Funding Available for Heritage Conservation Projects in County Cork

A total fund of €8 million is available nationally under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund 2022. That is an increase of €2 million from 2021.

The Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan said, “It is vital that we care for our built heritage and ensure that it is protected into the future. Our rich heritage is what sets us apart and what attracts so many visitors to Ireland every year. The two grant schemes will support local jobs in conservation and construction as well as keeping traditional skills alive. There is also the potential for some historic buildings in our town centres to be refurbished, brought back into use and even turned into homes.”

Grants of between €2,500 and €15,000 are available under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2022 for small-scale conservation projects. Large-scale projects to repair and conserve the historic built environment can apply to the Historic Structures Fund. Up to €50,000 is available for essential repairs and capital works. Projects where a clear residential or public benefit has been demonstrated can apply for funding of up to €200,000.

The Historic Structures Fund also recognises the importance of traditional shop fronts in towns and villages. Owners can now apply for funding to repair historic shutters, awnings, signs or panels. It includes the removal of unsightly and redundant later additions including cables, lights and signs.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey says buildings that are not listed as protected may be eligible for funding, “A pilot stream for vernacular structures has been introduced for 2022. Grants of between €5,000 and €15,000 are available for structures with distinctive local and regional character. These structures were conceived and built by ordinary people using materials found in the immediate locality and applied using vernacular crafts such as thatching, mud-walling and wattle-working, as well as traditional masonry and carpentry. These buildings contribute enormously to our sense of place and it is important that they are also protected into the future.”

The deadline for submission of completed applications is 4pm on the 31st of January 2022. Late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

Multiple applications for the same structure under the Historic Structures Fund and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme will not be considered in 2022. Hard copies can be addressed to the Built Heritage Investment Scheme or Historic Structure Fund, Conservation Office, Floor 3, Planning Department, County Hall, Cork. If you wish to submit your application by email please contact corkheritage@corkcoco.ie for more information.

Tá Comhairle Contae Chorcaí ag tabhairt cuireadh d’úinéirí agus do choimeádaithe struchtúir stairiúla agus chosanta iarratas a dhéanamh ar mhaoiniú chun a gcuid maoine a chosaint, a chothabháil agus a fheabhsú. Tá dhá scéim deontais á riar ag Oifig Chaomhantais na Comhairle thar ceann na Roinne Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta.

Tá ciste iomlán de €8 milliún ar fáil go náisiúnta faoin Scéim Infheistíochta don Oidhreacht Thógtha agus faoin gCiste um Struchtúir Stairiúla 2022. Is méadú é sin de €2 mhilliún ó 2021.

Dúirt Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Comhairleoir Gillian Coughlan, “Tá sé ríthábhachtach go dtabharfaimid aire dár n-oidhreacht thógtha agus go gcinnteoimid go gcosnófar í sa todhchaí. Is í an oidhreacht shaibhir atá againn a dhealaíonn Éire ó áiteanna eile agus a mheallann an oiread sin cuairteoirí chugainn gach bliain. Tacóidh an dá scéim deontais le poist áitiúla i gcaomhnú agus le poist tógála chomh maith le scileanna traidisiúnta a choimeád beo. Tá an fhéidearthacht ann freisin roinnt foirgneamh stairiúla i lár ár mbailte a athchóiriú, a athúsáid agus a iompú ina dtithe. "

Tá deontais idir €2,500 agus €15,000 ar fáil faoin Scéim Infheistíochta don Oidhreacht Thógtha 2022 do thionscadail chaomhnaithe ar mhionscála. Is féidir le tionscadail ar mhórscála chun an timpeallacht thógtha stairiúil a dheisiú agus a chaomhnú iarratas a dhéanamh ar an gCiste um Struchtúir Stairiúla. Tá suas le €50,000 ar fáil le haghaidh deisiúcháin riachtanacha agus oibreacha caipitil.I gcás tionscadail inar léiríodh sochar cónaithe nó poiblí soiléir is féidir iarratas a dhéanamh ar mhaoiniú suas le €200,000.

Aithníonn an Ciste um Struchtúir Stairiúla an tábhacht a bhaineann le haghaidheanna siopaí traidisiúnta i mbailte agus i sráidbhailte. Féadfaidh úinéirí iarratas a dhéanamh anois ar mhaoiniú chun comhlaí, díonbhrait, comharthaí nó painéil stairiúla a dheisiú. Cuimsíonn seo gnéithe cúltaca agus gránna a bhí curtha leis ag dáta níos déanaí lena n-áirítear cáblaí, soilse agus comharthaí.

Deir Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí, Tim Lucey go bhféadfadh foirgnimh nach bhfuil liostaithe mar fhoirgnimh chosanta a bheith incháilithe le haghaidh maoinithe, “Tugadh isteach sruth píolótach do struchtúir dhúchasacha do 2022. Tá deontais idir €5,000 agus €15,000 ar fáil do struchtúir a bhfuil carachtar áitiúil agus réigiúnach ar leith acu. Ceapadh agus tógadh na struchtúir seo ag gnáthdhaoine ag baint úsáide as ábhair a fuarthas sa cheantar máguaird agus á gcur i bhfeidhm ag baint úsáide as ceardaíocht dúchasacha mar thuí, balla láibe agus obair caolaigh, chomh maith le siúinéireacht agus saoirseacht thraidisiúnta. Cuireann na foirgnimh seo go mór lenár n-ómós áite agus tá sé tábhachtach go gcosnófar iad sa todhchaí freisin. "

Is é an spriocdháta d'iarratais chomhlánaithe ná 4in ar an 31 Eanáir 2022. Ní ghlacfar le hiarratais dhéanacha agus / nó iarratais neamhiomlána.

Ní bhreithneofar iarratais iomadúla ar an struchtúr céanna faoin gCiste um Struchtúir Stairiúla agus faoin Scéim Infheistíochta don Oidhreacht Thógtha in 2022. Is féidir cóipeanna crua a sheoladh chuig an Scéim Infheistíochta don Oidhreacht Thógtha nó chuig an gCiste um Struchtúir Stairiúla , An Oifig Chaomhantais, Urlár 3, an Roinn Pleanála, Halla an Chontae, Corcaigh. Más mian leat d’iarratas a chur isteach trí r-phost déan teagmháil le corkheritage@corkcoco.ie le haghaidh tuilleadh faisnéise