merrion street

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has today (Friday) said that 340 heritage projects nationwide will share in a €2 million investment package as part of the Built Heritage Investment Scheme for 2016.

The funding will allow for the conservation and repair of heritage buildings across the country, and the scheme follows a similar model to the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme, which proved to be very successful in 2014. It is expected this new scheme will leverage an additional €8 million in private funds and will generate significant employment in the conservation and construction industries.

Speaking today Minister Humphreys said:
“This investment scheme will support the conservation of heritage buildings and jobs in the conservation sector right across the country. The €2 million investment will leverage an additional €8 million in private sector funds and will stimulate labour intensive projects nationwide.

“Ireland's heritage buildings and protected structures are a vital part of the infrastructure of our villages, towns, and cities. The economic recovery is allowing for increased investment in our heritage assets. As this scheme illustrates, investing in our built heritage is not just good for the individual properties concerned, but can also provide a real boost to job creation in the construction, conservation and tourism sectors.

“A wide range of properties will benefit, including residential homes, townhouses, railway stations, churches, country houses and other heritage buildings. Indeed, some of our finest country houses will receive funding, including Bantry House and Stradbally Hall.

“I would like to acknowledge the contribution of the local authorities in embracing this scheme which will have a positive impact on protected structures across the country. I am also delighted by the response of private owners and their willingness to release substantial private matching funds and invest in our built heritage.”

Note to Editors:
A full list of successful projects is attached in pdf form.

Of the 340 projects considered, the majority were for places of worship and residential use. The main type of works for which funding was sought was for roof repairs and for the restoration of external joinery. A number of applications were for the re-thatching of buildings of special interest.

Notable structures among the applications are the important structures such as the Church of Ireland churches at Collon, Co. Louth, Westport, County Mayo, Lismore, Co. Waterford and the cathedral at Limerick City. Some of our finest county houses have also been provided funding, such as Borris House, Co. Carlow, Bantry House, Stradbally Hall, Co. Laois. Important Georgian townhouses include 63 Merrion Square, Dublin, and 5 John’s Square North, Limerick.

It was a matter for the local authorities, to whom responsibility for administration of the scheme has been devolved, to assess applications from owners/occupiers of protected structures and submit them for approval in principle by the Minister.