Two Irish government grants can help fund house rewiring — one for homeowners aged 66+, another for vacant properties. Here's who qualifies, how much you can get, and how to check your eligibility in under two minutes.
A full house rewire in Dublin typically costs between €4,500 and €16,000 depending on the size of your home. That's a significant investment — and understandably, one of the first questions homeowners ask is whether there's any financial help available.
The short answer: yes, there are two Irish government grant schemes that can cover part or all of the cost of rewiring your home. But they don't apply to everyone. This guide explains exactly who qualifies, how much you can get, and how to check whether you're eligible before you start the application process.
We've built a free Grant Eligibility Checker on our house rewiring page that walks you through the criteria for both grants in under 2 minutes. Try it at ges.ie/house-rewiring#grant-checker.
Two Grants That Can Help Pay for Rewiring
There are two main grant schemes that can fund electrical rewiring work in Ireland. They serve different situations, and some homeowners may even qualify for both.
1. Housing Aid for Older People Grant
This scheme is administered by your local authority and is designed to help older people carry out essential repairs and improvements to their homes — including electrical rewiring and fuse board upgrades. It's one of the most generous grants available for domestic electrical work in Ireland.
The grant covers up to €10,700 or 100% of the cost of the work, whichever is lower. VAT on the works is also covered. For many Dublin homes, this can fund a full rewire with nothing left to pay out of pocket.
Key criteria for the Housing Aid for Older People Grant: you must be aged 66 or over (or live with someone who is), have a gross household income under €75,000 (with certain disregards for children under 18, Carer's Allowance, Child Benefit, and Foster Care Allowance), own and occupy the home, have tax affairs and Local Property Tax up to date, and not have started the work before approval.
A Periodic Inspection Report is typically required as part of the application to document the condition of the existing wiring. GES can carry out this inspection for you — it's something we do routinely as part of our rewiring service.
2. Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
If you own a vacant or derelict property and plan to bring it back into use as a home or rental, this scheme can fund the refurbishment — including full electrical rewiring. The amounts are significantly larger than the Housing Aid grant.
For vacant properties, the grant covers up to €50,000. If the property is confirmed as derelict by your local authority, an additional €20,000 top-up is available — bringing the total to €70,000. Electrical rewiring typically qualifies as part of the wider refurbishment scope.
Key criteria for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant: the property must have been vacant for at least 2 years, built on or before 2007, you must own it (or be purchasing it), it must become your primary residence or a rental property after refurbishment, the rewiring must be part of a wider refurbishment, and tax affairs and LPT must be up to date. Work must not have started before approval.
How to Check If You're Eligible
Rather than reading through pages of government criteria and trying to figure out where you stand, we've built a simple interactive tool that does the work for you. Our Grant Eligibility Checker asks a series of straightforward yes/no questions — based directly on the published criteria for both schemes — and tells you immediately whether you're likely to qualify.
It takes under 2 minutes, requires no personal details, and covers both grant routes. If both grants might apply to your situation, it will tell you that too.
Free Tool
Check Your Grant Eligibility Now
Answer a few quick questions and find out whether you could get a government grant towards your rewiring costs. No personal details required.
Try the Grant Checker →What You'll Need to Apply
If the checker indicates you may be eligible, here's what you'll typically need to prepare before contacting your local authority:
- Proof of age (for Housing Aid grant) — passport, driving licence, or public services card
- Proof of income — recent P60, social welfare statements, or pension documentation
- Local Property Tax confirmation — available from Revenue's myAccount service
- Tax clearance or evidence that tax affairs are in order
- A Periodic Inspection Report (EICR) documenting the current condition of your wiring — GES can carry this out for you as part of the process
- Two written quotations for the proposed electrical work — your local authority will typically require at least two quotes from registered contractors
- Proof of ownership — property deeds or mortgage documentation
- For the Vacant Property Grant: evidence that the property has been vacant (utility disconnection records, electoral register absence, etc.)
GES can provide both the Periodic Inspection Report and the written quotation you'll need for your application. We carry out inspections across Dublin every week and can usually schedule one within a few days. Book an inspection at ges.ie/inspections.
What If You Don't Qualify?
If the checker tells you that neither grant applies to your situation, don't be disheartened. The majority of our rewiring customers fund the work themselves — and a full rewire is one of the most valuable upgrades you can make to an older property. It improves safety, increases property value, reduces insurance risk, and gives you a modern electrical system that will last decades.
The best way to understand the cost for your specific home is to use our free Instant Rewire Estimator. It takes under 60 seconds and gives you a realistic price range based on your property type and size — no sign-up required. If you'd prefer a formal quote, we offer free site visits with no obligation.
Free Tool
Get Your Free Rewiring Estimate
Answer 4 quick questions about your home and get a realistic price range in under 60 seconds. No sign-up, no sales follow-up — just an honest number.
Try the Free Estimator →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for both grants at the same time?
They are separate schemes with different criteria and administered by different departments within your local authority. In theory, if you meet the criteria for both (e.g. you're aged 66+ and the property is vacant), you could explore both avenues. The Housing Aid grant would cover the essential electrical work, while the Vacant Property grant would cover broader refurbishment. Contact your local authority to discuss how both might apply to your specific situation.
How long does the grant application take?
Processing times vary by local authority but typically range from 4 to 12 weeks. Dublin City Council and the four Dublin county councils each have their own timelines. The most important thing is to apply before starting any work — both schemes require prior approval.
Can I choose my own electrician?
Yes. You are free to choose any Safe Electric registered electrical contractor. You'll typically need to provide two written quotes as part of your application. GES is Safe Electric registered and we provide formal quotations for grant applications every week — we know exactly what the local authority expects to see.
What if my application is refused?
If your application is refused, the local authority will explain the reason. Common issues include income exceeding the threshold, missing documentation, or the work not being classified as "essential." You can usually reapply once the issue is resolved. If you believe the decision is incorrect, you have the right to appeal through your local authority's appeals process.
Whether you qualify for a grant or not, we're here to help you understand your options. Call us on 01 963 6636 for a no-obligation conversation, or book a free site visit where we can assess your wiring, provide a formal quote, and advise on whether a grant application is worth pursuing for your specific situation.
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Book a Free Site Visit
Our team will inspect your wiring, provide a detailed quote, and advise on grant eligibility — all completely free and with no obligation.
Book Your Free Visit →Written by
Patrick Gorman
Master Electrician · Safe Electric Registered
Patrick has been working as a Safe Electric registered electrician in Dublin for over a decade, specialising in full house rewires, EICR inspections, and smart home installations.