Donegal County Council’s Architectural Conservation Unit is responsible for making additions to the Record of Protected Structures (RPS). The unit also aids the owners or guardians of structures on the RPS, the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage (NIAH) or within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) with conservation advice and direction.
You can check if your property is on the RPS or in an ACA using the Planning Map Search at www.donegalcoco.ie
Please provide your RPS, ACA or NIAH reference number in all correspondence to enable us to deal with your query.
You can contact the Architectural Conservation Unit at [email protected]
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Applications for grant funding should be made directly by email or post to the Architectural Conservation Office of Donegal County Council. The deadline for submission of completed applications was 4pm on Friday 27th September 2024. This grant is now CLOSED Late applications and/or incomplete applications will not be accepted. |
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 which is for structures that are either on the Record of Protected Structures, Proposed Protected Structures or buildings within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs).
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 Architectural Conservation Office of Donegal County 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. This grant is now CLOSED.
Architectural Conservation Office,
Planning Services
County House
The Diamond
Lifford
F93 Y622
Email: [email protected]
NOTE: You must have an advisor or consultant that you engage to prepare your application and its accompanying documentation and to supervise or undertake works, on your building and they must be fully aware of its significance. Such personnel should be familiar with the principles and philosophies of architectural conservation in order to ensure that the highest standards of work are achieved.
The 2025 scheme will be advertised on our social media channels and on this website once released.
As part of the implementation of this fire safety guidance a pilot scheme is running in 2024 where thatch owners can request a visit to your property by an engineer from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The engineer will provide advice on how to apply the published guidance in the property. This service will be available free of charge. It will be available for an initial six-month pilot period, however, if it proves successful the Department will look to make it available on an ongoing basis. If you would like to request a visit, you can email Catriona O’Flaherty with their contact details. E: [email protected] T: 01 5393651 https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/app/uploads/2023/10/Fire-Safety-in-Thatched-Properties.pdf
Owners or occupiers of a Protected Structuremay request a ‘declaration’ under Section 57 of the Act. The purpose of this declaration is for Planning Authorities to clarify in writing the kind of works that would or would not materially affect the character of the structure or any element of the structure which contributes to its special interest. The issuing of a declaration is a service that the Planning Authority provides at no cost to the owner or occupant of a protected structure. The Planning Authority has twelve weeks from the receipt of a request for a Section 57 to have it completed.
