House Rewiring Grants in Ireland (2026): What Actually Covers a Rewire

By Jamie Cowman · Electrician · Safe Electric Registered

I get asked about the "free rewire grant" almost every week. I'll be straight with you: there is no general SEAI grant that pays to rewire a home in Ireland. The SEAI runs grants for insulation, heat pumps and solar — not wiring. But that's not the end of the story. Three separate State schemes can cover rewiring when you meet their conditions, and the amounts are real money. This guide explains exactly which ones, the published figures for 2026, who qualifies, and how to apply — so you can stop chasing a grant that doesn't exist and go after the ones that do.

First, the myth: there's no standalone "rewire grant"

A full rewire isn't a standalone grant category anywhere in the Irish system. Instead, rewiring is treated as part of a bigger eligible job — adapting a home for older age or disability, or bringing a vacant property back into use. So the question isn't "is there a rewire grant?" It's "does my situation fit one of the three schemes that include rewiring?" If it does, the cost of new cabling, a new consumer unit and certification can be covered inside that grant.

For reference, a full rewire of a three-bed home in Ireland typically runs €11,000–€13,000 in 2026, including a new consumer unit, RCBO protection on every circuit, and the Safe Electric certificate confirming the work meets IS 10101 (the national wiring standard). That's the figure these grants are measured against. Want a price for your own house first? My honest take on the numbers is in what a house rewire costs in Ireland.

Scheme 1: Housing Aid for Older People (HAOP)

This is the one most older homeowners ask about. The Housing Aid for Older People grant helps people aged 66 and over carry out essential repairs to keep an existing home habitable — and rewiring an unsafe old installation is exactly the kind of work it covers, alongside roof repairs, heating and windows.

• Who: generally aged 66+, living in (or moving into) the property as your normal place of residence.
• Maximum grant: revised up to €10,700 (up from €8,000). The percentage of the cost covered slides with your income — higher grants for lower household incomes.
• Means-tested: based on gross household income, with thresholds set nationally.
• Administered by: your local authority, not the SEAI.

Because €10,700 can cover the bulk of a modest rewire, this is the most practical route for a lot of older homeowners with old rubber- or fabric-insulated wiring. Apply through your local council. Full details and the income bands are on the official page: gov.ie — housing grants for older people and people with a disability.

Scheme 2: Housing Adaptation Grant for a Disability

If someone in the household has a physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual disability, the Housing Adaptation Grant for a Disability funds works that make the home suitable for them — and electrical adaptation work is on the eligible list. That can include rewiring where it's needed to make the installation safe and fit for the adaptations (for example, new circuits for accessible bathrooms, stairlifts, or specialist equipment).

• Who: households where a member has a disability and the home needs adapting to suit their needs.
• Maximum grant: revised up to €40,000 (up from €30,000), with the percentage covered depending on household income.
• Means-tested: yes, on gross household income.
• Administered by: your local authority.

At up to €40,000 this is the largest of the means-tested grants, but it's tied to genuine adaptation needs — it isn't a way to get a standard rewire paid for. The official scheme page is here: gov.ie — Housing Adaptation Grant for a Disability.

Scheme 3: Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

This is the big one if you're taking on a vacant or derelict house. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant supports bringing an empty home back into use as your principal private residence or a rental — and rewiring is one of the most common costs it covers, because old vacant houses almost always need it.

• Who: the property must have been vacant for two years or more, and built before 2008. You'll occupy it yourself or rent it out.
• Vacant grant: up to €50,000.
• Derelict top-up: if the property is confirmed derelict, up to a further €20,000, bringing the total to €70,000.
• Not means-tested: unlike the two above, this one doesn't test your income.
• Administered by: your local authority's vacant homes officer.

Rewiring sits comfortably inside that budget — a €11,000–€13,000 rewire is a fraction of the €50,000–€70,000 available — so if you're renovating an old place, get the wiring properly costed and included in your application. The official page is here: gov.ie — Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant.

One honest caveat on all the figures

Grant rules and amounts are set by the SEAI and local authorities and they change — confirm current figures with them. The numbers above are the published 2026 maxima, but income bands, eligibility conditions and the share of cost covered are reviewed regularly, and your local authority has the final say on your specific application. Always check the official gov.ie page for the scheme before you commit, and talk to your council's grants section early.

What the grant actually has to pay for

Whichever scheme applies, a compliant rewire isn't just new cable. To pass and to be certifiable it needs: a new consumer unit, RCBO (or RCD) protection so a fault on one circuit doesn't kill the whole house, correctly rated circuits for the kitchen, sockets and lighting, and wired-in smoke and heat detectors. When the job's done it must be tested and signed off with a Safe Electric completion certificate confirming it meets IS 10101. Councils will look for that certificate, and so will your insurer. If you want to see how that whole process runs, I've laid it out step by step in what to expect during a full house rewire.

How to apply, in order

1. Work out which scheme fits — age and income (HAOP), disability adaptation needs (Housing Adaptation Grant), or a vacant/derelict property (Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant).
2. Contact your local authority — all three are run by the council, not the SEAI. Ask for the grants section or the vacant homes officer.
3. Get a written quote from a Safe Electric registered contractor. Most schemes want this before approval.
4. Submit the application and wait for written approval before starting work — grants generally won't pay retrospectively for work already done.
5. Have the work completed and certified, then submit the paperwork (including the Safe Electric cert) to draw down the grant.

The bottom line

There's no free "rewire grant" you can just claim — but if you're 66 or over, adapting a home for a disability, or doing up a vacant or derelict house, one of these three schemes can cover the work, with maxima of €10,700, €40,000 and up to €70,000 respectively. The first step is the same every time: ring your local authority, confirm the current figures, and get a proper quote from a registered electrician before anything starts.