Conservation Grant Funding
Find out more about conservation grant funding schemes below.
Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS)
Applications for grant funding should be made directly by email or post to the Conservation Section of Dublin City Council. The deadline for submission of completed applications is 4pm on Friday 27th September 2024.
Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, has announced the opening of applications for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) for 2025. The Conservation Section of Dublin City Council will administer these schemes for buildings that are either on the Record of Protected Structures, Proposed Protected Structures or buildings within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) within the Dublin City Council Area only.
The scheme supports essential repairs and smaller capital works for the refurbishment and conservation of heritage structures and the employment of skilled and experienced conservation professionals, craftspeople and tradespersons.
A significant change for 2025 is the incorporation of the former Historic Structures Fund (HSF) Stream 1 projects into the BHIS, with resulting increases to the upper limit of funding per project to a maximum of €50,000 and the upper limit of percentage of State support to 80% of costs. The minimum level of funding awarded will be €2,500. Applicants should consult the list of qualifying and non-qualifying works to ensure eligibility.
Historic Shopfronts have been included as qualifying works under the revised BHIS. Vernacular Buildings that are not protected have also been included as qualifying works, with a maximum grant of €30,000.
The HSF will be advertised later this year and will reflect previous Stream 2 funding. An application under the BHIS does not preclude a later application under the HSF, but only one grant can be availed of per structure.
Funding for works of routine maintenance and minor repairs is also available through the BHIS. The maximum award for such projects will be €2,500.
To download the documents, please click the links below:
The Irish language versions of the BHIS 2025 Circular and Application Form are available here: https://www.gov.ie/ga/seirbhis/sceim-infheistiochta-don-oidhreacht-thogtha-siot/
Please ensure all elements of Application Form A and the Application Form A Checklist are fully and correctly completed and a Method Statement has been provided. The Checklist is to be returned in Word format.
Applications should be made directly by email (encouraged) or post to the Conservation Section of Dublin City Council. The deadline for submission of completed applications is 4PM ON FRIDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER 2024. Late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Conservation Section,
Planning & Property Development Department
Dublin City Council
Block 3, Floor 3, Civic Offices, Dublin 8
Email: [email protected]
Relief for expenditure on approved buildings and gardens in the State
Tax relief is available for the owner of an approved heritage building. This is encompassed under Section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. The expenditure can be incurred for the repair, maintenance or restoration of approved buildings. Approval for buildings is sought from the Department of Housing, Local and Government and Heritage's Service and the tax relief is administered by the Revenue Commissioners.
Approved buildings, gardens and objects (revenue.ie)
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
SEAI operates a number of programmes that provide financial grants for energy efficiency improvements for building owners. The ‘Better Energy Home Scheme’ includes grants towards insulation, high efficiency boilers and controls, BER certificates and renewable technologies. They also operate the ‘Warmer Homes Scheme’ for people in receipt of fuel allowance benefit; towards attic insulation, draught-proofing, lagging jackets, energy efficient lighting, cavity wall insulation and energy advice.
Please note that not all of these works would be considered exempt in a protected structure or in an architectural conservation area. Contact the Conservation Section for advice.
The Living City Initiative
The Living City initiative (LCI) is a tax incentive scheme to assist and encourage people to live in the historic inner city areas of Dublin city. It allows owners and investors to claim tax relief for money spent on refurbishment and/or conversion of residential property - either as income tax relief (for owner-occupied residential) or capital allowance (for rented residential).
For further information on the LCI pease click here:
https://www.dublincity.ie/residential/planning/active-land-management/living-city-initiative