The Irish Department of Environment has invited owners of historic building to apply for conservation grants.

Encompassing public owned premises and those open to the general public, cash is provided to carry out repairs and maintenance works.

Buildings must carry protected structures status and applications should be accompanied with a high standard conservation report.

Grants range from €10,000-€50,000 and the monies generally must be used within the same year.

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Occasionally the cash is permitted to be carried over into the subsequent year.

The department has also released funding to carry out renovation works on thatched roofs, which are more than ten years old.

Houses eligible for the cash must be in use as a normal place of residence, which excludes holiday homes.

A grant of two thirds of the approved cost, up to a maximum of €3,810, is available; a higher level of assistance of up to €5,714 is available for houses on specified offshore islands.

A department officials said householders with a medical card may be eligible for thatching grants up to a maximum of €6,350, or €8,253 in the case of houses on the offshore islands.

In these cases the grant may cover up to 80% of the approved cost of works subject to the maximum grant.

(PR/JM)