TWO GRANT schemes aimed at conserving protected structures around the country have been suspended, the Department of the Environment has said.
The Local Authority Conservation Grants Scheme, which was open to property owners or occupiers who needed to renovate a protected structure, and the Civic Structures Conservation Grants scheme, for work on structures including church buildings, monuments, canal locks and schoolhouses, will not be operated this year.
A small amount of funding will be provided through the Structures at Risk Fund for buildings in “immediate danger of significant deterioration”, according to a circular sent to local authorities.
The scheme will be limited to two applications per local authority and the authority will have to decide which projects to prioritise. A fund of only €650,000 will be provided for the entire country.
In 2008, the combined value of the two suspended schemes was €11.4 million.
Many local authorities had already advertised the scheme for 2011.
Independent councillor in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown, Victor Boyhan, said applicants there had held off commencing essential works on their properties while waiting for this year’s grant allocations. He said it was particularly disappointing the funding had been cut without any prior notice.
“We need to assist the custodians of these architectural buildings,” he said.
A statement from the department said the schemes were suspended “due to a significant reduction in the budgetary allocation to the built heritage”. It said the department had allocated funding of almost €7.5 million in 2011 to support the work of the Heritage Council.
The department is to review the operation of Part IV (Architectural Heritage) of the Planning and Development Act, 2000, the statement added.
