Minister Creed Launches Traditional Farm Buildings Grant

Michael Creed, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, has today (January 21) launched the 2019 Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme.

The scheme is designed to make funds available to restore and preserve traditional farm buildings and other structures that are of “significant heritage value”, according to Creed’s department.

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“These buildings and structures are a hugely important part of our heritage and a traditional part of our countryside,” said Creed.

This Scheme is an important part of my department’s Rural Development Programme by funding the preservation of these structures for future generations. They also make use of an existing building using local materials and traditions.

“Restored buildings from previous years of the scheme are already a significant enhancement to our rural landscape,” added the minister.

The department says that farm buildings and their related structures would be covered under the scheme, including yard surfaces, walls, gates and gate pillars, with the aim of returning these to practical use.

The scheme is a division of the wider Green, Low-Carbon, Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS), and all participants in the latter can apply for the traditional buildings grant.

The Traditional Farm Buildings Grant Scheme will be funded by the department under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, to the tune €6 million.

Grants for the scheme will range from between €4,000 to €25,000, and can be used to cover up to 75% of the work.

The benefits of the scheme go beyond the restoring of our built heritage and it can have significant biodiversity benefits also.

“Even the smallest buildings can prove very useful – many farm buildings and farmyards provide roosting sites for bats, and nesting sites for birds,” said Creed.

Between 50 and 70 projects will be supported each year, and the closing date for applications is February 19.

Application forms and other information can be found on: www.heritagecouncil.ie.

(Source – Agriland – Charles O Donnell – 21/01/2019)

Stone Cottage - Renovation

One Of The Most Popular Schemes To Renovate Farm Buildings Has Opened

One of the most popular schemes available to farmers, to help renovate traditional farm buildings has been opened for 2019 applicants.

This scheme funds the restoration and preservation of traditional farm buildings and structures of significant heritage value and which are conserved for agricultural use. The scheme is administered by the Heritage Council on behalf of the Department of Agriculture.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed these buildings and structures are a hugely important part of our heritage and a traditional part of our countryside.

“This Scheme is an important part of my Department’s Rural Development Programme by funding the preservation of these structures for future generations. They also make use of an existing building using local materials and traditions. Restored buildings from previous years of the scheme are already a significant enhancement to our rural landscape”.

The Scheme aims to support the restoration of traditional farm buildings and related structures such as historic yard surfaces, walls, gate pillars and gates on farms, while at the same time allowing these buildings a renewed practical use on the farm.

It is open to any existing participant in the Department’s principal agri-environment scheme of which there are just under 50,000.

The Scheme is jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme 2014-2020.

Hill walking - stiles

The financial allocation to the Scheme is €6m. The grants available range between €4,000 and €25,000 and can cover up to 75pc of the cost of the works.

  • Eligible applicants for the scheme are chosen on a competitive basis and around 50 to 70 projects will be supported each year.
  • The closing date for the receipt of applications is 5pm on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. All applications are assessed individually to identify the best and highest priority projects.
  • Application forms and terms and conditions of the scheme can be downloaded at www.heritagecouncil.ie

(Source – Irish Independent – Indo Farming – Farmland Team – 21/01/2019)

 

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