Press release
Minister Noonan announces 2022 Community Monuments Fund grants of €6 million
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, today announced the award of grants for a wide range of archaeological heritage projects under the department’s 2022 Community Monuments Fund. Building on the impact of the scheme last year under which 139 awards were granted to an amount of just under €4.2 million, this year 128 projects are being supported with an overall investment of €6 million.
The core objective of the Community Monuments Fund is to support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. It contains a number of different measures aimed at enabling conservation works to be carried out on archaeological monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support, encouraging access to archaeological monuments and improving their presentation and also building resilience in archaeological monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.
Under three Streams the Community Monuments Fund supports a broad range of measures aimed at protecting and promoting archaeological monuments, including emergency conservation repair works at monuments, masonry repair, the development of Conservation Management Plans, access infrastructure and installation of interpretation signage, and social media projects aimed at disseminating knowledge of Ireland’s archaeological heritage.
Speaking today, Minister Noonan said:
“I am delighted to announce the Community Monuments Fund awards for 2022. The increased funding we are announcing today of €6 million to 128 projects will help protect our wonderful archaeological heritage and make it more accessible to the many who cherish it.
"These awards help us to deliver on various commitments under Heritage Ireland 2030, the new national heritage plan launched earlier this year. It will provide further supports for communities and custodians and the heritage sector, for archaeologists, conservation architects, stone masons, and other professional trades.
"These projects will also help build resilience against extreme weather and mitigate the impacts of climate change, a priority action embedded in our Climate Adaptation Plan.
Minister Noonan added:
“I want to commend our National Monuments Service for their huge effort in managing the scheme and the Local Authorities for their incredible support in administering applications. I am particularly happy that we are helping to meet the ambition of local communities across Ireland in protecting their archaeological heritage.”
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, said:
"Our archaeological monuments provide a sense of place to rural communities, villages, towns and cities across the country. With my colleague, Minister of State Malcolm Noonan, TD, we have grown this Fund yet again from last year to have a real impact on communities and the monuments. The wide range of projects which have been included are testament to the rich history which surrounds us all.”
Minister of State for Local Government Peter Burke also welcomed the announcement, stating:
"The remarkable impact and success of the Community Monuments Fund is a result of the close working relationship between our department’s National Monuments Service and Local Authorities- the Archaeologists, Conservation Officers, Heritage Officers and planning and administrative staff and partnership with communities- showcasing their valuable role in protecting and promoting Ireland’s heritage. On foot of this weeks’ celebration of heritage through the International Day for Monuments and Sites, otherwise known as World Heritage Day, it is really fitting that such support is shown for our archaeological heritage.”
A full list of the projects being funded can be downloaded here:
The Community Monuments Fund was first established under the Jobs Stimulus Package in July, 2020, when Minister Noonan announced an allocation of €1.4 million for expenditure on improvements to archaeological monuments. Funding increased to just over €4 million in 2021 and to €6 million in 2022.
The main aims of the Community Monuments Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites. It has a number of funding streams aimed at enabling conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support, encouraging access to monuments and improve their presentation and also to build resilience in monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.
The Community Monuments Fund invests essential capital in our valuable archaeological heritage and helps owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.
The fund is administered by the National Monuments Service of the department through the Local Authorities.
The Community Monuments Fund has 3 Streams.
Grants up to €85,000 that are aimed at essential repairs and capital works for the conservation and repair of archaeological monuments. In exceptional cases, where applications are accompanied by a fully costed specification of works and a Conservation Management Plan already in place, grants of up to €100,000 were considered. 100% of costs eligible.
Grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports that are aimed at identifying measures for conservation of archaeological monuments and improving public access. 100% of costs eligible.
Grants of up to €30,000 for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation (including virtual/online) at archaeological monuments (including COVID-19 protection measures). 100% of costs eligible.
The Community Monuments Fund provides capital funding for projects involving:
(i) Archaeological monuments that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP) under the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended).
(ii) Archaeological monuments included in the Sites and Monuments Record (SMR) as compiled by the National Monuments Service.
Eligible projects were drawn from the following categories:
a) projects proposed by a Local Authority in relation to archaeological monuments in public ownership, where a clear heritage focus and community or public benefit has been demonstrated;
b) projects proposed by a Local Authority on foot of applications from private applicants who are the owners or custodians of relevant archaeological monuments where there is a tangible public benefit;
c) projects with a clearly defined heritage focus and community or public benefit proposed directly to the department by a State-funded organisation working in the heritage area.