AQW 49914/22-27

Mr Andrew McMurray
Alliance Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 29/06/2026
Answered On Date: 08/07/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities to detail any financial support available to enable repairs to historic places of worship.

Answer:

Historic Places of Worship may be eligible for support through the Northern Ireland Community Infrastructure Fund (NICIF).

The Fund is currently closed to applications, but I have asked officials to develop a Business Case for a new longer term programme and, subject to necessary approvals being secured, I hope to make a further announcement in due course.

Other financial assistance that exists for repairs to churches in Northern Ireland is via National Churches Trust (NCT). At present NCT offers:

Large grants for urgent structural repair projects costing over £80,000;

Medium grants to support urgent repair and maintenance costing up to £80,000, as well as project development work.

In previous years, my department has financially supported listed historic churches through NCT grant schemes; however, decisions regarding this financial support this year are dependent on confirmation of Executive agreed Departmental budgets.