merrion street

Jimmy Deenihan, T.D Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, today (Friday 23^rd March, 2012) announced the award of €500,000 under the Structures at Risk Fund to assist with works to safeguard protected structures, in private and civic ownership, under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, and in certain cases, works to structures within Architectural Conservation Areas.

In March 2011, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht introduced the Structures at Risk Fund (SRF), during the current pausing of the Civic Structures Conservation Grants Scheme and the Local Authority Conservation Grants Scheme. The Structures at Risk Fund represents a method of prioritisation of funding to ensure that monies are spent in the most efficient way on vulnerable aspects of Ireland’s architectural heritage. Grants were awarded, by the Minister, to twenty-three local authorities for thirty conservation projects in 2011.

Announcing the funding Minister Deenihan said, "I am pleased to be in a position to approve continued financial assistance to local authorities under the Structures at Risk Fund. Our architectural heritage is a finite resource and requires ongoing conservation and preservation." The Minister also added, "this scheme has been well supported at grass roots level by local communities and local authorities, who have an important role to play in the ongoing care of Ireland’s architectural heritage."

Details of the application process can be obtained by contacting the relevant Local Authority.