Funding for this year’s GLAS traditional farm buildings scheme has been increased to €1.25m.

Speaking at the Heritage Council's training/information in Athlone on 14 March, Bridgeena Nolan from the Department of Agriculture said that the increase in funding reflects the continued high volume of applications.

Funding allocations range between €4,000-€25,000

The 2019 tranche received approximately 280 applications from building owners around the country.

Approximately 119 applications received a mark of 60 or over and have been shortlisted for funding.

Those who have been shortlisted were invited to the training/information day today in Athlone. Their applications will be screened based on a number of criteria their suitability to the schemes criteria and the proposed project budget before receiving funding.

Offers

Letters have been sent out to those who have been successful in being shortlisted. In many cases, applicants have been asked for additional information including more detailed quotations.

The Heritage Council envisage that offers will be issued towards the end of April.

They aim to offer between 50 and 70 offers each year, with funding allocations ranging between €4,000-€25,000.

Any offer will be subject to terms and conditions.

For example, the buildings must be kept in agricultural use for a minimum of five years after the receiving finding.

The Department of Agriculture can inspect the buildings during this period. A conservation specification must be agreed and wildlife surveys carried out where required before starting the project. Applicants will have 2-3 weeks to accept the offer.

Once the works are completed and the necessary paper work have been submitted, applications will receive grant aid from the Department of Agriculture.

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