Grant ceilings increased from €15,000 to €50,000
Scheme opens three months earlier, allowing more time for works
I'm delighted to announce the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) for 2025 is now open for application - with some important changes! We've opened applications three months earlier than usual to allow successful applicants more time to schedule and complete their projects during 2025, and owners and custodians of historic buildings in Carlow and Kilkenny can now apply for up to €50,000 (previously capped at €15,000) to undertake the repair and restoration of these historic buildings.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme is a really impactful funding stream for the protection and conservation of our built heritage, and these changes will make it easier for owners and custodians of historic or protected buildings to access higher levels of financial support towards their projects and get the work done within the required timeframe. If we want people to protect and preserve the architectural heritage of historic buildings while they carry out vital repairs or upgrades, then our grant schemes have to offer the right support and these enhancements to the BHIS are hugely positive.
With the scheme opening for applications earlier than in previous years, grants will be awarded in January, so owners, custodians and craftspeople will have additional time to complete their works within the timeframe of the scheme. Further to this, the 2025 Built Heritage Investment Scheme will provide grants of up to €50,000 to individual owners for small-to-medium scale works to repair and preserve their historic properties. This must represent no more than 80% of the project’s total cost, where the limit for state funding under previous versions of the scheme was 50%.
As Minister, I have had the pleasure of visiting many properties across Carlow and Kilkenny that have received assistance under the BHIS and I’ve seen first-hand the positive impacts this work has had on the character of a place, the communities that live there and local employment. Since I became Minister, we’ve allocated €950,000 to numerous projects in Carlow and Kilkenny under the BHIS, including for works on private residences, much-loved public buildings, and establishments that add so much to the charm and character of our towns and city.
Since 2021 we’ve provided funding for the likes of Borris House, Currane Tower in Borris and St. Mary's Church in Rathvilly, along with the Old Fever Hospital in Freshford, Phil Barron's Cottage in Clough, Deerpark Mills, Ballybur Castle and Coach House, Kilkenny’s iconic Club House Hotel and Harp Bar, and St Kieran’s College. BHIS grants have enabled small-scale but essential works like roof repairs, window conservation, lime rendering, masonry, joinery and thatching to be carried out by skilled craftspeople using traditional building skills to maintain the integrity of these historic buildings.
I want to highlight the early opening of the scheme for 2025 and urge anyone thinking of applying to the Heritage Officers in Carlow County Council or Kilkenny County Council as soon as possible. Applications for the 2025 Built Heritage Investment Scheme will close on Friday 27th of September.
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