Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan, has today opened applications for grant support for the provision of expert conservation advice to private owners of vacant traditional houses.
This is the second year of the Conservation Advice Grant scheme, which supports owners who are availing of or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to bring vacant or derelict traditional houses back into use.
As part of the Historic Structures Fund, this scheme will cover up to 67% of the costs (subject to a maximum grant of €5,000) of having a conservation expert with appropriate expertise visit a traditional building, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice. This includes a report outlining the condition of the building and identifying repairs and improvements that would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.
Buildings that qualify
Stream 1 is open to owners of vacant traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic structure within an Architectural Conservation Area.
Residential houses and buildings previously used for commercial purposes also qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a single dwelling over a shop. This grant scheme has been devised to support the Town Centre First and Housing for All policy programmes.
Stream 2 is open to owners of Vacant Traditional Farmhouses where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic farmhouse located within an Architectural Conservation Area and/or a vernacular farmhouse which has no statutory protection.
Properties must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.
Applications must be made by the deadline of 2 May 2025. The application form and guidance documents are available on the department’s website.
