Fund to safeguard County Wicklow’s many monuments
APPLICATIONS for the Community Monuments Fund must be submitted this week before 5 p.m. on Thursday.
Under the Government’s July Jobs Stimulus Package, the National Monuments Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht announced capital funding for our archaeological heritage through a new Community Monuments Fund, with a total nationally of €900,000 available.
The Community Monuments Fund will invest essential capital in valuable archaeological heritage and will help owners and custodians of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of communities and the public.
The core aims of this Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of local monuments and historic sites.
It will enable conservation works to be carried out on monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support.
Furthermore, it will encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and build resilience in our monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change.
The fund provides capital funding for projects in relation to archaeological monuments that are included in the Record of Monuments and Places and the Sites and Monuments Record.
It is also open to local authorities and private applicants or community groups who are the owners or custodians of monuments.
Stream one will offer grants up to €100,000 for essential repairs and capital works for the conservation of archaeological monuments.
Stream two offers grants of up to €30,000 for development of Conservation Management
Plans/Reports aimed at identifying measures for conservation of monuments and improved public access.
Stream three will offer grants of up to €30,000 for the enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments, including COVID protection measures.
Private applicants or community groups who are the owners or custodians of monuments should complete the application form CMF-A , attach a comprehensive Method Statement and submit it to Wicklow County Council before 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 17.