Thinking about building or upgrading your home in County Wicklow, Ireland? There are local grants and schemes that could ease the financial load.

In this article we cover: 

  • 10 grants for renovations
  • Grants for new builds

Here’s a summary of the main grant options currently offered in the area:

Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

  • Provides up to €50,000 to renovate vacant properties for use as a primary residence or for rental purposes.
  • An additional top-up grant of €20,000 is available if the property is deemed derelict, bringing the total potential funding to €70,000.
  • Eligible properties must have been vacant for at least two years and built before 2008.
  • Administered by Wicklow County Council.
  • More information: Wicklow County Council Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant page

Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses

  • Offers up to €5,000 (excluding VAT) to cover the cost of expert conservation advice for owners of vacant traditional farmhouses.
  • Aims to assist those availing of or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
  • More information: See Gov.ie Conservation Advice Scheme for Vacant Traditional Houses page. 

Housing Adaptation Grants

  • There are three grants available to assist older people or individuals with disabilities in making necessary alterations to their homes.
  • Aims to improve accessibility and living conditions, provide mobility aids and carry out urgent repairs.
  • Administered by Wicklow County Council.
  • Further details: Housing Adaptation Grants – Wicklow County Council

Thatching Grant

  • This grant supports the repair and rethatching of traditional thatched roofs, to preserve the county’s architectural heritage.
  • It covers full or partial rethatching, thatch repair and maintenance and structural works related to preserving the thatch.
  • You must hire a qualified and experienced thatcher to qualify.
  • Funding amount varies based on the extent and cost of the work; applicants must submit a quote from a qualified thatcher for assessment.
  • All owners of thatched properties located in County Galway can apply.
  • More information: Gov.ie Thatching Grant page

Lead Remediation Grant

  • This fully funds the replacement of lead piping located within the internal distribution system connected to a domestic water supply that serves a house.
  • You will need to provide proof that there are lead pipes in your home; you can get up to €200 in grants for laboratory tests or professional assessments.
  • Individuals who own and live in the property, and those who rent the property on a long-term basis, with the owner’s permission, can apply. Holiday homes do not qualify.
  • The maximum grant amount is €5,000, minimum €750 (works costing less than €750 are ineligible).
  • More information: Wicklow County Council Domestic Lead Remediation Grant Scheme page.

Domestic Well Grant

  • Aimed at both the rehabilitation of existing wells (deepening, relining or removing silt to restore functionality) and the provision of a new well (drilling a new well where existing supply is inadequate).
  • The grant also covers water quality treatment, e.g. the installation of filtration or UV systems to meet water quality standards.
  • Individuals who own and live in the property and long-term tenants, with owner consent, can apply. Holiday homes are not eligible.
  • For rehabilitation works and a new well you can get 85 per cent of approved costs: up to a maximum of €3,000 for rehabilitation and maximum of €5,000 (if deemed the most appropriate solution) for a new well.
  • For water treatment you can get up to 100 per cent of approved costs, up to a maximum of €1,000.
  • The minimum grant threshold is €750; works costing less than this are ineligible.
  • More information: Wicklow County Council Individual Water Grants page.

Septic Tank Grant

  • Helps homeowners with the cost of remediation, repair, upgrading or replacement of domestic wastewater treatment systems (DWWTS), commonly known as septic tanks.
  • Includes necessary improvements identified through inspections under the National Inspection Plan, or in Prioritised Areas for Action or High Status Objective Catchment Areas.
  • Routine maintenance, servicing or de-sludging of the system are not covered.
  • To qualify, homeowners whose properties are served by a DWWTS must have received an advisory notice following an inspection under the National Inspection Plan or be located in a designated area (Prioritised Area for Action or High Status Objective Catchment Area).
  • Holiday homes do not qualify.
  • The grant covers 85 per cent of the approved cost of the eligible works to a maximum of €12,000. A minimum of €750 on eligible works required to process the application.
  • More information: Wicklow County Council Septic Tank page.

Energy grants from the SEAI

  • Warmer Homes Scheme (Free Upgrades for Eligible Households): Homeowners receiving qualifying social welfare payments (e.g., Fuel Allowance, Disability Allowance, Working Family Payment) qualify; homes must be built and occupied before 2006 with a Building Energy Rating (BER) of C or lower. The free energy upgrades include insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and, in some cases, heating systems or windows. An SEAI surveyor will assess the home’s suitability. If the home is sold within five years, the homeowner may be required to repay some or all of the grant.
  • Individual Energy Upgrade Grants (Better Energy Homes): Grants offered for individual upgrades, allowing homeowners to manage their own energy upgrades step by step. Grants for windows and doors are not available under this scheme, neither are grants for ventilation systems. They only cover insulation (from €1,500 for attic to €8,00 for external wall insulation), heating systems (heat pumps up to €6,500, solar panels (both thermal and PV, up to €1,800).
  • One Stop Shop (National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme): Provides a complete energy upgrade solution, including assessment, planning and implementation. It’s a whole house solution including insulation and airtightness, ventilation, heating, windows and doors. Higher grant amounts are available than the individual upgrades but you must carry out all the work in one go. The grants are deducted from the cost of works upfront by the One Stop Shop. Some providers offer access to the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme for costs not covered by grants.
  • Applications are made online. More information: SEAI

Electric vehicle home charger grant

  • Up to €300 towards the purchase and installation of a home EV charger.
  • Applicants must have off-street parking at their residence.
  • The property must not have previously received an EV home charger grant or availed of the free ESB Ecars home charger before 2018.
  • The charger must be connected to the home’s electricity supply.
  • Apply before commencing any installation work. Starting work prior to receiving the Letter of Offer will render the grant ineligible.
  • Once approved, you have 6 months to complete the installation and submit the necessary documentation.
  • For more information: Electric Vehicle home charger grant.

Historic Structures Grants

  • If your house is on Wicklow County Council’s Record of Protected Structures (RPS) or is in the process of being added to the list, you can avail of a number of grants including:
  • The Historic Structures Fund which offers €50,000 to €200,000 for major renovation work. You must cover half of the costs yourself.
  • The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS) which offers between €2,500 and €50,000 for up to 80 per cent of the total project cost and can apply to routing maintenance and minor repairs.
  • For more information: Gov.ie Historic Structures Fund page.

For full details and guidance, visit Wicklow County Council Housing Services. Keep in mind, this is not a complete list — other supports may be available depending on your circumstances.