The 2024 Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme (TFBS) for the conservation and repair of traditional farm buildings and related structures is now open for applications.
The increased budget of €1.5 million will include grants ranging between €4,000 and €30,000.
This will cover up to 75% of the cost of conservation work to traditional farm buildings, including roofs, walls, structural repairs, windows, and doors.
Online application forms and the required supporting documents must be submitted to the Heritage Council by Wednesday, March 27 at 5:00p.m.
The scheme will also be available for other related farm structures, including historic yard surfaces, walls, gate pillars and gates.
In 2024, participants in the following Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) schemes will be eligible to apply:
- Approved participants the Agri Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES);
- Participants in European Innovation Partnership (EIP) calls one, two and three, Hen Harrier and Pearl Mussel projects, and The Burren Programme who were an active participant as of December 31, 2022, or had completed the full term of the contract for the relevant EIP, or have completed a five-year project as appropriate;
- Approved participants of the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
Applicants must also be the owner of the building/other related structure for which funding is sought or are acting with the permission of the owner (owner consent must be provided).
Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme
The Heritage Council will host a information webinar for farmers interested in applying for the 2024 grant scheme on Friday, March 1 at 12:00p.m.
The key conservation principle of minimum intervention, carrying out a repair to fix what is wrong but not setting out to do too much work applies under scheme.
The Heritage Council said that restoration works are very unlikely to be supported with grant aid. It is expected that 70-80 projects will be supported this year.