A new Traditional Farm Buildings Grants scheme to help preserve and restore traditional farm buildings for GLAS farmers has been welcomed by Fine Gael.

TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, said the scheme for Irish farmers will help restore the buildings which are of significant heritage value.

Mr Doyle said: "Grants will be made available to carry out approved conservation works on traditional farm buildings, including roofs, outside surface of walls, windows and doors. Grants will also be available for related structures such as historic yard surfaces, landscape features around the farm such as walls, gates and pillars.

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"To be eligible for the scheme, buildings and other related structure must have architectural or vernacular heritage character and make a contribution to the setting.

"These grants will maintain the character of farms and will create employment in the building industry especially, for highly skilled traditional building tradespeople. This scheme will benefit farmers who may have missed out on the grants in the REPS 4 traditional farm building grants between 2007 and 2013."

The deadline for applications is Friday 06 May.

(CD/MH)