While the primary responsibility to care for and maintain a protected structure rests with the owner, the Historic Structures Fund will invest essential capital in our valuable built heritage and help the owners and custodians of historic structures to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public. There are almost fifty thousand protected structures around the country. Many of these are in great need of investment to ensure their preservation and continued use so that they remain a living part of our history and community life into the future.

Available Funding: €50,000-€200,000

The Historic Structures Fund 2025 will be structured as follows:
 

1. Protected Structures: Structures in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) of each Local Authority.

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 by the Local Authority, 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.

4. Eligible projects will be as follows: 

• Projects proposed by local authorities on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of historic structures
• 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
• N.B. – Only one application to the HSF will be considered per historic structure
   

Applicants will be required to provide evidence of the availability of matching funding and works must be completed and paid for before payment is made by the Department.

Funding for the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) is being made available as part of Project Ireland 2040. 

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday, 20th December 2024.