Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if grants are available for a house (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25348/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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My Department provides financial support for the protection of eligible heritage buildings and historic structures through two grant schemes which are, in the main, administered by the local authorities. These are the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS).

The HSF is for conservation and enhancement to heritage structures and historic buildings, in both private and public ownership, for the benefit of communities and the public. The BHIS is a scheme for the repair and conservation of structures on the local authority Record of Protected Structures (RPS). It is designed to leverage private capital for investment in small-scale conservation projects across the country and to support the employment of skilled conservation professionals.

The BHIS has been allocated €3m this year, up 20% on 2020. The HSF has also been allocated €3m, up over 75% on 2020. Details of the projects to be funded under both schemes were announced recently and are available on my Department’s website. Details of the 2022 schemes will be made available later this year and an application in relation to the structure mentioned would be welcome.

In the context of a particular building or historic structure, the best advice is generally to contact the Architectural Conservation Officer or Heritage Officer in the local authority who is very well placed to advise on the various types of funding available to assist with renovation.