FORWARDED FROM FERN JOLLEY RCB to Diocesan Secretaries
Dear Clergy, Secretaries and Treasurers
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme 2022 and the Historic Structures Fund 2022 are now open for applications to Local Authorities until 31st January 2022. Grants awarded to Church of Ireland parishes under these schemes in 2021 amounted to approximately €472,000, which is not an insignificant amount of money and contributes to the maintenance and conservation of our historic buildings.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) is for the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Acts and grants range from €2,500 to €15,000. There is also a “micro” scheme available for works of routine maintenance and minor repairs. The Historic Structures Fund (HSF) is for conservation works to heritage structures, in both private and public ownership, and focuses on the conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the benefit of communities and the public. There are two streams of grant aid, Stream 1 offers grants of between €15,000 and €50,000; while Stream 2 offers grants of between €50,000 and €200,000. The year 2022 also sees the incorporation into the HSF of two pilot schemes that were introduced in 2021 – Vernacular Structures and Historic Shopfronts.
Further information may be had from the Heritage or Conservation sections of Local Authorities.
In addition, we would be obliged if you would remind parishes about the use of the RCB Tax Reference Number when making grant applications and claims particularly from government bodies and local authorities – further details are in the attached letter.
Information on other available grants may be found on the Parish Resources section of the Church of Ireland website at the link below, although not exhaustive it provides a good starting point. https://www.ireland.anglican.org/cmsfiles/pdf/Resources/ParishResources/LandBuildings/Sources-Church-Property-Grants.pdf
(forms have been sent by email to clergy, secretaries and treasurers for handiness by the Diocesan Secretary but can also be downloaded at the above link)