The Conservation Office at Fingal County Council is inviting owners of historic buildings, protected structures, and properties within Architectural Conservation Areas (ACAs) to submit applications for the annual Stitch in Time (SIT) conservation grant scheme.

The established grant scheme is structured to assist property owners with the financial costs associated with minor repairs and routine maintenance work. For 2026, the programme is placing a particular emphasis on providing funding aimed at improving the climate resilience of historic structures.

Fingal County Council noted that shifting global temperatures and changing weather patterns are resulting in more frequent and severe climate events. Future climate projections for Ireland indicate a rise in winter Atlantic storms, increased average temperatures, lower summer rainfall causing droughts and wildfire risks, and higher winter rainfall leading to flooding.

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These environmental shifts pose a distinct challenge for individuals managing older properties. The council highlights that consistent maintenance and prompt repairs to roofs, rainwater goods, and chimneys serve as a vital defensive measure to safeguard historic structures from severe winter storm damage.

Helena Bergin and Bronagh Lanigan, Fingal's Architectural Conservation Officers, have overseen the growth of the initiative over the decade since its introduction.

Commenting on the scheme's impact, Helena Bergin said: "Fingal's Stitch in Time Grant has proven to be a resounding success, providing financial support for owners or guardians of historic structures in the Fingal area to carry out routine maintenance, urgent repairs or temporary holding works as they arise, or to commission condition reports by conservation professionals to advise on appropriate repair methods and materials. We are fortunate that the scheme, as it currently operates, allows for applications to be submitted throughout the year, until the annual budget is fully allocated. Funding is still available for 2026. We wish in particular to raise awareness that the scheme can help owners with works to ready their historic buildings for increased rain fall or to address storm damage."