€350,000 Funding Available for Irish World Heritage and Tentative List Sites in 2026

The Irish Government has announced €350,000 in capital investment funding to support the protection, conservation, and promotion of UNESCO World Heritage Properties and Tentative List Sites across Ireland. The funding is part of the continued pilot World Heritage Strategic Investment Fund, managed by the National Monuments Service in collaboration with local authorities.

This follows the 2025 pilot, which allocated €240,000 to nine projects, demonstrating growing government support for safeguarding Ireland’s heritage and promoting sites internationally.

Key Details:

Eligibility:
Sites must be within:
- Boundaries of Irish World Heritage Properties,
- Boundaries of Tentative List Sites, or
- Buffer zones protecting Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
Additional conditions include inclusion in the Record of Monuments and Places (RMP), Sites and Monuments Record, Record of Protected Structures (RPS), or within Architectural Conservation Areas. Sites owned by the Minister or OPW are generally excluded unless prior approval is granted.
Funding Streams:
Stream A: Up to €30,000 for interpretation, understanding, and presentation of sites (including digital/online access).
Stream B: Up to €100,000 for protection, conservation, essential repairs, conservation advice, preparation of Conservation Management Plans, and Archaeological Impact Assessments.
Applications: Local authorities may submit up to three applications per site.

Government Statements:

Minister James Browne, TD: The fund continues Ireland’s commitment to UNESCO World Heritage sites and helps move Tentative List sites toward inscription.
Minister of State Christopher O’Sullivan, TD: Investing in World Heritage protects cultural treasures, supports local communities, and grows tourism while ensuring future generations can enjoy Ireland’s heritage.