Grants for old farm
buildings
14.04.23
INISHOWEN farmers who use
old outhouses as part of their work have been invited to
apply for grants designed to conserve traditional barns,
sheds and agricultural outbuildings.
Funding is available for the conservation of farm
buildings under the Traditional Farm Buildings Grant
Scheme. The aim of the scheme is to ensure that
traditional farm buildings that contribute to landscape
character and are of heritage value are conserved for
agricultural use.
Application forms are available at
www.heritagecouncil.ie . Only online applications
will be accepted and the closing date for receipt of
applications to the grant scheme is Monday, April 24 at
5 pm.
Joseph Gallagher, Donegal Heritage Officer, explains:
“Our traditional farm buildings lend character to our
rural landscape and farmers play an important role in
their stewardship and conservation. The Traditional Farm
Buildings Grant Scheme allows traditional farm buildings
to retain their relevance to agricultural activities,
helps to maintain aspects of our rural built heritage
which are important to regional landscape character, and
conveys rural ways-of-life and local history to visitors
and locals alike. The scheme strongly encourages and
supports farmers to carry out at least some of the
repairs themselves. It also provides a means of
employment in rural areas for local contractors and
encourages local craftsmen to learn and apply best
conservation practice.” |
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Farm buildings near St.
Johnston that benefitted under the Heritage Council’s
Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme. |
The grant is available for
the conservation of traditional farm buildings including
roofs, walls, structural repairs, windows and doors.
Grants will also be available for other related
structures such as historic yard surfaces and landscape
features around the farmyard, walls and traditional farm
gates.
To be eligible for the scheme, buildings and other
related structures must have architectural or vernacular
heritage character, make a contribution to their setting
and not be overwhelmed by large-scale modern buildings.
Between 2016 and 2022, The Heritage Council supported
the conservation of 580 traditional farm buildings
countrywide.
The Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme is open to
farmers who are:
(i) Active agri-environment scheme participants
including the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme
(ACRES) or
(ii) Are participants in a European Innovation
Partnership (EIP) or
(iii) Are approved participants of the Organic Farming
Scheme
The applicant must be the owner of the building/other
related structure for which funding is being sought or
be acting with the permission of the owner. The grant
will cover up to 75% of the cost of the works. The
minimum grant offered will be €4,000 and the maximum
amount will be €30,000. With €1.25 million available
under the scheme, The Heritage Council estimates that
70-80 projects will be supported countrywide in 2023.
Further details and application forms are available from
The Heritage Council website at
www.heritagecouncil.ie or call 086 025 9202. Advice
to applicants is also available from the Donegal
Heritage Office by emailing
heritage@donegalcoco.ie . |
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