Historic Structures Fund 2026
The Historic Structures Fund for 2026 is now open for applications. The primary focus of the Historic Structures Fund is to assist the conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the broader benefit of communities and the public.
The core aims of the scheme are to;
enable larger scale conservation works to be carried out on heritage structures which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support;
encourage the regeneration and reuse of heritage properties and to help to secure the preservation of protected structures and/or culturally significant assets;
support the investment of private capital in labour-intensive projects to conserve historic structures in public and private ownership for community use.
support employment in the conservation and construction industries.
build resilience in our heritage properties to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.
Eligible Structures & Projects
The Historic Structures Fund provides capital funding for works to qualifying structures which include the following:
(i) Protected Structures: Structures in the Record of Protected Structures (RPS) of each Local Authority;
(ii) Structures eligible for or proposed for inclusion in the RPS but not yet formally approved for inclusion. Such structures must meet the criteria for inclusion in the RPS by the Local Authority, i.e. must be of special interest from an architectural, historical, archaeological, artistic, cultural, scientific, social or technical point of view;
(iii) Structures or works within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs), or within the amenity of a National Monument, where exceptional circumstances apply.
Applications in respect of refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, and where a clear residential benefit is demonstrated, are particularly welcomed. (Such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary.)
For 2026, the Historic Structures Fund will offer grants from €50,000 up to €200,000, and will focus on larger enhancement, refurbishment or reuse projects involving heritage structures, where:
a. A clear community or public benefit has been demonstrated, or
b. A clear residential benefit has been demonstrated (such projects must be advanced through the planning process as necessary)
Conservation works must be designed, specified and overseen on site by appropriately qualified and experienced building conservation professional(s) who will be required to confirm that works have been carried out to a satisfactory standard.
Applications
Your application must include your complete application form, method statement for the proposed works, quotation for the proposed works and photos of the structure in it's current condition.
Closing date for receipt of full applications is 16th January 2026
Enquiries and applications can be addressed to conservation@kildarecoco.ie or by post to; The Conservation Section, Planning Department, Kildare County Council, Aras Chill Dara, Devoy Park, Naas, Co. Kildare.