The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has recently announced 2 funding schemes for Protected Structures – the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2019 (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) 2019. Across the country the BHIS Scheme will see funding of up to €2.5m and up to €1.8m in respect of the HSF Scheme.
The allocation of funding for Cork County Council, under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2019, is €79,000. The scheme will be administrated by the Heritage Unit of Cork County Council and grants of between €2,500 and €15,000 will be available for successful applicants. The fund is intended to assist with works to safeguard structures protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) and, in certain cases, works to structures within Architectural Conservation Areas. The fund is not intended to assist in the carrying out of routine maintenance, alterations, improvements or pre-existing work. The forms, which are available to download from the Heritage Section of Cork County Council’s webpage, include – BHIS Application Form / Notes on Qualifying Works
The Historic Structures Fund, which is a modified version of the previous Structures at Risk Fund, has been introduced to care for and restore historic structures and buildings for the benefit of communities and the public. The forms available for download online include – HSF Application Form / Guidance Notes
Please note that the deadline for submission of completed applications for both the Built Heritage Investment Scheme and The Historic Structures Fund is 4 p.m. on Thursday 31st of January 2019. Applications, which must be made in hard copy, should be addressed to CORK COUNTY COUNCIL HERITAGE UNIT, BHIS/HSF 2019 SCHEME, Planning Department, Floor 3, County Hall, Cork. Late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted.
