While the primary responsibility to care for and maintain a protected structure rests with the owner, the Historic Structures Fund will invest essential capital in our valuable built heritage and help the owners and custodians of historic structures to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public. There are almost fifty thousand protected structures around the country. Many of these are in great need of investment to ensure their preservation and continued use so that they remain a living part of our history and community life into the future.

Available Funding

The Historic Structures Fund 2022 will be structured as follows:

1. Stream 1 will offer grants from €15,000 up to €50,000 and is aimed at essential repairs and smaller capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of heritage structures.

2. Stream 1, Historic Shopfronts sub-stream – As in 2021, to incentivise the conservation of historic shopfronts each Local Authority is invited to submit an additional application under Stream 1 for eligible essential repairs and small capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of historic shop facades, windows, signage and other associated details to safeguard them and keep them in use. Local Authorities are also invited to make an additional application for Irish-language shopfronts.

3. Stream 2 will offer a small number of grants from €50,000 up to €200,000 for larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, where:
a. A clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated, or
b. A clear residential benefit has been demonstrated (such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary)
A grant of over €200,000 may be awarded in exceptional circumstances where a case is made by the applicant in relation to the significance of the project and the works proposed.

4. Vernacular Structures Stream – In the context of the forthcoming strategy for built vernacular, the pilot stream for vernacular structures introduced in 2021 will be retained, with funding of €50,000. The purpose of the stream is to support conservation repairs and small capital works to vernacular structures that are not listed in local authority Records of Protected Structures or otherwise legally protected. Such structures may be located within an Architectural Conservation Area. All local authorities can apply for funding for specific projects of between €5,000 and €10,000 for eligible projects.
Applicants will be required to provide evidence of the availability of matching funding and works must be completed and paid for before payment is made by the Department.

Funding for the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) is being made available as part of Project Ireland 2040. Total funding available nationally under the Historic Structures fund in 2022 will be €4 million.

Closing date for applications: Monday, 31st January 2022