People urged to avail of opportunities to fund heritage projects in Kilkenny as deadline nears

Kilkenny TD Malcolm Noonan is urging interested local parties to consider making an application as the deadlines approach for key funding opportunities for built heritage restoration and enhancement.

“Supporting our communities in their efforts to repair, preserve and restore our built heritage takes time, expertise, and significant investment. This has been recognised by my Department and I secured increases of up to 20% for some of our most important built heritage initiatives in the last budget,” Minister of State Noonan said.

“This funding exists to support communities, local authorities and the custodians of local monuments, protected structures or heritage buildings to engage in both small-scale and large-scale conservation work, and in turn to support locally the skills and craftsmanship needed to carry out this important work. In the case of the €6 million Community Monuments Fund, the fund supports essential repairs and can also assist with the development of a conservation management plan to identify the conservation measures that need to be taken.

“Grants are also available to enhance public access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments, so that the community at large can better access and appreciate the built heritage on our doorsteps.”

The other schemes currently open for applications are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund, which cover small- and large-scale conservation works, with dedicated streams for vernacular structures and historic shopfronts and ring-fenced funding of half a million euros for eligible historic thatched structures.

“I was delighted to be able to increase the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures fund to a combined €9 million for 2023,” said Minister Noonan. 

“These schemes will support communities in every county in Ireland to work together to protect our built heritage, and by funding hundreds of specialist and labour-intensive projects across the country we are also supporting local jobs and traditional skills.”

The closing date for applications to Kilkenny County Council for the Community Monuments Fund is February 1 and full details, conditions and application forms are available from the Heritage Office, Kilkenny County Council, email heritage@kilkennycoco.ie . The closing date for applications to the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and the Historic Structures Fund is January 20.