Louis O'Hara (Galway East, Sinn Fein)
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907. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will increase funding for schemes to support owners of historic thatched buildings, including the historic structures fund and the historic thatched buildings grant, given that they have been over-subscribed in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11751/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department oversees a number of schemes which assist owners of thatched buildings.

A dedicated Thatching Grant is available for thatched buildings in use as housing. Applicants can avail of up to €3,810 or two thirds of the approved cost (whichever is less) towards necessary roof repair or renewal. A higher grant (up to €5,714) may be payable for houses on specified islands. For owners of qualifying thatch properties who are also Medical Card holders the maximum grant available is €6,350, or up to 80% of the approved cost (€8,252 for Islands).

Further support is available for historic thatched buildings through the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS), principally under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS). This scheme is administered by the local authorities and funded by my Department. Since 2023, it has included a dedicated funding stream for historic thatched buildings which offers grants of up to €20,000 for thatching or other conservation work. Owners of historic thatched buildings may also apply for funding from the main stream of the BHIS.

Funding of €500,000 is available each year for the Thatching Grant. Under the schemes operated by the NBHS, which allocate funding at the beginning of each year, €1,250,000 has been awarded to thatched buildings in 2025.

I am aware of the competitive nature of the BHIS grants and the high level of demand that there is for support of this type. All the above funding is based on allocations made to my Department under Budget 2025. I intend to continue to make the case for enhanced support for these structures and other heritage buildings, bearing in mind of course the many competing priorities for government funding which exist.