Whether you’re starting a self-build or renovating your home in County Limerick, Ireland, you may be eligible for local support to help cover some of the costs.

In this article we cover:

  • Vacant Property Grants
  • 10+ Grants available in County Limerick
  • How to apply to grants

Below is a summary of available grants: 

Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

  • Provides up to €50,000 to renovate vacant properties for use as a main private 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.
  • There’s also a €5,000 Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses grant available to cover the cost of expert conservation advice for owners of vacant traditional farmhouses.
  • More information: Limerick City and County Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant page

Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability:

  • Provides financial help to make homes more accessible for people with disabilities.
  • Covers things like ramps, wider doorways and bathroom adaptations.
  • You can get up to €40,000 or 100 per cent of the cost, whichever is less.
  • Further details: Limerick Housing Adaptation Grant page.

Housing Aid for Older People Grant:

  • Helps older people living in poor housing to carry out necessary repairs or improvements.
  • Covers things like structural repairs, re-wiring, and installing central heating.
  • You can get up to €10,700 or 100% of the cost (including VAT), whichever is less
  • More information: Limerick Housing Aid for Older People Grant page.

Mobility Aids Grant:

  • Offers funding for small changes to help with mobility issues, mostly related to aging.
  • Covers works such as grab rails, access ramps and stair-lifts.
  • The maximum grant available is €8,000, or 100 per cent of the cost of the work, whichever is less.
  • Further details: Limerick Mobility Aids Grant page.

Thatching Grant:

  • This grant supports the repair and rethatching of traditional thatched roofs, to preserve Limerick’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 Limerick can apply.
  • More information: Limerick 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: Limerick City and 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: Limerick City and County Council Grants for Individual Supplies for Houses page.

Septic Tank Grant:

  • Helps cover the cost of fixing, upgrading or replacing your domestic wastewater treatment system (DWWTS), better known as a septic tank.
  • 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 with a septic tank 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: Limerick City and County Council Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Grant Scheme 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 starting any installation work. Starting work before you receive 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

Protected Structures Grants

  • If your house is on Limerick City and County Council’s Record of Protected Structures (RPS) or is in the process of being added to the list, you can access 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: Limerick City and County Council Architectural Heritage Conservation Projects page.

Defective Blocks Grant

  • Helps homeowners in Limerick whose homes have been damaged by defective concrete blocks.
  • The property must be your main home or a rented property with a registered tenancy before November 1, 2021. It must have been built before January 31, 2020 and be located in Limerick City or County.
  • You can get up to €462,000 per home to cover 100 per cent of eligible costs. This includes professional fees, building assessments, approved repairs, temporary accommodation, removal and storage costs, urgent repairs and VAT.
  • For more information: Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme page.

More options

  • The Living City Initiative provides tax incentives to encourage the refurbishment or conversion of both residential and commercial properties within designated Special Regeneration Areas. Its main goal is to breathe new life into historic buildings while promoting vibrant urban living. This scheme is open to both owner-occupiers and landlords and is managed by Limerick City and County Council.
  • More information: Living City Initiative – Limerick City and County Council

Please note that the grants listed above are not exhaustive, and eligibility criteria may apply. It’s advisable to contact the relevant authorities or organisations to discuss your specific circumstances and funding options.