One of the associated benefits of having an approved GLAS contract is that farmers may apply for the GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme, the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, said last week.

Some 60 projects were proposed for approval under the first tranche of the GLAS scheme and the second tranche opened last month.

But what if you’re not in GLAS and you have an old farm building in need of some restoration work?

Minister Creed said that while his Department has no similar scheme in respect of traditional farm buildings on non-GLAS farms, he is aware that the Heritage Council operate a broadly-based ‘Heritage Management Grant Scheme’ that is open to all.

Heritage Management Grant Scheme

The objective of Heritage Management Grant Scheme is to support projects that apply good heritage practice to the management of places, collections or objects (including buildings), according to the Heritage Council and this year 370 applications were received under the scheme.

In 2016, €700,000 in funding was allocated and the maximum amount applicants can request is 75% funding of the total project expenditure up to a maximum sum of €10,000.

Now closed for this year, the scheme is expected to run again next year and details of this year’s criteria for applying is available on the Heritage Council’s website.

Tax relief

In addition, to the Heritage Management Grant Scheme, Minister Creed said that the Revenue Commissioners, in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, allow tax relief for expenditure on works of repair, maintenance or restoration to approved historic properties and gardens, which can be a very significant assistance to qualifying farms.

The Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, through the local authorities, also provide assistance for appropriate conservation work to eligible structures in respect of buildings contained on the Record of Protected Structures and in Architectural Conservation Areas, the Minister said.