The Conservation Advice Grant for vacant traditional farmhouses has been cut by a third, as scheme exits pilot stage and gets rolled out.
In this article we cover:
- What the new grant is and how much you can get
- How much it has reduced by
- How to apply for the grant
- Who qualifies
- How your application will be assessed
- When grant payment will be made
If you own a vacant, traditional house then you may qualify for the Conservation Advice Grant launched by the ROI government today (March 11, 2025) – but you’ll be getting €5,000 or €2,500 less than the original pilot scheme grant amount offered in 2023.
Now in its second year, the Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Vacant Traditional Farmhouses will provide grants of up to €5,000 (excluding VAT) to cover the cost of having a conservation expert with the right experience and know how visit a property, conduct a survey and put together a tailored conservation advice for the property owner. The original maximum grant offered by the pilot scheme was €7,000.
The scheme is aimed at homeowners applying for or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which provides funding of up to €50,000 for vacant properties and up to €70,000 for derelict homes. The conservation grant covers up to 67% of costs for expert advice on repairs, improvements and energy efficiency measures for traditional buildings.
This includes a report outlining the condition of the building and identifying repairs and improvements that would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity and amenity.
By partially offsetting the cost of engaging expert advice at an early stage, the scheme also helps owners to avoid the risk of damage to their properties, obtain the services of appropriately skilled tradespeople and ensure value for money in the completion of their projects.
Funding streams
The grant is available under two streams:
Stream 1: Owners of vacant traditional houses in towns, villages and cities where the building is a Protected Structure or within an Architectural Conservation Area.
Stream 2: Owners of vacant traditional farmhouses, including vernacular farmhouses with no statutory protection.
Who qualifies?
You can only apply for the grant if you own a traditional (or ‘vernacular’) farmhouse — buildings that form a vital part of Ireland’s rural landscape and heritage.
Often referred to as ‘cottages,’ these homes were typically built using traditional methods and locally sourced materials such as thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle and timber.
The scheme offers expert conservation advice to owners of vernacular farmhouses who are considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. This grant, available under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, supports the renovation of vacant and derelict homes in both rural and urban areas, including properties that were not originally built for residential use.
Who is considered a conservation professional?
The government defines suitably experienced and accredited conservation professionals as:
If you select a professional without conservation accreditation, you must clearly detail their relevant qualifications and proven experience in conservation work.
To qualify, properties must have been vacant for at least two years. Applications must be submitted conservationadvicegrants@housing.gov.ie by 5pm, May 2, 2025.
How to apply
For more details, including application forms and guidance documents, visit the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website.
Complete forms must include at least eight, good quality digital photographs of the building in question, clearly labelled (with a brief description). Photographs should include exterior (front and rear), site/context, significant interior shots, out-buildings etc.
Approval and notification process
If you’re successful, you’ll be notified by email using the contact details provided in your application.
Both you and your conservation professional will receive a letter outlining the approved funding, the timeline for the report and the terms and conditions.
A list of the funded projects, including building addresses (but not names of recipients or professionals), will be shared on the Department’s website.
After approval, your conservation professional will complete the report using the provided template. The National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) will review the report to process the grant payment, in line with the Data Privacy Statement.
The completed report must be submitted for approval by 29 August 2025.
Note:
- No work can start until after the report is completed and approved by the NBHS.
- If you need to change your conservation professional after being approved, make sure to get written approval from the NBHS first. Without this, the grant offer will be withdrawn
Payment procedures
Before making any payments to your conservation professional, you must send the completed conservation report to the National Built Heritage Service (NBHS) for approval. The NBHS may suggest changes to ensure the report reflects best conservation practices.
Once the report is approved by the NBHS, you can proceed with paying the approved conservation professional.
To claim the grant funding, you will need to fill out an EFT form with your own bank details (not your conservation professional’s details). After your report is approved, a recoupment form will be sent to you. You can then use this to recoup the grant amount from the NBHS.
The grant will only be reimbursed when proof of payment (receipt and bank transfer evidence) is provided, along with a tax clearance certificate for both you and your appointed conservation professional.
