€25m set aside for heritage projects

Heritage sites throughout the State will benefit from funding worth nearly €25 million this year.

The investment in built heritage sites will be divided in four ways and represents an increase of 42 per cent on the amount spent last year.

Under the plan, €7 million will be spent on architectural grants administered by local authorities for conservation work on protected thatched houses, shop and pub fronts and timber sash windows.

A fund of over €4 million will be spent on civic structure grants schemes. These schemes received over 190 applications last year and relate to existing or former church buildings, monuments, canal locks, market houses, former barracks, bridges, public monuments and schoolhouses.

The Office of Public Works will receive €7 million for projects on a number of state-owned sites including: St Enda's Pearse Museum; National Botanic Gardens; Phoenix Park lodges; Heywood Gardens; Connolly's Folly; Durrow Abbey, and Nenagh Castle.

Properties not in State care but open to the public will be allocated €6.1 million for restoration work. These include: Bantry House, Johnstown Castle, Marlfield House, and Fota House.

The funding will also provide for an apprenticeship programme so a continued pool of traditional skills such as stonemasonry are available to the building conservation sector.

Making the announcement today the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, John Gormley, said the investment is "vital" for safeguarding Ireland's important architectural heritage.