Applications are now welcome to the GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme 2017, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed has announced.
The deadline for applications has been set as 5:00pm on Friday, November 18 this year.
The GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme builds upon the success of a similar scheme under REPS 4 (2007-2013), according to the Department of Agriculture.
This scheme saw over 350 buildings nationwide restored and over 140 previously unknown roosts of protected bird and bat species discovered and conserved, the department added.
Speaking about the announcement, Minister Creed said: “I was delighted to secure €1 million in the budget for this very important scheme, which will make a huge contribution to the preservation of our rural heritage and the enhancement of the rural landscape.
“These are beautiful structures, made of local materials by local craftsmen, and I think we are all learning to appreciate the importance of this part of our heritage.”
The financial allocation to the scheme is €6 million for the lifetime of the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP).
Applications
All applications are assessed individually to identify the best and highest priority projects, the department explained.
Under this scheme, grants are available to GLAS participants to carry out approved conservation works to traditional farm buildings and associated landscape structures – such as historic yard surfaces, walls, gate pillars and gates.
The principal objective of this scheme is to ensure that traditional farm buildings and other structures that contribute to the character of the landscape and which are of significant heritage value are conserved for agricultural use.
Eligible applicants for the scheme are chosen on a competitive basis and around 50 to 70 projects will be supported each year, the department concluded.