New Traditional Farm Buildings Grants for GLAS Farmers – Doyle

Fine Gael TD for Wicklow, Andrew Doyle, has welcomed the Department of Agriculture’s New Traditional Farm Buildings Grants for GLAS Farmers which will aid the conservation of traditional farm buildings on GLAS farms in Wicklow.

“The New Traditional Farm Buildings Grants scheme for Irish farmers that will ensure that small traditional farm buildings in Wicklow, which are of significant cultural and heritage value, can be restored and conserved for practical agricultural use.

“Grants will be made available to carry out approved conservation works on traditional farm buildings, including roofs, outside surface of walls, windows and doors. Grants will also be available for related structures such as historic yard surfaces, landscape features around the farm such as walls, gates and pillars.  

“To be eligible for the scheme, buildings and other related structure must have architectural or vernacular heritage character and make a contribution to the setting.

“These grants will maintain the character of farms and will create employment in the building industry especially, for highly skilled traditional building tradespeople. This scheme will benefit farmers who may have missed out on the grants in the REPS 4 traditional farm building grants between 2007 and 2013.

“Grants awarded under this scheme will not exceed 75% of the cost of the works. The maximum grant is €25,000 and the minimum grant is €4,000. The first tranche of grants opens immediately and completed forms must be returned to the Heritage Council before 5pm on Friday 6^th May 2016. More information can be found at www.heritagecouncil.ie.