The most expensive mistake on an old house is the wrong repair, confidently done. This grant exists so that the first thing you buy is advice — a conservation expert who surveys the building and tells you what it actually needs before anyone quotes for work.
Two changes in 2026 widened it considerably, and both are easy to miss.
Quick facts
- Worth
- 67% of the cost, up to €5,000
- Pays for
- An expert visit, a survey, and a written conservation report
- New in 2026
- The house no longer has to be vacant
- Also new
- Fire safety advice for multiple occupancy units
- Status
- Closed for applications in 2026
- Two streams
- Town and city houses · traditional farmhouses
What it buys
"The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme provides grants to cover 67% of the costs (up to a maximum grant of €5,000) of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise:" "visit a traditional building", "conduct a survey, and" "compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner."
The report covers the condition of the building and identifies conservation improvements that would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity and amenity.
It was designed around the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: "The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses is an expanded funding scheme to provide grants for expert conservation advice to owners of traditional houses who are availing of, or considering, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant."
The two changes that widened it
"From 2026, the scope of this grant scheme has been broadened to include an allowance for fire safety advice for multiple occupancy units in traditional houses. The requirement for the house to be vacant has also been removed, thereby encouraging resident owners to use the grant scheme to upgrade the energy performance of their traditional homes"
Read that second sentence twice if you live in an old house. Until 2026 this was effectively a grant for empty buildings. It is now open to people who are living in the house and want to improve how it performs — which is a far larger group, and most of them have not heard.
The two streams
Stream 1 — town and city houses. "Stream 1 of the scheme is open to owners of traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic structure within an Architectural Conservation Area."
Former shops count: "Buildings previously used for commercial purposes also qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a single/multiple dwelling above the shop."
Stream 2 — farmhouses. "Stream 2 of the scheme is open to owners of Traditional Farmhouses where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic farmhouse located within an Architectural Conservation Area and/or a vernacular farmhouse which has no statutory protection."
That last clause is the important one — a vernacular farmhouse with no statutory protection still qualifies. "Vernacular farmhouses comprise modest homes constructed by people without formal training following long established folk traditions, using materials such as:" thatch, stone, slate, earth, wattle and unsawn timber.
Is it open?
Not right now. gov.ie states: "The Scheme is now closed for applications in 2026."
We are saying that plainly rather than leaving you to fill in a form that will not be read. The scheme has run in successive rounds, so the thing to do is line up your conservation expert and your paperwork and watch for the next call.
Common questions
How much is the Conservation Advice Grant?
It covers 67% of the costs, up to a maximum grant of €5,000, of having a conservation expert visit a traditional building, conduct a survey and compile tailored conservation advice.
Does the house have to be vacant?
Not any more. From 2026 the requirement for the house to be vacant was removed, specifically to encourage resident owners to use the scheme to upgrade the energy performance of their traditional homes.
Can I get it for a farmhouse with no protected status?
Yes. Stream 2 covers vernacular farmhouses which have no statutory protection, as well as protected structures and historic farmhouses in Architectural Conservation Areas.
Does a former shop qualify?
Yes, where the intended use is as a single dwelling, or a single or multiple dwelling above the shop.
Is the scheme open now?
No. gov.ie states that the scheme is closed for applications in 2026. It has run in rounds, so prepare now and watch for the next one.
Does it cover fire safety advice?
Since 2026, yes — the scope was broadened to include an allowance for fire safety advice for multiple occupancy units in traditional houses.