Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses

The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme for Traditional Houses is now open for applications in 2026.

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 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.

This expert advice will include a report which outlines the condition of the building and identifies conservation improvements which would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity.

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 (see Guidance Booklet for Applicants for more detail)

This scheme supports the aims of the Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030 and the National Residential Retrofit Plan.

The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme supports the refurbishment of properties under two streams.

Stream 1

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.

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

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.

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
• unsawn timber

The closing date for receipt of completed application form, accompanying photos and relevant documents to be sent to conservationadvicegrants@housing.gov.ie by deadline of 5pm 8 May 2026. Applications should not exceed 10mb.

Subject line: CAS26_1 or CAS26_2, Building address, depending on the Stream being applied for.

Completed postal applications should be sent to :