Heritage Council

Funding Guide

By providing grant funding for essential repairs to buildings at risk, the Heritage Council aims to help preserve Ireland’s heritage so that it can be enjoyed by future generations. Its funding policy is guided by the philosophy of various international conservation charters that have been signed by Ireland. Two main principles from these charters should be borne in mind by applicants.

Sustainable Reuse
It is important that applicants have carefully considered how they will use the building once the works have been carried out - a building with a specific purpose is more likely to be looked after by its occupiers. They will need to heat it and problems of damp or leaky roofs must be dealt with as they occur, so that the building can continue to be used. Such buildings can be sustained in the long term with limited funds and therefore represent a good investment for grant aid.

If no use has been found for a building, the Heritage Council is less likely to make funding available. Without regular maintenance, buildings quickly fall into disrepair and may require further large sums of money in the future. The benefit of the initial funding may thus be lost very quickly.

Restoration
Aiming to make a building appear as it did when it was completed may seem like an attractive idea, but many decades of building conservation experience show that there can be drawbacks with this approach. The conservation principle of minimum intervention is of benefit to the heritage value of the buildings, and usually also minimise the financial burden on the owner. Much of buildings’ character comes from the weathering, benign plant growth, dents and chips in wood and stone or previous well-crafter repairs. If the elements are continuing to function as part of the fabric of the building, there is no necessity to replace them. The Heritage Council will aid in the conservation of the character of the structures as they are now, but will not support restoration where there is no clear evidence of the previous state of the construction nor any heritage protection requirement to revert to it. Works, which are in its opinion restoration works, are therefore not funded by the Council.

Essential Info

Materials and Methods

The Heritage Council funds repair grants on the basis that the character of the building concerned will not be lost or altered in a negative way by the repair work. If a building has already been substantially altered and has lost most of its historic character, the Heritage Council will not make funding available.

If you propose to re-thatch a thatched house, for example, you should replace like with like: a straw house should be re-thatched in straw and so on and in the same style as pertains.

Because of the importance, to the grants process, of using the correct materials and methods the Heritage Council recommends that you ensure your chosen contractor has particular expertise in conservation. Further details on lists of conservation contractors are available from the

Irish Georgian Society,
www.irish-architecture.com/igs/
74 Merrion Square, Dublin 2
info@igs.ie
Tel: 01 6767053

Bat Surveys

The Heritage Council is committed to ensuring that any repair work which it supports financially is undertaken in a manner which does not impact on other aspects of heritage.  Buildings are often an important habitat for bats and the Council may request to have a survey undertaken to assess what use, if any, bats make of the building in question.

Expert Input

By providing funding for essential building repairs, the Heritage Council aims to promote and encourage a high standard of conservation work. Good quality work is more durable against weathering conditions, requires less maintenance and creates a better finished appearance for the building concerned.

The Council therefore requires that all conservation projects funded under the grants scheme are supervised by a professional with specialist conservation experience and will consider contributing towards their fees as part of the grant aid. This requirement aims to ensure that all works are completed to an acceptable standard.

Please note the Heritage Council may decide not to fund a project if it feels the works will not be adequately supervised.

If you wish to employ a local specialist, you must satisfy yourself that they have the knowledge and experience necessary to competently supervise the works. This can be done by asking for a list of previous conservation projects worked on and contacting their referees.

Protected Structures & National Monuments

If you are not sure if your building is on your Local Authority’s Record of Protected Structures, you should contact them before applying for grant funding. If your building is a protected structure, you will need to discuss your plans for the structure with the Local Authority before applying for Heritage Council funding.

Repair and maintenance works to protected structures are usually considered exempt from the planning process, but for funding to be considered you will need written confirmation from your Local Authority that your works are exempt. If your works are not considered exempt, you may need planning permission before funding can be considered.

Your Local Authority Conservation Officer may also be able to provide valuable information on conservation and additional sources of funding for your project. If your building has elements that are pre-1700, it is considered a national monument. In this case, your Local Authority and the National Monuments division of the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government will need to give their consent to your plans before funding can be considered.