Encouraging people back to the centre of Irish cities to live in historic buildings’ through a tax relief incentive is a worthy and inspired approach to heritage conservation. The Irish Georgian Society, therefore, strongly supported the Government in the introduction of the Living City Initiative in 2013, and has advocated for the extension of the categories of qualifying buildings. Given this and given the very low numbers of applications made under the Initiative, the Society welcomes proposals in Budget 2017 to broaden its application by including qualifying landlord-owned properties and by removing the size cap on buildings. The Society will continue to advocate for financial incentives to offset concerns about the cost of refurbishing heritage buildings and facilitate people wishing to move into our historic towns and cities.

Images (top to bottom): Patrick St, Limerick; Barrington St, Limerick; Mitchelstown, Co. Cork

Read the full Budget 2017 document on www.budget.gov.ie