If you’re starting a self-build or renovating your home in Co Clare there are several grants and schemes that could help with the costs.

In this article we cover:
• 10 grants for home renovations
• Grants for self-builds

Below is a summary of the main grants on offer:

Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant:

  • You can get up to €50,000 to do up a vacant property for your own use or to rent out.
  • If the property is derelict, there’s an extra €20,000 available – that’s up to €70,000 in total.
  • The property must have been empty for at least two years and built before 2008.
  • The grant is run by Clare County Council.
  • More information: Clare County Council Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant page.

Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses:

Housing Adaptation Grants:

  • There are three grants available to help make homes safer and easier for older people and people with disabilities to live in.
  • They can cover things like ramps, mobility aids or essential repairs.
  • Administered by Clare County Council.
  • Further details: Clare Housing Grants page.

Thatching Grant:

  • Helps with repairing or rethatching traditional thatched roofs to protect Clare’s architectural heritage.
  • Covers full or partial rethatching, repairs, maintenance, and any related structural work.
  • You’ll need to hire a skilled thatcher to qualify.
  • The amount you get depends on how much the work costs – you’ll need to send in a quote from a qualified thatcher.
  • Open to anyone who owns a thatched property in County Clare.
  • More information: Clare County Council Historic Structures Fund and BHIS Historic Thatched Buildings Scheme page.

Lead Remediation Grant:

  • Covers the full cost of replacing lead pipes inside your home’s water system.
  • You’ll need proof that the pipes are lead – there’s up to €200 available to help cover lab tests or a professional check.
  • Homeowners and long-term tenants (with the owner’s permission) can apply. Holiday homes aren’t eligible.
  • Grants range from €750 up to €5,000 – if the work costs less than €750, you won’t qualify.
  • More information: GOV.ie Domestic Lead Remediation Grant Scheme page.

Domestic Well Grant:

  • Helps cover the cost of fixing up an existing well (like deepening, relining, or clearing it) or drilling a new one if your water supply isn’t up to scratch.
  • Also covers water treatment systems like filters or UV units to improve water quality.
  • Homeowners and long-term tenants (with the owner’s permission) can apply. Holiday homes aren’t eligible.
  • You can get 85 per cent of approved costs – up to €3,000 for repairs or up to €5,000 for a new well (if that’s the best option).
  • For water treatment, you can get up to 100% of approved costs, up to €1,000.
  • The minimum spend to qualify is €750
  • More information: GOV.ie Private Wells page.

Septic Tank Grant:

  • Helps cover the cost of fixing, upgrading or replacing your septic tank system.
  • Only applies if issues were flagged in an official inspection under the National Inspection Plan, or if your home is in a designated area (like a Prioritised Area for Action or a High Status Objective Catchment Area).
  • Doesn’t cover routine servicing or desludging.
  • You must have received an advisory notice or live in one of the specified areas to qualify. Holiday homes aren’t eligible.
  • Covers 85 per cent of approved works, up to a maximum of €12,000. Minimum spend to apply is €750.
  • More information: GOV.ie Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems page.

Energy grants from the SEAI:

  • Warmer Homes Scheme (Free Upgrades for Eligible Households):
    • Free energy upgrades for homeowners on certain social welfare payments (like Fuel Allowance, Disability Allowance, or Working Family Payment).
    • Your home must have been built and lived in before 2006, with a BER of C or lower.
    • Upgrades can include insulation, energy-efficient lighting, and sometimes heating systems or new windows.
    • An SEAI surveyor will check if your home qualifies.
    • If you sell your home within five years, you might have to pay back some or all of the grant.
  • Individual Energy Upgrade Grants (Better Energy Homes):
    • Pick and choose the upgrades you want, one step at a time.
    • Grants available for insulation (e.g. €1,500 for attic, up to €8,000 for external wall), heat pumps (up to €6,500), and solar panels (up to €1,800).
    • No grants for windows, doors, or ventilation systems under this scheme.
    • Ideal if you want to manage the upgrades yourself and do them gradually.
  • One Stop Shop (National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme):
    • A full energy upgrade package, managed for you from start to finish.
    • Covers everything from insulation and ventilation to heating, windows, and doors.
    • You must do all the upgrades at once, but higher grant amounts are available.
    • Grants are taken off the cost up front by the provider.
    • Some One Stop Shops can also help you apply for a loan to cover any extra costs.
  • Applications are made online. More information: SEAI

Electric vehicle home charger grant

  • Get up to €300 towards buying and installing an electric vehicle charger at home.
  • You’ll need to have off-street parking and the charger must be connected to your home’s electricity supply.
  • You can’t apply if the property has already received this grant or got a free ESB charger before 2018.
  • Important: You must apply before starting any work – if you start before receiving the Letter of Offer, you won’t qualify.
  • Once approved, you’ll have 6 months to get the charger installed and send in your paperwork.
  • For more information: Electric Vehicle home charger grant.

Protected Structures Grants

  • If your home is on (or being added to) Clare County Council’s Record of Protected Structures (RPS), you may qualify for special grants:
  • Historic Structures Fund: Offers €50,000 to €200,000 for major renovation projects. You’ll need to cover at least half the cost yourself.
  • Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS): Offers between €2,500 and €50,000 for up to 80 per cent of the project cost – ideal for routine maintenance and smaller repair jobs.
  • For more information: Clare Grants for Protected Structures page.

For comprehensive information and assistance, visit: Clare County Council. Please note that this list is not exhaustive; additional programmes may be available to suit your specific needs.