Built Heritage

Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage, has recently announced the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) for 2025. This scheme is intended to support a substantial number of projects across the country, while also promoting the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople, and tradespersons in the repair and restoration of historic buildings.

The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is a government grant initiative funded by the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), designed to assist owners and custodians in maintaining and conserving these significant structures. It operates in tandem with the Historic Structures Fund (HSF), which supports larger-scale conservation works on heritage properties. The funding for these schemes is administered through Local Authorities.

Ireland’s historic buildings play a vital role in enriching our cities, towns, villages, and countryside, while also fostering a strong sense of place and community pride. The primary responsibility for the protection of structures safeguarded under the Planning and Development Acts lies with their owners and occupiers. These custodians, along with Local Authorities, are charged with ensuring the preservation of these important buildings.

Since 2016, Waterford City and County have been allocated nearly €2 million for conservation projects under these schemes. To date, this funding has supported 168 projects, provided over 11,000 days of employment, and generated expenditure exceeding €4 million. These figures do not include the non-conservation aspects of the projects, which have also generated additional local employment and economic activity. The projects funded in Waterford have varied in scope, including essential repairs to rainwater goods, walls, windows, chimneys, and thatched roofs, as well as the restoration of stained glass windows and shopfronts.

The BHIS provides funding for the repair and conservation of the following types of buildings (or qualifying structures):

1. Protected structures—buildings listed on the Record of Protected Structures (RPS)
2. Proposed protected structures—buildings that the Local Authority proposes to include on this list
3. Structures in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs)—buildings located within areas defined as an ACA in the Waterford City and County Development Plan 2022-2028
4. Vernacular buildings, such as farm buildings
5. Historic shopfronts

For 2025, there have been some changes to the BHIS compared to previous years. Notably, the scheme has been advertised much earlier than usual. This adjustment allows the details of the successful projects and the corresponding funding amounts to be announced in early January 2025, providing applicants and contractors with additional time to arrange and complete the works within the year.

The funding awarded for successful projects will range between €2,500 and a maximum of €50,000. The total value of public funding provided for individual projects can cover up to 80% of the total project cost, with the final amount determined by the Local Authority on a case-by-case basis.  The scheme will be administered by the Conservation Section of Waterford City and County Council.

• Full details of the scheme, including the application form, a guidance document for applicants, and a list of eligible works, are available on this website.
• The Irish language versions of the An Scéim Infheistíochta don Oidhreacht Thógtha (BHIS) 2025 Circular and Application Form are available at https://www.gov.ie/ga/seirbhis/sceim-infheistiochta-don-oidhreacht-thogtha-siot/

Completed application forms and photographs of the structures must be submitted via email to planning@waterfordcouncil.ie by Friday, 27th September 2024.

• 188 community projects across all 31 local authorities have received funding through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) 
• LBAF projects include restoration, invasive species management, surveys, education and awareness projects
• All projects support the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan
• Small Recording Grants scheme funds 67 local projects

Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, has today announced a combined €2.7m in funding for local biodiversity projects. Over €2.5 million is being awarded to local authorities to carry out biodiversity projects through the Local Biodiversity Action Fund (LBAF) and €193k is being granted to the natural history recording community through the Small Recording Grants scheme.

Local Biodiversity Action Fund

Operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the scheme was first launched in 2018. Since then, a total of just over €6m has been granted to local authorities through the LBAF for projects that support actions in the 3rd National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP). This year’s grants will build on that investment.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD:

“Given that it’s Biodiversity Week, I’m especially delighted to announce funding of over €2.5 million for 188 biodiversity projects. The Local Biodiversity Action Fund is an enormously impactful scheme that supports local authorities and communities to deliver on Ireland’s national objectives for nature, from invasive species to habitat restoration to awareness-raising to surveys and monitoring work. As more and more Biodiversity Officers join the ranks of our local authorities, I know that the benefits for nature and people that this Fund provides are only going to grow.”

A total of 188 projects have been approved across all 31 local authorities, covering a range of biodiversity-related activities, including invasive alien species control, dune restoration, wetland surveys and biodiversity awareness and training.

Projects approved this year include:

• 8 local authorities joining together to monitor the Quagga mussel invasive species in the Shannon
• 3 local authorities supporting The Shannon Dolphin Project, which is 30 years old this year (2023) making it one of the longest dolphin studies in Europe
• Habitat mapping in Cork
• Development of an Invasive Alien Species Strategy for Galway City Council
• Installation of closed predator-proof fences at five key breeding wader sites in County Donegal
• Hedgerow survey in Kilkenny County

Small Recording Grants

A grant scheme providing support to Ireland’s natural history recording community is now in operation for a fifth year, with growing popularity and record numbers of applicants. The Small Recording Grant scheme, managed by the NPWS, aims to help established naturalists recording in Ireland to maintain and enhance their expertise in species identification, and to develop the next generation of natural history recorders.

The Small Recording Grants scheme supports volunteers, groups, societies and associations of recorders who have limited or no access to financial supports for their work. 67 applicants have been notified of their funding allocations, at a combined total of €193k. The projects supported include:

• Dissection Masterclass for Determination of Species of Moths
• Dragonflies and Damselflies in County Tipperary
• Sponge Recording Project
• A Targeted Bioblitz Survey of Freshwater-Associated Taxa in the Burren
• Wexford Barn Owl Project

The data generated by these recording exercises is utilised by the NPWS to inform its understanding of the distribution and ecology of many species and to assess their status. In turn, it informs advice on nature conservation objectives and practical measures to protect species and habitats.

Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD:

“It is fantastic to be able to fund these local initiatives once again. In 2022, my Department funded 24 projects to the tune of €70,000. This year, we have significantly increased resources for this very worthwhile scheme, with 67 projects approved at a cost of €193,000 – almost 3 times the projects and 3 times the funding.

“This scheme supports the work of the NPWS in recording many aspects of individual species that it would be almost impossible for my staff to carry out themselves.”

A full list of the projects funded under the Local Biodiversity Action Fund 2023 can be viewed or downloaded on the Department’ website:

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/aeb0e-local-biodiversity-action-fund-project-funding-2023/ 

ENDS

Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has announced 2 funding schemes for Protected Structures and historic buildings – the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2023 and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2023. 

Since 2016, Waterford City and County Council has received funding of  over €1.6 million for conservation projects under these schemes. This has supported over 140 projects

In 2022, we received €533,710 in funding for 27 projects  which generated a spend of €1,171,825 and provided over 2,500 days of employment. These figures do not include the non conservation element of projects which generated additional employment and spend.  The projects ranged in scope from essential repairs of rainwater goods, walls, windows, thatch roofs, stained glass, to large-scale repairs of buildings.

Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) 2023 

The BHIS scheme seeks to leverage private capital for investment in small-scale, labour-intensive projects and to support the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons in the repair of Protected Structures and in certain cases, the conservation of structures within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACA).  Waterford has been allocated €182,400. Funding awards made under the scheme will be between €2,500 and €15,000, with applicants matching in full the grants being awarded.

The Historic Structures Fund (HSF)  2023.

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 2023 will be €4. 5 million The primary focus of the Historic Structures Fund will be on conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the broader benefit of communities and the public.

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 2023, 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 invited to make  applications for a maximum of one English and one Irish-language shopfront under Stream 1

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)In addition, refurbishment or reuse projects where a clear residential benefit is demonstrated will be welcomed this year under Stream 2 in line with Housing for All commitments. 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 increased funding of €150,000. 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.

These schemes will be administered by Waterford City and County Council. The criteria, list of qualifying works, FAQs and the application forms for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2023 and Historic Structures Fund 2023 are now available on  www.waterfordcouncil.ie

Completed application forms and photos of the structures to be submitted only  by email  to Planning@waterfordcouncil.ie by 5 pm on 28th  of January 2023. Please ensure that the grant scheme name is in the subject line and note that all forms must be completed in full in order to be processed. Successful applicants must have the works completed by 30^th of September 2023.

For further information or if you have any queries in relation to the schemes please contact: Rosemary Ryall, Executive Conservation Officer, Waterford City and County Council. e-mail:  rryall@waterfordcouncil.ie