds of small-scale, labour-intensive projects as well as larger-scale projects to repair and conserve our historic built environment. The Heritage Office, Sligo County Council will host an information webinar on the BHIS 2026 grant scheme on Thursday 14th August 2025 at 12 noon. To Register, please email conservation@ The closing date for applications is 4pm Friday 26th September 2025.
