Expanded grant scheme to fund conservation advice for traditional homes opens for applications
- Published on: 23 March 2026
- Last updated on: 23 March 2026
Department offering grants of up to €5,000
Scheme funds expert reports into conservation, fire safety and energy upgrades
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, and Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O’Sullivan TD have today (March 23rd) opened applications for the newly-expanded Historic Structures Fund Conservation Advice Scheme for Traditional Houses.
The purpose of the expanded ‘Conservation Advice Scheme’ is to help owners of traditional houses to obtain conservation advice by funding up to 67% (to a max of €5,000) of the cost of a specialist report.
Several types of buildings can benefit from this scheme, including Protected Structures and traditional homes in Architectural Conservation Areas, as well as traditional farmhouses with no statutory protection. Given their age and methods of construction, ‘traditional’ properties often require specialist advice or intervention when undertaking conservation, energy upgrades, or fire safety alterations.
Having previously been limited to vacant traditional homes, several elements of the scheme have now been revised in order to widen eligibility and uptake:
· The scheme is now available to owners of buildings that they already occupy and is no longer limited to vacant homes;
· Funding may now be granted for fire safety reports in cases where traditional buildings are to be converted into multi-occupancy dwellings ‘above the shop’;
· People availing of the SEAI’s Traditional Homes Pilot may now apply for funding to help cover the cost of a pre-works risks assessment, aimed at improving energy efficiency while maintaining historical integrity.
By partially offsetting the cost of engaging expert advice, ‘Conservation Advice Scheme’ funding helps owners to avoid damage to their properties, benefit from the services of appropriately skilled tradespeople and ensure value for money in the completion of their projects.
Announcing the new round of applications, Minister Browne said:
“We are expanding this scheme so that more owners of older and traditional buildings can avail of expert advice in the conservation of their home. A lot of these homes could really benefit from direct intervention from skilled, experienced tradespeople and we want people to be able to just go ahead with the work that’s needed and where this fund can assist, we want it getting out to people quickly.
“This grant is now open to owners who currently live in their homes, and it will also work alongside the SEAI’s Traditional Homes Pilot for energy upgrades.
“This is another support that, along with the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, can help people to bring older properties back into use as comfortable homes, while respecting their heritage and historic features.”
Minister O’Sullivan welcomed the move to expand eligibility for the Conservation Advice Scheme, saying:
“We’ve taken the needs and experiences of traditional homeowners on board and expanded this scheme so that more people can benefit from professional expertise before embarking on renovation work or energy upgrades.
“I am particularly pleased to be expanding eligibility to multiple-occupancy units ‘above the shop’, which will enable owners to bring these buildings back to use as homes in the heart of our towns and villages, and also to vernacular farmhouses that have no other type of statutory protection.
“This scheme works because it helps to preserve the built heritage that gives our towns, villages and rural townlands their unique character, while providing practical support to occupiers to bring these properties back into use. By helping owners secure expert insight into the special care required by traditional buildings, this funding will go a long way to enabling the protection and revitalisation of our traditional building stock.”
With these revisions, the ‘Conservation Advice Scheme’ supports the aims of the Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 and the National Residential Retrofit Plan.
Applications must be made by 5pm on the 8th May 2026. The application form and guidance documents are available to view and download on the Department’s website.
ENDS
Further Information
Buildings that qualify under the scheme:
· Stream 1 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. Residential houses and buildings previously used for commercial purposes also qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a multiple-occupancy dwelling over a shop.
· Stream 2 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.
For further details about the operation of the scheme contact conservationadvicegrants@housing.gov.ie
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
The scheme will provide access to expert assistance for building owners considering availing of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, which already provides funding for the refurbishment of vacant and derelict homes in both rural and urban areas. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant provides a grant of up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property, or up to €70,000 to renovate a derelict property.
Information on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage website: Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.
Traditional Homes Pilot Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)
The pilot aims to understand the technical aspects, materials, products and costs for the solutions traditional homes need. It allows homeowners to access One Stop Shop grant supports, using products suitable for traditionally constructed homes.
The upgrade options include all the technologies available to modern homes:
· Roof, wall and floor insulation
· Windows, doors
· Ventilation systems
· Renewable heating (heat pumps)
· Solar thermal and PV
Further information on the grant scheme is available at Traditional Homes Pilot