Work has begun on a nine-bedroom guest house in Market Square in Kildare Town.
The former Fitzpatrick's Auctioneers building, which was constructed in the 1920s and was a protected building, was demolished in recent days.
It had been in use for offices until it was sold a number of years ago.
The building was bought by the owners of the neighbouring Harte's of Kildare - the award-winning gastropub premises.
The construction site, which is in the shadow of historic St Brigid's Cathedral, has been cordoned off to the public.
Planning permission was granted in 2016 for the demolition of the two storey derelict building including a rear agricultural shed.
Approval was given at the time for the erection of a new two and a half storey building on the corner of Market Square and Firecastle Lane.
The new building would provide retail space, ancillary dining accommodation, a commercial kitchen, an external service yard with 6 cycle spaces at ground floor level.
In the plans was provision for a nine-bedroom guesthouse with en-suite bathrooms, roof lights and a roof terrace at first floor level.
Newbridge
Elsewhere, a development firm based in Co Galway has applied for planning permission for the demolition of an existing detached single storey house on the Naas Road in Newbridge.
Epicridge Ltd, which was established a year ago, wants to develop residential development consisting of 12 houses.
The development consists of 2 two-storey blocks of two bedroom town houses of 6 and 5 units respectively.
Also planned is a three-bedroom, one and a half storey detached dormer bungalow.
Plans to upgrade the existing entrance and landscaping works are also in the designs.
€126,400 has been allocated to 15 Kildare projects under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme.
Projects include St Brigid's Cathedral Church in Kildare Town which received €10,000 for repairs and the Church of Sacred Heart and St Brigid in Kilcullen which was awareded €9,000 for a conservation assessment.
Naas Town Hall will receive €8,900 for reinstatement of architectural features.
The full list of projects is below:
Minister of State and Kildare South TD Martin Heydon said this funding will fund conservation works to 15 historic and protected structures across County Kildare, helping to safeguard these important structures for future generations.
“The funding which is part of a €4m allocation nationwide will leverage additional private funding and create economic stimulus and employment in the local areas as well as providing assistance to the owners and custodians of these buildings which can be costly to protect and maintain.
“Todays announcement follows the launch last week by Minister Noonan of Heritage Ireland 2030, a new national heritage plan which seeks to strengthen protection for our heritage in all its forms and provide supports to those responsible for its care.
“I welcome the funding which will provide employment to small businesses, skilled conservation specialists and tradespeople, ensuring a continued focus on the traditional crafts, all of which help us to deliver on Heritage Ireland 2030 and protect many aspects of our proud heritage in Kildare."
