The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has said that the application process is open for grants of up to €5,000 to private owners of vacant traditional houses.

The grants will partially cover the cost of expert conservation advice for those private owners, the department said.

This is the second year of the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme, which supports owners that are availing of, or considering, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to bring vacant or derelict traditional houses back into use.

The scheme will cover up to 67% of the costs, subject to the €5,000 maximum, of having a conservation expert with appropriate expertise visit a traditional building, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice.

This includes a report outlining the condition of the building and identifying repairs and improvements that would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.

By partially offsetting the cost of engaging expert advice at an early stage, the scheme also helps owners to avoid the risk of damage to their properties, obtain the services of appropriately skilled tradespeople, and ensure value for money in the completion of their projects, the department said.

The deadline for applications is May 2. The grant scheme will come in two streams.

Stream 1 is open to owners of vacant traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a protected structure and/or a historic structure within an architectural conservation area.

Residential houses and buildings previously used for commercial purposes also qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a single dwelling over a shop. This stream has been devised to support the 'Town Centre First' and 'Housing for All' policy programmes.

Stream 2 is more relevant to rural dwellers and the farming community. It is open to owners of vacant traditional farmhouses where the building is a protected structure and/or a historic farmhouse located within an architectural conservation area and/or a vernacular farmhouse which has no statutory protection.

Properties must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.

Commenting on the scheme, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage James Browne said: "The popular Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant enables people to bring vacant or derelict buildings back into use, while the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme ensures this is achieved using appropriate skills and techniques.

"By preserving and adding to the character of our towns, villages, and rural landscapes, the restoration of these buildings as family homes will help to build and maintain the vitality of our communities now and into the future," he added.