A number of relevant grants fall under the heritage remit of my Department. The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) provides two main grant schemes which support the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures. These schemes include the provision of capital grants for conservation works as well as financial assistance for owners to obtain conservation advice for their historic structures. The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) are, in the main, administered by the local authorities.
The BHIS provides capital funding of between €2,500 and €50,000 for repair or conservation works to the following types of buildings:
Protected structures.
Proposed protected structures.
Structures in Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs).
Vernacular buildings.
Under BHIS, each local authority receives an allocation of funds from my Department based on the proportion of structures on their Register of Protected Structures (RPS) when compared to the national total. Each local authority can award funding to eligible applications within their area that meet the terms and conditions of the BHIS circular. Within the BHIS, separate, ring-fenced funding is available for thatched buildings under the Historic Thatch Buildings stream. The purpose of this scheme is to protect the heritage value of historic thatched roof buildings, and funding is allocated to local authorities on the basis of the number of thatched properties within their area. Any historic thatched structure, including domestic or commercial, is eligible for consideration under this scheme.
BHIS awards for 2026 were announced in January this year, while the window for applications for the 2027 scheme is expected to open this July and run until September. Awards will be announced early next year. It is advised that potential applicants should contact their relevant local authority to seek further guidance in relation to applications.
The primary focus of the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) is to assist the conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the broader benefit of communities and the public. The HSF offers grants from €50,000 up to €200,000 for larger scale conservation works.
An announcement of successful applicants for 2026 was made earlier this month, and it is planned to reopen for 2027 projects in October. All applications are made to the relevant local authority, with a deadline of mid-January. Following assessment at a local authority level, they submit suitable applications to the Department for assessment at a national level.
More details on both schemes, including guidance material, can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/services/built-heritage-investment-scheme-bhis/, and www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/services/historic-structures-fund/.
A further scheme that may be of relevance is the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses, which is an expanded funding scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of traditional houses who are availing of, or considering, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme provides grants to cover 67% of the costs (up to a maximum grant of €5,000) of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise:
Visit a traditional building,
Conduct a survey, and
Compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner.
This expert advice will include a report which outlines the condition of the building and identifies conservation improvements which would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity. The closing date for receipt of completed application form, accompanying photos and relevant documents to be sent to conservationadvicegrants@housing.gov.ie by deadline of 5pm 8 May 2026.
In relation to archaeological heritage sites, the National Monuments Service of my Department administers the Community Monument Fund through the Local Authorities. The Community Monuments Fund provides funding for projects in relation to:
Archaeological Monuments that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) under the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended);
Archaeological Monuments that are identified in the Sites and Monuments Record compiled by the National Monuments Service.
There are three streams under which funding can be applied for:
Stream 1 provides grants of up to €100,000 for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments.
Stream 2 provides grants of up to €30,000 for the Development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports and detailed Specification of Works aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
Stream 3 provides grants of up to €30,000 for the enhancement of access infrastructure, interpretation projects (including virtual/online), and small-scale emergency conservation works at archaeological monuments.
Details of CMF are usually announced in November for the following year. Further information can be found at www.archaeology.ie/advice-and-support/grants-and-funding/community-monuments-fund/.
