The Appeals Process

Basis for an Appeal

Applicants may appeal against a funding decision on the basis of an alleged infringement or unfair application of, or a deviation from the Heritage Council's published procedures.

To be considered a valid Appeal the applicant must show that they have reason/s to believe that their application was assessed or dealt with in a way incompatible with the standard procedures for administration and assessment outlined when the applicant applied for funding. These are the only grounds upon which appeals will be considered.

Each grant scheme has a set of requirements in relation to the eligibility of the applicant, and project and the supporting information required which are set out in the Scheme Guidance Document. Applications that fail to meet these requirements will not pass the screening stage and will not be assessed further. If this is the reason cited for your unsuccessful application, the decision cannot be appealed.

The Heritage Council is available and open to discussing unsuccessful applications in further detail with the applicant. Applicants should contact the grants section of the Heritage Council at grants@heritagecouncil.ie to initiate dialogue. We will endeavor to provide not only advice on the application but also on any recommended steps to take should you wish to re‐apply in a subsequent round of funding.

Submitting an Appeal

If after having discussed the matter with the Grants Team you still wish to appeal a funding decision, you must write to the Head of Finance within four working weeks from the date of the letter of notification. You will receive a written acknowledgment within five working days.

The email address for appeals is Appeals@heritagecouncil.ie

The letter of appeal must state:

•  the grounds on which you believe your application was not properly dealt with or assessed;
• specific reasons or evidence you may have to support your appeal.

Validity of Appeal

On receipt, your appeal request will be checked to ensure it falls within the scope of the appeals procedure and that sufficient grounds for the appeal have been detailed. You will receive a written acknowledgment noting the outcome of the validity check within ten working days. Invalid appeals will be rejected at this stage of the process.

Appeal Review

Valid appeals will be considered by a panel consisting of the Chief Executive Officer, one member of the Senior Management Team and an external panel member. Their conclusions and recommendations will be submitted to the next available board meeting of the Heritage Council or designated panel (approximately every six weeks). The Council's decision at this stage will be final and will be communicated to the appellant giving their reason for the decision within seven working days of this meeting.

The Council's appeals procedure does not automatically provide for the restitution of funding or additional funding to supplement or replace the original decision that has been appealed. The possibility of securing additional funds following an appeal will depend on the Heritage Council's own financial position.

The Heritage Council is committed to providing an open, accountable, and accessible system of procedures and processes in relation to all areas of its work. Any suggestions as to how we might improve our services may be directed to appeals@heritagecouncil.ie.