Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications that were received in 2022 and 2023 under the renewal or repair of thatched roof grant scheme for County Cork; the measures being taken to encourage homeowners to renew or repair thatched roofs given their heritage value rather than replacement to another more modern type of roof; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24367/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department’s grant scheme for the renewal or repair of a thatched roof provides funding of up to €6,350 or up to 80% of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland where the private owner holds a medical card. A higher level of assistance of up to €8,252 is available for houses on specified offshore islands, where the owner holds a medical card. In the case of private owners without a medical card, funding of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost, whichever is the lesser, may be payable in respect of necessary works to renew or repair the thatched roofs of private houses situated on the mainland, rising to €5,714 where the house is situated on a specified off-shore island. Details in relation to this grant scheme is available at the following link: gov - Thatching Grant (www.gov.ie)

Details of the number of applications received by my Department for 2022 and 2023 in respect of private houses located in Cork are set out in the following table:

My Department also oversees a number of schemes to assist in the conservation of protected structures, which may include repairs to historic roofing. These schemes are the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) and the Historic Structures Fund, under which a combined total of €9 million is available for 2024. This year, as in 2023, a dedicated €500,000 has been ring-fenced under the BHIS for conservation repairs to historic thatched structures. This aims to maximise the availability of financial assistance to owners of such properties, helping them offset other costs. These schemes are administered through the local authorities and details are available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/32ae3-financial-assistance-for-architectural-heritage/.

My Department recently issued guidelines for safeguarding thatched houses against fire which is available at the following link: Fire-Safety-in-Thatched-Properties.pdf (buildingsofireland.ie)

To assist with the implementation of this fire safety guidance, my Department is running a pilot scheme where thatch owners and occupiers can request a visit to their property by a Housing Inspector from my Department. The inspector will assess the fire risks in each individual property and will make building-specific recommendations to improve fire safety based on the published guidance.

My Department has also been engaging closely with the Department of Finance and the insurance sector to identify potential providers and improve the situation for owners of thatch properties.