COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

MOTION NO. 4

MOTION: Councillor Eoin Ó Broin

That this Area Committee calls on SDCC to choose Clondalkin as its entry for the 200,000 euro funding available under the Heritage Councils Historic Towns Initiative. If it receives a single coherent proposal from local organisations such as Clondalkin Tidy Towns, Clondalkin Heritage Group, Clondalkin History Society, Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce and Clondalkin Vision Group ( funding : https://www.heritagecouncil.ie/projects/historic-towns-initiative?)

REPORT:

The Historic Towns Initiative (HTI) is a joint undertaking by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Heritage Council. The scheme aims to promote the heritage-led regeneration of Ireland’s historic towns by helping to rebuild local economies, with heritage as a focal point.

The HTI is administered by the Heritage Council, and is advised by the HTI National Steering Group. Applications are only accepted from local authorities, and matching funding of at least 20% of total project expenditure is required for each project funded.

Priority is given to applications that are ‘plan-led’, i.e. in line with an already developed HTI Management Plan based on the HTI framework, or a Conservation Plan, or a Public Realm Plan, or eligible actions from a Town Centre Health Check Plan, or equivalent. As grants awarded by the HTI can only be used to fund capital works, it is expected that these plans are already in place prior to an application being made for a capital grant to the HTI.

The application and assessment process for 2021 has been completed, and funding has been allocated to the relevant local authorities for projects. However, this funding stream certainly something that could be looked at in future calls when a suitable project(s) is identified. The Councils Architectural Conservation Officer would be happy to liaise with the relevant Council Departments in forming a collaborative approach to any such project under the HTI.