Gormley announces €25m heritage grants

A RANGE of heritage properties from Bantry House in Co Cork to Connolly's Folly in Co Kildare are set to benefit from almost €25 million in grants announced by Minister for the Environment John Gormley yesterday.

The funding represents an increase of 42 per cent on last year. The grants are available for properties in private as well as public ownership.

The main elements of the programme are:

• €7 million for architectural protection grants which are administered by local authorities;

• €4.4 million in funding for the Civic Structure Grants scheme. The scheme now includes a €1.9 million fund to support works on churches of significant architectural importance;

• €7 million in assistance to the Office of Public Works - an increase of almost one-third on last year - to support works on properties in State care;

• More than €6.1 million for properties not in State care, much of which is to be channelled through the Heritage Council.

Among the significant heritage properties held in trust or private ownership, and earmarked for grant aid this year are: Bantry House, Co Cork; Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford; Marlfield House, Co Tipperary; Headfort House in Kells, Co Meath, and Fota House in Co Cork.

The Heritage Council will administer many of the grants for private houses and according to Mr Gormley, the scheme would strengthen the council's hand as it played "a pivotal role in identifying and managing conservation works" at such properties.

Mr Gormley described the local authority allocation of €7 million as "an important element" in delivering effective conservation and he believed the additional €1 million over last year's budget would see an increased level of conservation activity.

Projects covered by local authority grants include thatching houses, work on shop and pub fronts, timber sash windows, and repair/conservation of features of architectural significance generally.

Commenting on the grants as he announced them in the Botanic Gardens in Dublin, Mr Gormley said he was especially pleased that the gardens would benefit from a scheme to restore the cactus, waterlilly and fern house in time for the World Conference of National Botanic Gardens due to take place in 2010.

He also said that funding under the Civic Structure Grant Scheme would double, allowing for the inclusion of conservation work in churches.

"Many of our churches are of considerable architectural importance and they house examples of fine sculpture, mosaics and stained glass and are generally accessible to the local community. It is important that we protect this important part of our built heritage and, indeed of our social history," he said.

The Minister also said that 40 towns on the island have surviving medieval walls and a scheme which began last year would be continued in 2008 with the provision of €2 million.

Mr Gormley noted the important role that local authority conservation officers play in ensuring the conservation and protection of the built heritage and encouraging best practice at a local level.