· €5 million public funding to be matched with €5 million from private sources· Scheme aims to have major positive impact on national stock of heritage buildings, whilst supporting employment in all parts of IrelandThe Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan TD, has launched a new fund of €5 million - the Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme - for the repair and conservation of protected structures.
This fund will support a significant number of projects on protected buildings across the country, and will generate employment in the conservation and construction industries and specialist trades.
The Built Heritage Jobs Leverage Scheme will encourage the investment of private capital through the provision of matching public funds in a large number of small-scale, labour-intensive projects across Ireland. The aim of projects will be to repair and conserve historic structures while supporting the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftworkers and tradespeople.
Funding awards made under the scheme will be between €2,500 and €15,000 with applicants matching in full the grants being awarded. Minister Deenihan is today announcing the allocation that will go to each local authority.
Minister Deenihan commented:
“There are about 50,000 protected structures in Ireland. Thousands of people live in historic buildings. Therefore, I am pleased to announce such a significant investment in Ireland's built heritage.
"Our historic built environment contributes to the vitality of our cities, towns, villages and countryside. It add to our tourism product. And, it also makes a significant contribution to economic prosperity by providing direct and indirect employment in specialist construction and conservation work.
"This scheme is a major financial boost for heritage structures. The €5 million in public funds is designed to be matched by a further €5 million from private sources, making a real and positive impact on protected buildings across Ireland whilst also generating employment in the construction and skilled crafts and trades.
"During the crisis, built heritage lost more than 90% of its budget. This allocation of €5 million from the National Lottery sale is an absolutely crucial investment in our heritage buildings. I want this scheme to leverage significant private investment to deliver a much-needed boost for heritage buildings, and for jobs in construction and skilled crafts and trades."
Details of the operation of the scheme, and the allocations being made to each local authority, are below.
Allocation of Funding under BHJLS 2014
Local Authority Number of Structures on RPS Pop 2011 Allocation
Carlow County Council 665 55000 €100,000
Cavan County Council 423 73000 €87,000
Clare County Council 848 117000 €121,000
Cork County Council 2869 400000 €290,000
Cork City Council 1141 119000 €140,000
DLRD County Council 2070 206000 €211,000
Donegal County Council 419 161000 €100,000
Dublin City Council 8914 528000 €692,000
Fingal County Council 793 274000 €140,000
Galway County Council 812 175000 €127,000
Galway City Council 586 76000 €98,000
Kerry County Council 1173 146000 €146,000
Kildare County Council 1297 210000 €163,000
Kilkenny County Council 1150 95000 €137,000
Laois County Council 927 81000 €121,000
Leitrim County Council 302 32000 €71,000
Limerick County Council 1595 135000 €171,000
Limerick City Council 435 57000 €86,000
Longford County Council 536 39000 €90,000
Louth County Council 1486 123000 €162,000
Mayo County Council 545 131000 €103,000
Meath County Council 1422 184000 €167,000
Monaghan County Council 646 60000 €100,000
Offaly County Council 1413 77000 €151,000
Roscommon County Council 568 64000 €95,000
Sligo County Council 699 65000 €104,000
South Dublin County Council 544 265000 €123,000
Tipperary North County Council 1267 70000 €141,000
Tipperary South County Council 1232 88000 €141,000
Waterford County Council 932 67000 €119,000
Waterford City Council 922 47000 €115,000
Westmeath County Council 722 86000 €108,000
Wexford County Council 1417 145000 €161,000
Wicklow County Council 780 137000 €119,000
41550 4588000 €5,000,000
E-Mail: press.office@ahg.gov.ie
Web site: www.ahg.gov.ie
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Notes to Editors
The scheme seeks to encourage the leveraging of private capital to invest in a number of small-scale, labour-intensive projects to repair and conserve structures protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and in certain cases, for the conservation of structures within Architectural Conservation Areas, and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftworkers and tradespeople.
The scheme will operate through 2014 and will be administered by the local authorities with a fixed amount of funding allocated to each local authority. The minimum award of funding available under this scheme will be €2,500 up to a maximum of €15,000. Successful applicants will be required to fully match the funding awarded.
Further information, including a circular outlining the details of the scheme (BHJLS 13/1), together with application forms, are available on the website of each local authority. Please contact the relevant planning section or architectural conservation officer in your local authority with any queries regarding this scheme. The closing date for applications to the scheme is 14 February 2014.