Historic Structures Fund 2024

About the HSF 2024

Update:

The Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2024 is closed for this year.

Call back soon for details of any future funding opportunities under this, or other, built-heritage grant schemes. 

The Historic Structure Fund (HSF) enable large-scale conservation works on heritage structures deemed significant and in need of urgent support.

It supports investment of private capital in labour-intensive projects to conserve historic structures in public and private ownership for community use.

Through this, the fund encourages regeneration and reuse of heritage properties to preserve protected structures and culturally significant assets.

Its also support employment in the conservation and construction industries.

build resilience in our heritage properties to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.

The Department encourages project promoters to incorporate a traditional skills training element in the project.

Applications in respect of refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, and where a clear residential benefit is demonstrated, are particularly welcomed. (Such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary.)

Funding Streams

There are three streams of funding:

Stream 1 offers grants from €15,000 to €50,000. It is aimed at essential repairs and smaller capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of heritage structures.

There is also a Historic Shopfronts sub-stream under Stream 1. This is for 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. In addition, local authorities are invited to make an additional application for Irish-language shopfronts.

Stream 2 offers grants from €50,000 to €200,000 for larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures. This stream is suitable when a clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated, or a clear residential benefit has been demonstrated (such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary).

Under Stream 2, 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.

Vernacular Structures Stream offers funding of €150,000 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.

The Minister may designate part of the Fund for projects in partnership with State-funded organisations such as the Office of Public Works, the Irish Heritage Trust, Waterways Ireland, The Irish Landmark Trust and others, to care for historic structures and buildings in public ownership and improve recreational infrastructure and public access to these heritage assets.

Applying for the Historic Structures Fund