Historic Structures Fund 2025

Westmeath County Council is inviting applications to apply to the Historic Structures Fund 2025.

*Deadline for submission of completed applications is 5pm on Friday 17th January 2025*

It is a requirement of the Historic Structures Fund that the applicant engages an appropriately qualified conservation professional to oversee the work and all applications must include a comprehensive Method Statement.

For 2025, the HSF will offer grants from €50,000 up to €200,000 only, and focus on larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, where:

1. A clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated, or
2. A clear residential benefit has been demonstrated (such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary)

The Historic Structures Fund provides capital funding for works to qualifying structures which include the following:

1. Protected Structures: Structures in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS);
2. Structures eligible for or proposed for inclusion in the RPS but not yet formally approved for inclusion. Such structures must meet the criteria for inclusion in the RPS, i.e. must be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical point of view;
3. Structures or works within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs), or within the amenity of a National Monument, where exceptional circumstances apply

Eligible projects will be as follows:

1. projects proposed by local authorities on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of historic structures
2. projects proposed by a Local Authority for works to historic structures in public ownership, where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated

While Westmeath County Council facilitates the initial applications, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage operates the fund and determines the final list of nationwide projects to be granted funding.

Full details about the HSF 2025 – including application forms and guidance documents –are available to download below:

• HSF 2025 Application Form
• HSF 2025 Application Checklist
• HSF 2025 Guidance for Applicants
• HSF 2025 Circular to Local Authorities

Application forms along with the application checklist and relevant supplementary material should be emailed  to builtheritage@westmeathcoco.ie in either Word or PDF format before 5pm on Friday the 17^th of January 2025. The size of the email with all attachments should not exceed 15MB.

Community Monuments Fund 2025

Applications are invited for the Community Monuments Fund 2025. The Community Monuments Fund aims to assist with conservation, research and interpretation of archaeological monuments by communities and private owners. The scheme is funded by the National Monuments Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government. Grants will help custodians and owners of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of local communities and the public. In addition, they will provide support for heritage professions and job opportunities in building conservation and other traditional skills. Applications by private owners or community groups for funding under the under the Community Monuments Fund must be made to the Heritage Office of Westmeath County Council by 31st January 2025. The core aims of the Community Monuments Fund are to enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support; to build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change and to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation.

Funding is available in three streams:

• Stream 1 for essential repairs and conservation works at archaeological monuments.

• Stream 2 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access.
• Stream 3 for small scale emergency conservation works, enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual) at archaeological monuments.

Application forms and full details available below

• Lámhleabhar an Chiste Séadchomharthaí Pobail 2025 ‌‌
• Ciste na Séadchomharthaí Pobail 2025 - Foirm Iarratais ‌‌
• Community Monuments Fund 2025 – Handbook ‌‌
• Community Monuments Fund 2025 – Application Form ‌‌

Queries and applications should be addressed to: heritage@westmeathcoco.ie

Thatch Grants

Grants for the renewal or repair of thatch are available from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. To be eligible for this grant the house must be a normal place of residence. Further information and application forms are available from the Thatching Grants Section. Thatched buildings which are on the Record of Protected Structures may also qualify for grants assistance under the conservation grants schemes

Farm Building Grant Scheme

The GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Grant scheme is run by the Heritage Council in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for farmers approved in the GLAS scheme.

A grant award of up to 75% of the cost of the works is available, with grant varying from €4,000 to a maximum of €25,000. The grant is available for the conservation of traditional farm outbuildings, including roof, walls, structural repairs, windows and doors.
The grant is also available for other related structures including historic yard surfaces, walls, gate pillars and gates. The emphasis is on essential repairs, with restoration works having a low priority.

The scheme opens annually for funding. For details see the Heritage Council website