The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Christopher O'Sullivan TD, has opened applications for the 2027 rounds of three flagship built heritage schemes: the Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and the Historic Thatched Buildings (HTB) scheme.

Funded by the Department through the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) and delivered by local authorities, the programmes are a key channel of State support for owners and custodians of historic and protected structures. As well as conserving buildings and streetscapes, they help sustain and develop traditional building crafts.

In 2026, more than €12 million was awarded to over 700 projects nationwide. The 2027 schemes will again back repair, maintenance and renewal works that honour the past while safeguarding these assets for the future.

Announcing the opening of applications, Minister O'Sullivan said: "These built heritage funding schemes provide essential investment to help safeguard our historic buildings, including private homes, civic buildings, protected shopfronts and religious buildings. I encourage owners of eligible historic properties to apply for the grants available to help them maintain their properties.

"I have visited many projects that have received funding under the BHIS and HSF over the last year, and I am consistently amazed to see the level of skill and craftsmanship being used to secure these buildings for future generations. This can only happen with the dedication of the owners and their local communities, and I look forward to seeing the range of projects that will be submitted for our 2027 grants."

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Last year, a dedicated funding stream for thatched buildings distributed over €600,000, and the Minister urged owners of thatched properties to seek available supports for necessary works.

Minister O'Sullivan added: "Thatched buildings are an important part of the fabric of our built heritage, as is the work in maintaining them. These schemes provide valuable work for the many traditional craft and tradespeople across Ireland, helping to keep unique skills alive."

Following feedback from applicants and local authority Architectural Conservation Officers and Heritage Officers, the opening dates for all three schemes have been aligned this year. For the HSF in particular, this provides additional time to prepare submissions and should allow earlier grant announcements, giving owners and custodians a longer window to complete works within the 2027 calendar year.

Under the BHIS, administered by local authorities with NBHS funding, grants ranging from €2,500 to €50,000 support maintenance and repair of protected structures and vernacular buildings that may lack statutory protection but are important to Ireland's architectural heritage.

The HTB scheme provides targeted assistance for properties with thatched roofs. Operated alongside the BHIS, additional funding is allocated to local authorities on a pro rata basis according to the number of thatched structures on their Records of Protected Structures.

The HSF, a nationally competitive programme run by the NBHS and administered by heritage professionals in each local authority, will offer grants of up to €200,000 in 2027 for projects with strong conservation outcomes and a clear public or community benefit. Works prioritise the conservation of historic fabric, especially the external envelope — such as roofs and windows — including repointing or re-rendering of external walls and similar repairs.

To be eligible, properties must be included, or proposed for inclusion, on the relevant local authority's Record of Protected Structures. Structures or works within an Architectural Conservation Area may also qualify.

Closing dates to local authorities are 30 October 2026 for BHIS and HTB, and 27 November 2026 for HSF. Successful projects will be announced in early 2027, with full lists to be published on gov.ie.

Further information on eligibility and how to apply is available on gov.ie via the BHIS, Historic Structures Fund and Historic Thatch Grant pages. Queries about a particular building's eligibility should be directed to the Architectural Conservation Officer or Heritage Officer in the relevant local authority. Technical questions may be emailed to [email protected] or [email protected].