Funding will be allocated to the owners of historic and protected structures in Laois to carry out essential repairs and maintenance, local Portlaoise based Councillor, Thomasina Connell has said.
Councillor Connell stated that Laois County Council and custodians of protected sites will receive €55,000 for several small-scale and labour-intensive projects to repair and safeguard our built heritage.
Under this year’s Historic Structures Fund (HSF), Laois County Council will receive funding for two projects, with grants for the conservation and renovation of many different types of historic structures in Laois.
€40,000 will go to Clarahill House in Clonaslee for roof structure repair and slating, window repair, gutters, drainage, barges and decorative finials, lime render application with a hot mix – as well as appropriate insulation to roof space.
While Stradbally Hall, home to the Electric Picnic, will receive €15,000 for the removal of defective plaster on one section of the building which will be replaced with new lime plaster and the cracked gutters on another section will be repaired. Corbels will also be repaired on a like for like basis using Roman Cement.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) will also support eight projects in Laois County Council areas. Grants ranging from €1,000 to €15,000 will be provided and the scheme nationwide will generate several thousand days’ employment for skilled craftspeople.
The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) will also support eight projects in Laois County Council areas.
Grants ranging from €1,000 to €15,000 will be provided and the scheme nationwide will generate several thousand days’ employment for skilled craftspeople.
St. Paul’s Church in Portarlington has been granted €15,000 for interior structural repair while the remainder are all private dwellings.
They are: Thatched house, Rathmakelly Glebe, Ballacolla €5,000; Fitzpatrick’s Cottage, Tooreagh, Clogh, Ballacolla, €5,000; thatched house, Corrigeen, Stradbally €5,000; Tinnakill House, Raheen, Mountrath €10,000; thatched house, Jamestown Cross, Ballybrittas €4,000; Morette, Emo €1,000; and The Coach House, Attanagh Glebe €15,000.
Cllr Connell said: “The Minister for Culture, Heritage, and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, TD, has announced that a total of 449 heritage projects across the country will benefit from a combined sum of over €4.3m under this year’s Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS).
“The funding is being released as we move to Phase 2 of the Government’s roadmap to reopen our economy to ease the Covid-19 restrictions.
“It will help provide employment for small businesses, skilled conservation specialists and tradespeople involved in heritage-related construction activity in Laois.
“The schemes will play a vital role in helping Laois communities to regenerate the areas where they live and work, and to protect our built heritage for future generations in County Laois.
“These supports, which are administered by local authorities, provide investment in hundreds of projects in urban and rural areas and also help provide vital support for local jobs in conservation, traditional skills and construction.”
“As the phased reopening of our economy continues, it is hoped it will be possible that many projects under these two Built Heritage Capital grant schemes can proceed without further delay.
“Successful applicants will be advised that all works must be carried out in compliance with physical distancing instructions and other public health measures determined by the Government and the HSE.
“It will be the project manager’s responsibility to monitor and ensure compliance with the most up to date and accurate information from the Government and the HSE websites.
“I am delighted that our Government remain in a position to continue investing in our built heritage.”
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