Press release
Ministers announce €85 million for THRIVE scheme to revitalise Ireland’s heritage buildings
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
Today, Minister Darragh O’Brien and Minister Alan Dillon announced that €85 million in funding is available through Ireland’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) programmes to restore vacant or derelict heritage buildings in public ownership – revitalising urban centres, bringing valued heritage buildings back into use as community assets and delivering on New European Bauhaus and Town Centre First policies.
Building on the success of the initial funding round in 2024, Ireland’s Regional Assemblies are pleased to open the second call for applications under Strand 2 of THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme – from 16 January 2025 with awards of up to €7 million available to refurbish, restore, and adapt publicly owned heritage buildings within town centres.
THRIVE empowers local authorities to reimagine and adapt heritage buildings, preserving their historical and cultural significance while creating vibrant and sustainable urban spaces.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien said:
“I very much welcome the launch of the new €85 million THRIVE call under the ERDF Regional Programmes. This funding gives local authorities the tools to bring Ireland’s heritage buildings into the 21st century, not only preserving and protecting these important heritage assets, but also ensuring their sustainable re-use for future generations. I look forward to seeing the regeneration benefits that will arise out of this funding and will strengthen the vibrancy of towns and cities throughout Ireland.”
Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon said:
“The THRIVE scheme underscores our commitment to tackling vacancy, promoting heritage-led regeneration, and delivering on the Town Centre First policy. The Town Centre First approach ensures that local authorities are engaged with their citizens in developing new plans to transform and celebrate these underutilised heritage buildings for the benefit of their communities, while breathing new life into towns and urban centres across the country.”
Cathaoirleach of the Southern Regional Assembly, Cllr Garret Kelleher, said:
“THRIVE offers a unique opportunity to enhance the quality of life in our communities by preserving the architectural and cultural heritage of our towns. By focusing on publicly owned buildings, this scheme ensures that restored spaces serve the needs of local citizens while respecting the principles of sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion.”
Cathaoirleach of the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, Cllr Jarlath Mullaney, highlighted the transformative potential of the THRIVE scheme, stating:
“By addressing vacancy and restoring our heritage buildings, we can turn town centres into vibrant hubs where people want to live, work, and visit. This funding represents a key step towards sustainable urban regeneration in our region.”
With 100% grant aid available, local authorities are encouraged to act swiftly, as this competitive funding opportunity promises to generate significant interest nationwide.
Heritage buildings are defined as structures with unique architectural, historical, archaeological, or artistic qualities, or those that hold cultural and economic significance to their locations.
Projects funded under THRIVE are required to embrace the values of the New European Bauhaus, incorporating sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion. The initiative also encourages a citizen-centred, community-led approach to planning, design, and project selection within the Town Centre First framework.
This scheme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through Ireland’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Southern, Eastern and Midlands Regional Programme 21-27 and Northern and Western Regional Programme 21-27. The scheme has been co-designed by the Regional Assemblies and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address European, national and regional policy objectives.
The funding call will be managed by the ERDF Managing Authorities – the Southern Regional Assembly and the Northern and Western Regional Assembly. Application guidelines and eligibility criteria are available on their respective websites at www.southernassembly.ie and www.nwra.ie.
THRIVE – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme – is delivered under Ireland’s two ERDF Regional Programmes:
The two ERDF Regional Programmes set out Ireland’s investment strategy for €853 million, of which €396 million is financed by the EU. The ERDF supports Irish regions in promoting economic, social and territorial cohesion in line with key EU priorities.
The programmes focus on three strategic outcomes:
The programme covering the north-west of the country is managed by the Northern and Western Regional Assembly (NWRA) and the programme covering the midlands, south and east of the country is managed by the Southern Regional Assembly (SRA), with significant collaboration from the Eastern and Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA).
Grants of between €40,000 and €200,000 awarded 26 Town Centres to support local authorities with the planning and design phase.
Grants awarded to five urban centres for the renovation, restoration and reuse of publicly owned vacant and derelict heritage buildings with the aim of revitalising urban centres.
On 15 September 2021, the European Commission adopted a Communication setting out the concept of the New European Bauhaus (NEB). The NEB brings a cultural and creative dimension to the European Green Deal to strengthen sustainable innovation, technology and economy. The NEB is about the spaces where we live and the way we would like to live together, while respecting the planet and protecting nature. A triangle of three inseparable core values guides the NEB:
“Through its transdisciplinary and participatory approach, the New European Bauhaus reinforces the role of local and regional communities, industries, innovators and creative minds that work together to improve our quality of life. Cohesion policy will transform new ideas into action at the local level.” --Previous Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira
The Town Centre First Policy was launched jointly on 4 February 2022 by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Rural and Communtiy Development and provides a co-ordinated, whole-of-government policy framework to proactively address the decline in the health of towns across Ireland and support measures to regenerate and revitalise them.
Key elements of the TCF Approach are: