This is the largest grant an ordinary household in Ireland can receive, and it exists because people's homes were built with blocks that are falling apart. If you are in one of the nine counties and your walls are cracking, this page is the plain version of what is available.
Two things are widely misunderstood: rented homes can qualify, and the assessment is done by the Housing Agency, not by you or your engineer.
Quick facts
- Overall cap
- €462,000
- Counties
- Carlow, Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo, Sligo, and parts of Fingal, Meath and Wexford
- Options
- Five, from one outer leaf to full demolition and rebuild
- Covers
- Your principal private residence
- Rented homes
- One per household, RTB-registered on or before 1 November 2021
- Apply to
- Your local county council
Which homes are covered
"The Grant Scheme applies to the owners of dwellings located in Carlow, Clare, Donegal, Fingal (parts of administrative area of), Limerick, Mayo, Meath (parts of administrative area of), Sligo and Wexford (parts of administrative area of) where their dwellings are damaged due to the use of defective concrete blocks containing excessive amounts of mica or pyrite."
Note that Fingal, Meath and Wexford are parts of the administrative area, not the whole county — so an address check matters rather than an assumption.
And there is a third mineral in the picture, which many homeowners have never been told about: "The Housing Agency will carry out the remediation option and grant assessment and in their analysis and deliberations will take into consideration the presence of pyrrhotite."
Your home — and the rented one people do not know about
The obvious case: "your principal private residence (a house that you own or co-own and occupy as your only or main residence)".
The one that surprises landlords and tenants alike: "a rented dwelling with a registered tenancy that was registered with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) on or before 1 November 2021 subject to a maximum of one rental property per household and the introduction of a clawback mechanism upon re-sale within a set time period depending on the remediation option used."
Three conditions inside that one sentence: the tenancy had to be RTB-registered on or before 1 November 2021, it is one rental property per household, and there is a clawback if you sell within a set period.
The five options, and the cap
"There are five remedial options available under the Grant Scheme. The maximum grant approved for each remedial option was determined by the grant rates approved by the Minister subject to the overall grant cap of €462,000."
They run from the most drastic — "Demolition of the entire relevant dwelling and reconstruction of the dwelling on the exact position on the land on which the relevant dwelling was situated before it was demolished." — down to the least: "Demolish and rebuild outer leaf of affected walls only and re-render."
In between are options that take the external walls down to foundation, or to the top of the rising wall, on a phased basis and re-render.
You do not choose. "The specific amount granted will vary from home to home depending on the determination by the Housing Agency."
What actually gets paid
"The maximum grant payable will be 100% of the approved grant amount or 100% of the actual vouched cost of the qualifying works carried out, whichever amount is less."
So the cap is not a cheque — it is a ceiling. You are paid the lower of the approved amount and what the work actually, verifiably cost.
And one deduction to plan around: "Any funding for alternative accommodation released in advance of the enhanced scheme will be deducted from any grants payable within the overall grant cap." Money already paid to house you elsewhere comes off the total.
Where to apply
"You should apply to your local county council for this scheme." Not to the Department and not to the Housing Agency — the council takes the application, the Housing Agency does the assessment.
If you looked at this scheme years ago and walked away, look again: "In November 2021, the government introduced a significant number of improvements to the previous Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme." A refusal or a disappointing figure under the old scheme is not the answer under this one.
Common questions
Which counties does the mica grant cover?
Carlow, Clare, Donegal, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo, plus parts of the administrative areas of Fingal, Meath and Wexford. Because three of them are only partly covered, check the address rather than assuming.
How much is the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant?
There are five remediation options, each with its own maximum, subject to an overall grant cap of €462,000. What you are paid is the lower of the approved grant amount and the actual vouched cost of the qualifying works.
Can I claim for a rented property?
Yes, for one rental property per household, where the tenancy was registered with the Residential Tenancies Board on or before 1 November 2021. A clawback applies if you re-sell within a set period.
Who decides which remediation option I get?
The Housing Agency. It carries out the remediation option and grant assessment, and takes the presence of pyrrhotite into account as well as mica and pyrite.
Does money for temporary accommodation affect the grant?
Yes. Any funding for alternative accommodation released in advance of the enhanced scheme is deducted from grants payable, within the overall grant cap.
I applied under the old scheme and it was not enough. Should I look again?
Yes. In November 2021 the government introduced a significant number of improvements to the previous scheme, so an old answer is not the current one.
Where do I apply?
To your local county council. The council handles the application even though the Housing Agency carries out the assessment.