Department offering grants of up to €5,000
Scheme funds expert reports into conservation, fire safety and energy upgrades
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD have today (March 23rd) opened applications for the newly-expanded Historic Structures Fund Conservation Advice Scheme for Traditional Houses.
The purpose of the expanded ‘Conservation Advice Scheme’ is to help owners of traditional houses to obtain conservation advice by funding up to 67% (to a max of €5,000) of the cost of a specialist report.
Several types of buildings can benefit from this scheme, including Protected Structures and traditional homes in Architectural Conservation Areas, as well as traditional farmhouses with no statutory protection. Given their age and methods of construction, ‘traditional’ properties often require specialist advice or intervention when undertaking conservation, energy upgrades, or fire safety alterations.
Having previously been limited to vacant traditional homes, several elements of the scheme have now been revised in order to widen eligibility and uptake:
- The scheme is now available to owners of buildings that they already occupy and is no longer limited to vacant homes;
- Funding may now be granted for fire safety reports in cases where traditional buildings are to be converted into multi-occupancy dwellings ‘above the shop’;
- People availing of the SEAI’s Traditional Homes Pilot may now apply for funding to help cover the cost of a pre-works risks assessment, aimed at improving energy efficiency while maintaining historical integrity.
By partially offsetting the cost of engaging expert advice, ‘Conservation Advice Scheme’ funding helps owners to avoid damage to their properties, benefit from the services of appropriately skilled tradespeople and ensure value for money in the completion of their projects.
