Community Monuments Fund 2022

Malcolm Noonan, T.D, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, today announced the opening of calls to the 2022 Community Monuments Fund. A total of €5 million has been allocated to the fund for 2022 – an increase of 20% on 2021 funding, and more than a threefold increase since 2020 when the fund was established.

The grants available under the Community Monuments Fund help custodians and owners of archaeological monuments to safeguard them into the future for the benefit of local communities and the visiting public. In addition, they provide support for heritage professions and job opportunities in archaeology, building conservation and traditional skills.

The Community Monuments Fund was first established as part of the 2020 July Jobs Stimulus in response to the Covid emergency. In 2020 and 2021, some 200 heritage projects were funded to the value of €5.35 million. It is anticipated that the 2022 programme being run by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s National Monuments Service will support more than 160 projects.

The core aims of the Community Monuments Fund are the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of archaeological monuments. Funding is available for:

• conservation works to monuments which are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support,
• building resilience into monuments to enable them to withstand the effects of climate change and
• works to improve access to and presentation of, monuments.

It is available in three streams:

• Stream 1 supports essential repairs and capital conservation works at archaeological monuments.
• Stream 2 funds the development of Conservation Management Plans/Reports which will identify necessary conservation measures and any issues requiring future attention.
• Stream 3 offers grants for enhancement of access infrastructure and interpretation at archaeological monuments, including development of online interpretative material.

The closing date for applications to the local authority is Tuesday 15th February 2022.

Details of the Fund and Application form are available below:

1. Community Monuments Fund 2022 Circular
2. Community Monuments Fund 2022-Explanatory Memorandum
3. Community Monuments Fund 2022-Application Form