Free · Independent · Ireland
Find the support you might be missing.
A free tool that points you to the Irish grants, payments and supports you may qualify for, each with the official link to apply. Just describe your situation.
Type your situation in your own words, or tap an example
There are hundreds of grants and supports in Ireland.
Most go unclaimed, simply because people never find the ones meant for them.
Who's behind it
Why I built this.
My name is Daniel O'Hara. I grew up in rural Ireland. A few years ago my dad took on an old derelict house. He spent weeks just trying to work out what help was out there, ringing around, reading through pages and from word of mouth.
What nobody told him was that a grant of up to €70,000 was sitting there for exactly that work. There are many great supports and grants that people may be entitled to but they are scattered across multiple official websites.
I wanted to make this information more accessible and more personalised as every person's situation is different. So I built this free tool to help every person who needs that knowledge and support.
It's just me, no company behind it, working away at it in my own time.
I would love your feedback and if you spot a support I may have missed get in touch with me at hello@irishgrantsandsupports.ie
Follow below for up-to-date grants and supports
Or explore everything
Browse every support by category.
226 supports across 18 categories, all checked against official sources.
🏠Buying or building a home
Help to buy, build or get on the ladder · 7
First-time buyers
Help to Buyup to €30,000
Tax rebate for first-time buyers building or buying a new home.
First Home Schemeup to 30% equity
Shared-equity help for first-time buyers of a new home.
Local Authority Home Loangovt mortgage
State-backed mortgage for buyers who can't get a full bank loan.
Affordable & council routes
Affordable Purchase Schemereduced price
Buy a new home below market price; the council takes an equity share equal to the discount, redeemed later. Since July 2026 the government's own campaign material also calls this the Starter Home Purchase Scheme, same scheme, new consumer-facing name, nothing about the terms has changed.
Cost Rental homes~25% below market rent
Long-term homes let at cost, not market rates.
Tenant Purchase Schemediscounted buy-out
Lets eligible council tenants buy their home at a discount.
Help with your mortgage
Mortgage Interest Tax Creditup to €1,250 (€625 for 2026)
A temporary tax credit for homeowners whose mortgage interest rose since 2022. Worth 20% of the increase, up to €1,250 for 2025 and up to €625 for 2026. Your mortgage balance must have been between €80,000 and €500,000 at the end of 2022.
🔨Doing up an old or empty home
Vacant, derelict and heritage homes · 9
Vacant & derelict
Vacant / Derelict Property Grant€50k–€70k
Up to €50,000 to refurbish a vacant home, or up to €70,000 if it is derelict. A separate, larger grant exists for converting a vacant or derelict commercial building into homes.
Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loangovernment-backed bridging loan
A government-backed loan that lets a first-time buyer purchase AND renovate a vacant or derelict property in one loan, bridging the gap until the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant pays out. Distinct from both the Local Authority Home Loan and the Vacant/Derelict Property Grant, and can run alongside the grant.
Ready to Build sitesup to €30,000 off
Discounted serviced sites in towns and villages to build on.
Living City Initiativeincome tax relief
Income tax relief on the cost of doing up an older property in a designated town or city centre area to live in as your home. Runs to 2030.
Structural damage
Pyrite Remediation Scheme100% of remediation cost
Covers the full cost of testing, assessment and repair work if your home was damaged by pyritic heave in the floor hardcore. For owner-occupied homes built between 1997 and December 2013 in Dublin, Kildare, Meath or Offaly, with a Building Condition Assessment showing significant damage. Applications close 30 November 2026.
Interim Remediation Scheme for Fire Safety Defectsfunds emergency fire safety works
Government funding to fix urgent fire safety defects in apartments and duplexes built between 1991 and 2013, where the problem came from a breach of the building regulations that applied at the time. The owners' management company applies to the Housing Agency, not individual owners, and it covers emergency works like fire alarms and detection. It is an interim scheme ahead of a larger statutory redress scheme still being set up.
Heritage & protected buildings
Built Heritage Investment Scheme€2,500–€50,000
Repairs to protected structures and homes in conservation areas. A competitive grant, not everyone who qualifies gets funding, and it runs on an annual application window, check the official page for when applications are currently open.
Historic Structures Fund€50,000–€200,000
Larger conservation works on significant historic buildings. For 2026 the smallest grant is €50,000; smaller jobs go to the Built Heritage scheme above.
Thatching Grantup to €3,810 (€6,350 medical card)
Towards renewing or repairing the thatched roof of a house you live in. More for medical card holders and on the specified islands.
🔥Energy & warmth
Insulation, heat pumps, solar and free upgrades · 12
Individual upgrades
Insulation grantsup to €8,000
Attic, cavity, internal and external wall insulation.
Windows and Doors Grantup to €5,600
Since 2026 you can get a grant for energy-efficient windows and doors on their own, with no full retrofit needed. The home must be built before 2011 with walls and attic already well insulated, and you must use an SEAI-registered contractor and apply before the work starts.
Heat pump systemsup to €12,500
Toward a heat pump and related upgrades where your home is suitable. Replacing an existing heat pump that hasn't had SEAI support before gets a smaller amount, up to €6,500.
Heating controls€700
Smarter controls to run your heating more efficiently.
Whole-home & free upgrades
One Stop Shopbundle, deducted upfront
Managed deep retrofit up to a BER B2, one contractor handles it all. A whole-home upgrade can include new windows and doors as part of the works. Private landlords can use this route, but commercial landlords cannot.
Warmer Homes Schemefully funded
Free energy upgrades for eligible lower-income households. The waiting list can be long, but you may be able to apply directly for individual attic or wall insulation grants instead, without losing your place on the list.
Home Energy Upgrade Loan€5,000–€75,000 loan
A low-cost, government-backed loan to help fund SEAI grant-eligible home energy upgrades.
Solar & selling power back
Solar PV for Medically Vulnerable Customersfully funded solar + battery
A fully funded solar panel system, up to 2kWp with battery storage and at no cost, for a home where someone depends on electrically powered medical equipment such as an oxygen concentrator, dialysis machine or ventilator. You qualify by being registered in the life support category of ESB Networks' Priority Services Register with your electricity supplier, and since 2025 all homeowners on that register can be considered. It is run through the suppliers rather than by open application, so make sure you are on the register and they will contact eligible customers. Some conditions apply to the property, so confirm with your supplier.
Solar PV grantup to €1,800
Toward rooftop solar panels for your home.
0% VAT on solar panelsVAT removed
No VAT on the supply and fit of domestic solar panels.
Clean Export Guaranteeper kWh exported
Your supplier pays you for solar electricity you send to the grid.
Solar water heating grantup to €1,200
Toward a solar thermal system to heat your hot water. For homes built and occupied before 2021.
♿Older or less mobile at home
Adapting a home for age or disability · 6
Housing Adaptation Grantup to €40,000
To adapt a home for a disabled person: ramps, downstairs bathroom, access. The maximum rose to €40,000 from December 2024.
Mobility Aids Grantup to €8,000
Faster grant for grab rails, stair lifts and access ramps.
Housing Aid for Older Peopleup to €10,700
Repairs and improvements to keep older people living at home.
Care and Repairfree small jobs
Free small DIY jobs for older people: minor gardening and painting, bulbs and plugs, hanging curtains, security locks, smoke alarms and fixing trip hazards. Volunteers cover Dublin, Cork and Galway, and maintenance teams travel anywhere in Ireland where a job helps someone avoid hospital or get home from it sooner. Call 0818 911 109.
Disabled Person's Grant (social housing)works funded
Funds adaptations like stairlifts, grab rails and downstairs bathrooms for council tenants who are older or have a disability. The social housing version of the Housing Adaptation Grant, applied for through your local authority.
Seniors Alert Schememonitored personal alarm
A monitored personal alarm, a pendant you press in an emergency, for people aged 65 or over of limited means who live alone, live alone for large parts of the day, or care for someone in the home. You apply through a local community or voluntary group registered with Pobal.
🚜Farming & land
Every main farm support, grouped · 43
Income support (CAP payments)
BISS - Basic Income Supportper hectare
Core CAP income payment on eligible land. Replaced the Basic Payment Scheme.
CRISS - Redistributive top-upfirst ~30 ha
Front-loaded payment on your first hectares that favours smaller farms.
Eco-Scheme~€60+/ha
Annual payment for agri-environmental practices like space for nature.
ANC - Areas of Natural Constraintup to ~€148/ha
Support for farming hill, marginal or constrained land.
National Reservefree entitlements
Payment entitlements for young farmers and new entrants.
Young Farmer top-up (CIS-YF)per ha, 5 yrs
Extra income payment for young farmers in their early years.
Tillage Sustainability Support Payment€50-€110/ha
A €30 million area-based payment for tillage farmers, on a digressive per-hectare rate: €110/ha for the first 1-100ha, €90/ha for 100-125ha, €70/ha for 125-150ha, and €50/ha above that. You need a valid 2025 BISS application declaring at least 1 hectare of an eligible crop (barley, oats, wheat, rye, triticale or oilseed rape). Applied for online via MyAgFood. Distinct from the Tillage Investment Scheme, which is a TAMS capital grant for grain stores and equipment, not an area payment.
Fuel Income Support Scheme~20c/litre of green diesel
A €100 million fund (€20m a month for 5 months) helping farmers and agricultural contractors with fuel costs, at a rate anticipated around 20 cent per litre of Marked Gas Oil (green diesel), subject to the overall budget. The scheme's funding only covers March to the end of July 2026, so it is closing very soon, confirm on the official page whether applications are still being taken before you apply.
Agri-environment & climate
Organic Farming Schemeper-ha payment
Payments to convert to and maintain organic farming.
Straw Incorporation Measureper ha
Payment for ploughing in straw to build soil carbon.
Protein Aid Scheme~€600/ha
Per-hectare payment for growing protein crops like beans, peas and soya. Applied for with your BISS application.
Livestock schemes
SCEP - Suckler Carbon Efficiencyper suckler cow
Payment for beef suckler herds that improve genetics and cut emissions.
Sheep Improvement Scheme~€12/ewe
Payment per ewe for welfare actions like lameness control.
National Sheep Welfare Schemeup to €13/ewe
Annual welfare payment per breeding ewe, separate from the Sheep Improvement Scheme.
Beef Welfare Schemeper calf
Annual welfare payment for suckler beef farmers, for actions like meal feeding and vaccination.
National Dairy Beef Weighing Scheme€20/calf
Payment for weighing dairy-beef calves. Separate from the Dairy Beef Welfare Scheme.
If your herd gets a TB breakdown
On Farm Market Valuation (OFMV) Schemeup to €5,000/animal
The main compensation scheme if your herd has a TB breakdown and reactor animals are removed: up to €5,000 for a pedigree cow or in-calf heifer, up to €5,000 for a pedigree stock bull (up to 3 per breakdown episode), and up to €3,000 for any other individual bovine animal. You pick an Independent Valuer from DAFM's list, and a V8 (accept/reject) and V13 (the valuation) form process the claim, done online via AgFood.ie. You can appeal a valuation you disagree with.
TB Income Supplement€30-€100/month
For herds losing 9.5% or more of their animals to a single continuous TB restriction where full depopulation isn't used. Rates are banded by animal type and months post-calving: dairy cows €100/month for months 1-5 then €65/month for months 6-10, suckler cows €52/month for months 1-7 then €40/month for months 8-12, and a flat €30/month for all other animals. Capped at 199 reactors, and at 12 months if you aren't denied permission to move animals.
TB Depopulation Grant€120-€280/animal
Paid per animal removed under a TB depopulation measure. Non-feedlot rates: €280 for dairy cows, in-calf heifers and pedigree bulls over 12 months, €180 for suckler-equivalent animals, and €120 for all other animals (feedlot and dealer herds get nil). Rates are for a 4-month rest period, pro-rated for shorter periods.
TB Hardship Grantup to €300/month
For herdowners feeding more animals than on the same date the previous year because a TB restriction is stopping them from selling or moving stock. Worth €50/month per suckler cow or €30/month per dairy cow or other bovine, capped at €300 a month for up to 4 months. The scheme itself only runs from 1 November to 30 April each year.
On-farm investment (TAMS 3)
Young Farmer Investment Scheme60% grant
Higher-rate TAMS grant for young trained farmers.
Farm Safety Scheme60% grant
Grants for safety equipment: cattle handling, PTO covers and more.
Animal Welfare & Nutrient Storage40–60% grant
Slurry and nutrient storage plus welfare facilities. Key for nitrates rules.
Solar Investment Scheme60% grant
On-farm solar panels and batteries, with their own ceiling.
Low Emission Slurry Spreading40–60% grant
Trailing shoe and dribble-bar gear that saves nitrogen.
Tillage Investment Scheme40–60% grant
Grain storage and min-till equipment for tillage farms.
Forestry & trees
Afforestation Schemegrant + 20-yr premiums
Establishment grant plus yearly premiums for up to 20 years.
Native Tree Area Schemegrant + premium
Plant small native woodland (under 1 ha) without a felling licence.
Agroforestry Schemegrant + premium
Combine trees with grazing or crops on the same land.
Forestry management grantsper ha / per metre
Grants for existing forest owners: thinning (Woodland Improvement), forest roads, and ash dieback reconstitution.
Young farmers & succession
Succession Farm Partnership€5,000/yr tax credit
Tax credit up to €5,000 a year for 5 years to support a phased handover.
Young Trained Farmer Stamp Duty Reliefstamp duty exempt
Full stamp duty relief when land transfers to a qualifying young farmer.
Stock Relief (young farmers)100% relief
Enhanced 100% relief on increases in farm trading stock.
Farm Restructuring Relief (CGT)CGT relief
Relief from Capital Gains Tax when you sell and buy land to consolidate a fragmented holding. Needs a Teagasc certificate. Runs to end 2029.
Consanguinity Relief (stamp duty)1% stamp duty
Cuts stamp duty to 1% on transfers of farmland between close relatives. Runs to end 2028.
Agricultural Relief (inheritance/gift tax)90% relief
Cuts the taxable value of inherited or gifted farmland by 90% for Capital Acquisitions Tax. You must pass an asset test and an active farmer test: farm it yourself, hold an agricultural qualification like the Green Cert, or lease it to a qualifying farmer.
Green Cert (Level 6 Certificate in Farming)qualification
The agricultural qualification that unlocks the young-farmer supports: stamp duty relief, stock relief, the higher TAMS grant rate, the young farmer payment, and the active-farmer condition for agricultural inheritance relief. Available full-time, part-time for over-23s, or by distance learning through Teagasc and the agricultural colleges, including Teagasc Mayo.
Knowledge, health & safety
Knowledge Transfer Groupsparticipation payment
Payment for joining discussion groups to improve farm practice.
Farm safety supportsfree / funded
Advice and schemes to cut the high rate of farm accidents.
💧Water & wastewater
Wells and septic systems · 4
Septic Tank (DWWTS) Grantup to €12,000
To repair or replace a failed domestic septic system (up to 85% of cost).
Domestic Lead Remediation Grantup to €5,000
Covers up to 100% of the cost, up to €5,000, to replace lead water pipes in your home. Not means tested.
Group Water Scheme Grantup to €15,000/house
Grant aid toward providing or upgrading a private group water supply, plus an annual subsidy.
🚗Electric vehicles
Cars and home charging · 5
EV Scrappage Scheme (ICE2EV)pilot now closed
The ICE2EV pilot let you scrap an older petrol or diesel car and put €5,000 towards a new electric one, on top of the €3,500 EV grant. It opened on 1 July 2026 and filled within hours, reaching its 2,000-car cap, so it is now closed to new applications. The standard €3,500 SEAI EV grant is still open, and a review will decide whether the scrappage top-up returns.
Home charger grantup to €300
Toward installing a charge point at a house with its own off-street parking. People living in apartments should look at the apartment charging grant instead.
EV Apartment Charging Grantup to €600/point
Toward installing EV chargers at apartments and shared parking, where the home charger grant does not apply.
🚲Getting around
Transport savings and grants · 1
Cycle to Work Schemeup to €3,000 tax-free
Your employer buys you a bike or e-bike and you pay it back from salary, so you save the tax, USC and PRSI on it. Covers up to €3,000 for a cargo or e-cargo bike, €1,500 for an e-bike, or €1,250 for a standard bike, plus safety equipment, and you can use it again every 4 years.
💼Starting or growing a business
Enterprise grants, loans and supports · 16
Starting up
LEO Priming Grantup to €150,000
Start-up grant for new small businesses in their first 18 months.
Back to Work Enterprise Allowancekeep welfare 2 yrs
Keep part of your welfare while you get a new business going.
LEO Feasibility Grantup to €15,000
Helps research whether a new business idea is viable before you launch.
Short-Term Enterprise Allowanceincome for 9 months
Keep an income at your Jobseeker's Benefit rate for up to 9 months while you start a business.
Growing & going online
LEO Business Expansion Grantup to €150,000
For established small firms growing or adding jobs.
Energy Efficiency Grantup to €10,000
Covers 75% of the cost of energy-saving equipment and upgrades for small businesses.
Shopfront Improvement Grantvaries by county
Many councils run a grant to improve the shopfront or facade of a retail or commercial premises in a town or village centre, often 50% to 75% of the cost up to a few thousand euro. Amounts, eligible areas and deadlines vary by county. Your local authority or Local Enterprise Office runs it, and you must be approved before starting the work.
Innovation & R&D
Innovation Voucherup to €10,000
A voucher worth up to €10,000 for a small business to work with a university or research body on a specific innovation, technical or data question.
Enterprise Ireland R&D Fundco-funded R&D grant
A co-funded grant for a company taking on a research and development project to create a new product, service or process.
Exploring Innovation Grantup to €35,000
A feasibility-study grant worth up to €35,000 to investigate whether an R&D or innovation project is technically feasible before you commit to the full project.
New Markets Validation Grantup to €150,000
A grant worth up to €150,000 to develop and validate a market-entry strategy for a new market or a new product, covering the research and planning before you commit to launching.
EU Just Transition Fund (Midlands)project-based funding
EU-funded programme, up to €169 million by 2027, to help the Midlands move on from peat extraction: money for local business diversification, SMEs and start-ups, research and innovation, and community and environmental projects. Only for the designated Midlands Just Transition territory.
Loans & finance
Microfinance Ireland loanup to €50,000
Small business loans for firms that can't get bank finance.
Transport operators
Diesel Rebate Schemepart of diesel excise repaid
Revenue repays part of the Mineral Oil Tax (excise) on diesel bought and used in Ireland for business transport, for licensed road haulage and bus or coach operators using qualifying vehicles. You need a valid road transport licence (Irish or EU) and you claim online through Revenue's ROS system each quarter. The amount is a sliding scale that rises as the diesel price rises, so it changes from quarter to quarter.
Hiring staff
JobsPlus€7,500 or €10,000 over 18 months
A cash incentive for an employer who hires someone who has been out of work for a while, paid monthly to help with the wages.
Wage Subsidy Scheme€7.50–€10 / hour
Helps an employer pay a fair wage to a member of staff with a disability by topping up the cost of their hours.
👶Children & childcare
Childcare subsidies, family payments and school costs · 17
Childcare
National Childcare Schemesubsidy per child
Universal and income-based subsidies toward registered childcare. From September 2026 a fee cap also applies, so a service in the scheme can charge at most €280 a week for a full-time place. More families qualify from then too, as the income limits rise: the lower limit goes from €26,000 to €34,000 and the upper from €60,000 to €68,000.
ECCE (free preschool)2 free years
Free preschool for children in the two years before school.
Family payments
Child Benefit€140 / month / child
Monthly payment for each child under 16, or under 19 if in full-time education or training.
Working Family Paymentweekly top-up
Weekly tax-free top-up for working parents on lower pay.
Back to Work Family Dividend€58-€78/week per child
A weekly payment for people with qualified children who move off certain welfare payments into a job or self-employment, so you don't lose all your child-related support the moment you start work. Worth €58 a week per child under 12 (€78 if 12 or over) in year one, then €29 or €39 in year two, for up to 4 children.
One-Parent Family Paymentweekly payment
Support for parents raising a child on their own.
Newborn Baby Grant€280 one-off
A one-off €280 payment for every new baby that qualifies for Child Benefit, on top of the first month's payment.
Incapacitated Child Tax Credit€3,800/yr
A yearly tax credit for a parent or guardian of a child who is permanently incapacitated, physically or mentally, and unlikely to be able to support themselves. You can claim for more than one child.
Maternity Benefit€299/week, 26 weeks
Weekly payment while on maternity leave, if you have enough PRSI contributions.
Paternity Benefit€299/week, 2 weeks
Two weeks' payment for a parent taking paternity leave in the baby's first 6 months.
Parent's Benefit€299/week, 9 weeks
Up to 9 weeks' payment per parent during parent's leave in the child's first 2 years.
Health and Safety Benefitup to €254/week
A weekly payment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and your job has a risk your employer cannot remove or work around, so you are sent home on health and safety leave. Your employer pays the first 3 weeks.
School costs
Back to School Clothing & Footwear€160–€285 / child
Annual help with the cost of kitting children out for school. Applications close on 30 September 2026.
Single Person Child Carer Credit€1,900/yr + €4,000 band
An extra tax credit of €1,900 a year for a single parent or carer who has a child living with them, plus a €4,000 increase in your standard rate band. Widely unclaimed. Only one parent (the main carer) can get it.
Hot School Mealsfree school meals
Free daily meals for children in participating schools, now rolled out to all primary schools. Your school applies and runs it, so ask the school if it is in the scheme.
Free Schoolbooks Schemefree books
Free schoolbooks, workbooks and core classroom resources for all primary pupils and, since 2025, all post-primary students. Funded through the school, so there is nothing for parents to claim.
School Transport Schemesubsidised bus
Subsidised transport to school for eligible children.
🎓Education & training
College grants, free courses and apprenticeships · 15
Third-level grants
SUSI Student Grantfees + maintenance
The main means-tested grant for third-level fees and living costs, including for an approved course in the UK or another EU/EEA country. The priority assessment deadline for the 2026/27 year has passed, but you can still apply, there is a later final deadline, check the official page for the current date.
Free Fees Initiativetuition paid by State
The State pays the tuition fees for eligible first-time, full-time undergraduates. You still pay the annual Student Contribution.
Student Assistance Fundhardship help
Extra help for students facing financial hardship during college.
Fund for Students with Disabilitiesequipment & supports
Funds assistive equipment and supports for students with a disability. Apply through your college's access or disability office.
1916 Bursaryannual bursary
For students from groups most under-represented in higher education, based on need. Applied for through your college.
Tax relief on tuition fees20% relief
Claim 20% tax relief on qualifying third-level tuition fees you have paid, above a yearly disregard amount.
SUSI Postgraduate Grantup to €4,500 fees
Means-tested grant toward postgraduate fees, with maintenance for those on the special rate.
HEAR (Higher Education Access Route)reduced-points entry
Reduced-points college places and extra supports for school-leavers (under 23) from disadvantaged backgrounds. Prioritises Traveller, Roma, care-experienced students and young parents. Apply through the CAO.
DARE (Disability Access Route to Education)reduced-points entry
Reduced-points college places and supports for school-leavers (under 23) with a disability or ongoing illness. Apply through the CAO.
Free & funded courses
Springboard+free / 90% funded
Free or heavily subsidised courses to reskill or upskill.
Back to Education Allowancekeep welfare
Return to full-time study while keeping a social welfare payment.
Back to Education Initiative (BTEI)free / low-cost courses
Part-time further education courses, with fees waived for eligible groups.
Cost of Education Allowance€500/year
An annual €500 payment for Back to Education Allowance recipients who have a qualified child.
Apprenticeships
Apprenticeshipsearn while you learn
Paid, work-based training across trades, tech and business.
Apprenticeship training supportsgrant + allowance
A €2,000-a-year employer grant on many programmes, and a State training allowance for craft apprentices during off-the-job training.
🩺Health entitlements
Medical cards and help with health costs · 25
Cards & free care
Medical Cardfree care
Free GP care and hospital services, based on income. Prescriptions have a charge, €1.50 or €1 per item depending on your age, capped monthly. People aged 70 or over are assessed under separate, higher income limits.
GP Visit Cardfree GP visits
Free GP visits without paying to see your doctor. Everyone aged 70 or over qualifies automatically, and it's also available if you're just over the medical card income limit.
Dental Treatment Services Schemefree dental (medical card)
Free dental care for medical card holders aged 16 and over: a yearly exam, any extractions needed, two fillings a year, a scale and polish, and some other treatments.
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)free
A free card that covers necessary public healthcare when you are visiting another EU or EEA country or Switzerland. Free to apply for and to renew.
Fertility & pregnancy
HSE Fertility Treatment (IVF, ICSI, IUI)1 free IVF/ICSI cycle
Publicly funded fertility treatment through the HSE. Your GP refers you to a regional fertility hub, and eligible couples can get one free round of IVF or ICSI.
Free Contraception Schemefree
Free prescription and emergency contraception, GP or pharmacist consultations, and LARC (long-acting reversible contraception) fitting, removal and check-ups, for women, girls and transgender or non-binary people aged 17 to 36. Costs an estimated €48m a year.
Help with costs
Drugs Payment Schememonthly cap
Caps what any household pays for prescribed medicines each month.
BowelScreenfree screening
Free bowel cancer screening for people aged 57 to 71 (widened from 58-70 on 1 April 2026). You get a free home FIT test kit every 2 years, and a free follow-up colonoscopy if the result needs it.
Long-Term Illness Schemefree medicines
Free medicines and aids for certain long-term conditions.
Treatment Benefitdental & optical
Help with dental, optical and hearing costs from your PRSI.
Blind Welfare Allowance€76.96/week
A means-tested weekly payment for people who are blind or vision impaired, to help with extra living costs.
Cross Border Directivecost reimbursed
Get certain public healthcare in another EU or EEA country and claim back the cost, up to what it would cost the HSE here.
Treatment Abroad SchemeHSE pays for treatment abroad
The HSE can pay for surgery or treatment in the EU, EEA, UK or Switzerland when the treatment you need is not available in Ireland, or not available in time given your condition. A public hospital consultant must refer you (a GP referral is not enough), you apply on the E112 (S2) form, and the HSE must approve it before you travel or start treatment.
Health expenses tax relief20% back on costs
Claim 20% tax relief on most non-routine health costs: GP and consultant fees, prescriptions, non-routine dental, physiotherapy and fertility treatment. Nursing home costs qualify at your highest rate. Claim through Revenue myAccount, up to four years back.
Disability payments & supports
Disability Allowanceup to €254/week
A means-tested weekly payment, up to €254, for people aged 16 to 66 with a disability expected to last at least a year. You can do some work and keep part of the payment.
Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers SchemeVRT/VAT relief + fuel grant
Tax relief on buying and adapting a car for a person with a severe disability: VRT and VAT back (from €10,000 up to €22,000 depending on the adaptation), a fuel grant, motor tax exemption and toll relief. You need a Primary Medical Certificate.
Disabled Person's Parking Permitpersonal parking card
A parking card for a person with a permanent medical condition and a severe mobility problem, so they can use disabled parking bays. It belongs to the person, as driver or passenger, not the car, lasts two years and works across the EU. You apply through the Irish Wheelchair Association or Disabled Drivers Association, with a GP certifying eligibility (Primary Medical Certificate holders qualify automatically).
Assessment of Needfree HSE assessment
A free HSE assessment for a child who may have a disability, a legal right under the Disability Act 2005. It identifies your child's needs and the health services to meet them. For children born on or after 1 June 2002, applied for by a parent, guardian or a young person of 16 or 17. Once you apply in writing the HSE must start within 3 months, and a Service Statement of the supports follows.
Disablement Benefitup to €251/week or a lump sum
A payment if you have a lasting loss of physical or mental faculty because of an accident at work, an accident travelling directly to or from work, or a disease you picked up from your work. You must have been in insurable employment at the time, and the disablement is assessed at 15% or more. It is paid as a pension (weekly or every four weeks) where disablement is 20% or more, or as a one-off gratuity below that. It is not means tested, and you can get it whether or not you are able to work.
Blind Person's Tax Credit€1,950 (€3,900 if both blind)
An income tax credit of €1,950 a year if you are blind or have serious sight loss, or €3,900 if you and your spouse or civil partner are both blind. Claimed through Revenue myAccount alongside your other tax credits.
If illness stops you working
Illness Benefitup to €254/week
A weekly payment if you cannot work in the short term because you are sick and your doctor signs you off, based on your PRSI contributions.
Invalidity Pension€259.50/week
A weekly payment of €259.50 for people who can't work because of a long-term illness or disability, based on your PRSI record rather than a means test. Unlike Illness Benefit, this is for conditions expected to last a year or more.
Partial Capacity Benefit€127.00-€259.50/week
Lets you return to work at reduced capacity while keeping some of your Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension, rather than losing it all the moment you take a job. Your rate depends on a medical assessment banding your restriction as moderate, severe or profound (mild does not qualify), and ranges from €127.00 to €259.50 a week.
Long-term & nursing care
Fair Deal (Nursing Home Support)cost-shared
State help with the cost of long-term nursing home care.
Home Support Schemefunded home help
Funded help at home with everyday tasks for older people.
🧓Carers & household supports
Carers, heating and household allowances · 25
Carers
Carer's Allowance€135–€462/week
Means-tested payment if you care for someone full-time. From 2 July 2026 the weekly income disregard rose to €1,000 for a single person and €2,000 for a couple, so many more carers now qualify for the full or a partial payment. Already on the State Pension or another payment? You can keep it in full and get Carer's Allowance at half rate on top.
Carer's Support Grant€2,000/yr
An annual, tax-free lump sum for carers, €2,000 for each person you care for, paid automatically each June to most recipients.
Domiciliary Care Allowancemonthly payment
For a child under 16 needing care well beyond the usual.
Carer's Benefit€271–€406.50/week
A PRSI-based payment if you leave work or cut your hours to care for someone full-time, for up to 2 years. From July 2026 the income limit for a job you keep alongside it rose by €375 to €1,000 a week, so more working carers can now qualify.
Home Carer Tax Creditup to €1,950/yr
A tax credit for a married couple or civil partners where one stays at home to care for a child or dependent person.
Heating & energy
Fuel Allowance€38 / week (season)
Help with winter heating costs for eligible households. The 2026/27 season opens in late September.
Additional Needs Paymentone-off help
One-off help with an essential cost you can't meet, like heating or ESB.
Older people
MyFutureFund (Auto-Enrolment Retirement Savings)1.5%+1.5%+0.5%, rising to 6%+6%+2%
Ireland's new pension auto-enrolment scheme, live since 1 January 2026. If you're aged 23 to 60, earning over €20,000 and not already paying into a workplace pension, you're automatically enrolled: you put in 1.5% of pay, your employer matches it, and the State tops up another 0.5%, rising in steps over 10 years to 6% plus 6% plus 2%. Over 800,000 people are already enrolled.
State Pension (Contributory)up to €299.30/week
A weekly pension from age 66 based on your PRSI contributions. It is not means-tested, so other income does not reduce it.
Long-Term Carers' Contributions & HomeCaring Periodsup to 20 years of pension credits
If you took time out of paid work to raise your children or to care for someone, these schemes can fill the gaps in your PRSI record so you qualify for a higher State Pension (Contributory). HomeCaring Periods cover time spent caring at home, including children under 12, up to the equivalent of 20 years. Long-Term Carers' Contributions credit each week you gave full-time care once you reach 20 years of caring. You can use both together for periods that do not overlap, and there is no separate form, they are worked out when you apply for your pension.
State Pension (Non-Contributory)up to €288/week
A means-tested weekly pension from age 66 for people who do not qualify for the contributory pension. A higher rate applies from age 80.
Benefit Payment for 65 Year Olds€254 / week
A weekly payment for people who retire at 65, to bridge the gap until the State Pension starts at 66. Based on your PRSI record.
Household Benefits Packageelectricity + TV
Electricity or gas allowance and a free TV licence, mainly for older people.
Free Travel Schemefree public transport
Free travel on public transport for over-66s and others.
Living Alone Increase€22 / week
An extra weekly payment for people who live completely alone and get certain social welfare payments. Worth €22 a week, over €1,140 a year.
Telephone Support Allowance€2.50 / week
An extra €2.50 a week, about €130 a year, for people who get BOTH the Living Alone Increase and the Fuel Allowance. Paid automatically if you qualify, to help with phone or home-alarm costs.
Age Tax Credit€245 / €490
An extra tax credit if you or your spouse are 65 or over: €245 for a single person, €490 for a couple. Claim it through Revenue myAccount.
Dependent Relative Tax Credit€305 / relative
A €305 yearly tax credit if you maintain a relative who cannot look after themselves, or an elderly parent. The relative's income must be under €18,548.
If you lose your job or your income
Jobseeker's Allowanceup to €254/week
A means-tested weekly payment, up to €254, if you are unemployed and looking for work and do not qualify for Jobseeker's Benefit.
Jobseeker's Benefitup to €254/week
A weekly payment, up to €254, if you become unemployed and have enough PRSI contributions. If you became fully unemployed since March 2025 you may instead get the new Jobseeker's Pay-Related Benefit, worth up to 60% of your previous earnings.
Supplementary Welfare Allowance€252/week basic
A basic safety-net payment if you have little or no income, including while you wait for another welfare claim to be processed. Around €252 a week for a person aged 25 or over.
After a bereavement
Bereaved Parent Grant€8,000 once-off
A once-off €8,000 payment for a widow, widower, surviving civil partner or surviving cohabitant with dependent children. Formerly the Widowed or Surviving Civil Partner Grant.
Bereaved Partner's (Contributory) Pensionweekly payment
A weekly pension for a widow, widower, surviving civil partner or qualified cohabitant, based on PRSI contributions and not means-tested. Up to €299.30 a week at 66 or over. Formerly the Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension.
Bereaved Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pensionmeans-tested weekly
A means-tested weekly pension for a bereaved partner who does not qualify on PRSI contributions.
Widowed Parent Tax Credit€3,600 tapering to €1,800
An extra income tax credit for a widowed parent or surviving civil partner with a dependent child, on top of the normal Single Person Tax Credit, for 5 years after bereavement: €3,600 in year one, €3,150 in year two, €2,700 in year three, €2,250 in year four, €1,800 in year five, then nil. One credit only, no matter how many children you have. Claimed through Revenue myAccount.
🌳Community & rural development
Funding for rural places and projects · 12
Rural funds
LEADER programmeproject funding
EU-backed funding for rural enterprise, community and environment projects.
CLÁR programmesmall infrastructure
Funding for small-scale infrastructure in disadvantaged rural areas.
Local Improvement Schemecouncil-funded, you pay 10–15%
Improves a private lane or back road serving homes or farms. The council covers most of the cost and you pay a small share, capped at €1,200. Apply through your local authority.
Towns, villages & facilities
Town & Village Renewaltown projects
Investment to bring life back to rural towns and villages.
Local Enhancement Programme (LEP)local grants
Small capital grants for community groups and facilities. Replaced the Community Enhancement Programme in 2024.
Outdoor Recreation Schemetrails & amenities
Funds walking trails, greenways and outdoor amenities.
Community Centre Investment Fund€10k–€100k
Capital grants to upgrade and refurbish existing community centres.
Sports Capital and Equipment Programmeup to €200,000
Capital grants for sports clubs and community organisations to build or improve sports facilities and buy equipment. Up to €200,000 for facilities (less on a short lease) and up to €70,000 for equipment. It runs in rounds through the OSCAR system; the next round is being run as the Community Sport Facilities Fund.
International Carding Scheme€18,000–€40,000/yr
Direct funding for Ireland's elite international athletes towards training and competition costs, from €18,000 to €40,000 a year depending on level. You are nominated through your sport's national governing body against strict performance criteria, so it is for athletes competing at European, World, Olympic or Paralympic level. There is no general grant for amateur or club-level athletes; a club can apply for facilities and equipment instead.
Public Participation Network (PPN)free to join
Every county has a Public Participation Network. It is how community, voluntary and environmental groups register to hear about local funding, have a say in council decisions and nominate representatives. Free to join. Not a grant itself, the way community groups stay connected to what is available locally.
Animal Welfare Grants Programmefunding for registered charities
Yearly funding for registered animal welfare charities in Ireland, covering the day-to-day cost of animal rescue, rehoming, veterinary care and public education. It runs annually, usually opening for applications in spring; the 2026 round has already closed, so watch for the next call.
Community Heritage Grant Scheme€500–€25,000
Funds community and voluntary groups, such as historical societies or Tidy Towns, to record, digitise or share local heritage, including oral history recordings, podcasts and online archives. It runs annually, usually opening in late January or February and closing in March; the 2026 round is already shut.
✈️Moving or returning to Ireland
Coming home: housing, advice and what to claim · 6
Returning to Ireland
Returning to Ireland guidefree guidance
A full guide to moving back to Ireland, covering residency, social welfare, healthcare, housing, schools and bringing your family.
Safe Home Irelandhousing help
Helps older Irish-born emigrants living in rented accommodation abroad apply for social housing in their home area when they return.
Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Projectfree advice
Free, confidential information and advocacy for Irish emigrants returning home, on accessing services, welfare and bringing family back.
Money when you move home
Transfer of Residence relief (your car)no VRT on your car
Bring your car home and register it without paying Vehicle Registration Tax, if you lived abroad and owned and used the car for at least six months before moving back, and bring it in within 12 months.
Transfer of Residence relief (your belongings)no duty or VAT
Moving back from outside the EU, your household belongings and personal vehicles can come in free of customs duty and VAT, once you owned and used them for at least six months before the move.
Split-Year Treatmenttax relief, year of return
In the year you move back, the employment income you earned abroad before you arrived is not taxed in Ireland, but you still get the full year's tax credits.
🎭Arts, culture & music
Funding for musicians, artists and creatives · 12
Arts Council awards (music and all artforms)
Bursary Award€5,000–€20,000
Time and funding for an individual artist, musicians included, to research and develop their practice. Individuals only, not bands; normally resident in the Republic of Ireland.
Agility Award€1,500–€5,000
Smaller, flexible support for an individual artist to develop their work or skills. Individuals only, not bands or groups; resident in Ireland.
Music Project Awardup to €40,000
Funds a specific music project, from live performance to recording. Open to individual artists, groups and organisations based in Ireland. The current round closes on 23 July 2026 at 5:30pm.
Commissions Award (Music, Opera, Festivals)up to €45,000
Funds commissioning a musician or composer to create new music or opera, or a festival commission. Music up to €17,000, opera up to €45,000.
Deis Recording and Publication Awardup to €10,000
Funds recording or publishing work in the traditional arts. Open to individuals, groups, bands and organisations.
Touring of Work Schemeno fixed maximum
Funds touring existing work across Ireland to reach more people. For individual artists and organisations based here; the grant is based on the shortfall.
Music, film and local funding
Music Capital Schemeup to 75% of cost
Grants toward musical instruments, covering up to 75% of the cost. Separate strands for amateur groups, professional musicians and venues. You must be based or resident in Ireland.
Music Generationvaries by area
Ireland's national music education programme for children and young people. Subsidised performance music tuition across many instruments and styles, run locally through Music Education Partnerships. What is on offer and what it costs depend on your area.
Culture Ireland Regular Granttravel costs
Helps Irish professional artists and musicians present work abroad, covering travel, freight and accommodation. For performing outside Ireland, not into it; you need a confirmed international presenter.
Music From Irelandshowcase + travel support
Showcase slots and travel support for Irish acts playing major international music festivals. You need an invitation from the festival first.
Screen Ireland fundingdevelopment & production
Development and production funding for film, TV drama, animation and documentary. Mainly for Irish-registered production companies.
Local authority arts grantsvaries by county
Your county or city council's arts office runs its own grants, bursaries and awards for local artists. Amounts and deadlines vary; you usually need to live in the area.
🔑Renting a home
Help with the cost of renting · 5
Renting supports
Rent Tax Creditup to €1,000 / €2,000
A tax credit worth 20% of your rent, up to €1,000 a year, or €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple, for the 2024 to 2028 tax years. For renting your home, a place for work or an approved course, or a child's digs.
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)council pays your landlord
If you rent privately and qualify for social housing support, your council pays the rent to your landlord and you pay a small weekly amount based on your income.
Rent Supplementshort-term rent help
Short-term help with private rent if a drop in income means you can no longer afford it. Mostly for short-term cases now; longer-term renters are pointed to HAP.
Homeless Emergency Accommodationemergency accommodation
If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness right now, your local authority can assess your needs and, where possible, provide emergency accommodation, including family hubs for families with children. Contact your local authority's housing or homeless section directly.
Rent a Room Reliefup to €14,000 tax-free
If you rent out a room in your own home, you can earn up to €14,000 a year tax-free. The limit includes any money for food, laundry or utilities.
💷Tax credits for your job
Credits and reliefs tied to your work or sector · 6
Sea and defence work
Fisher Tax Credit€1,270/yr
A tax credit of €1,270 a year for a self-employed fisher who spends at least 80 days at sea in the tax year on a registered fishing vessel. Claimed through Revenue myAccount.
Sea-going Naval Personnel Tax Credit€1,500/yr
A tax credit of €1,500 a year for Defence Forces personnel who spend at least 80 days at sea on a naval vessel in the tax year. Runs from 2021 to 2029.
Seafarers' Allowance€6,350/yr
An income tax allowance of €6,350 a year for seafarers who work at least 161 days at sea on a qualifying voyage in the tax year, for employment income earned on board.
Employer perks & remote work
Small Benefit Exemptionup to €1,500/yr tax-free
Lets your employer give you up to €1,500 a year in non-cash benefits (vouchers, gift cards) tax-free, across up to 5 individual benefits a year. This is an employer decision, not something you apply for yourself, but worth knowing about if you're negotiating pay or benefits.
Remote Working (e-Working) Relief30% of apportioned costs
If you work from home for all or part of your time, you can claim tax relief on 30% of your apportioned heating, electricity and broadband costs for the days you worked from home. Alternatively, your employer can pay you €3.20 a workday tax-free instead, without you needing to claim anything through Revenue.
Foreign Earnings Deductionup to €50,000 tax relief
Tax relief for employees who travel for work to certain qualifying countries, worth up to €50,000 of income (raised from €35,000 from 1 January 2026). You need at least 30 qualifying days abroad in a 12-month period. Philippines and Turkiye were added to the qualifying-country list from 2026.
Where else to get help
Free, official services.
Citizens Information →Free information on every public service and entitlement, with local offices.National Enterprise Hub →Government business supports with free advisors and live chat.Local Enterprise Office →Local help to start or grow a small business (under 10 staff).Enterprise Ireland →Support for high-potential start-ups, scaling and exporting companies.MABS →Free, confidential money and debt advice.SEAI →Home energy grants and free energy advice.MyWelfare (Intreo) →Apply for and manage social welfare payments.Teagasc →Free farm advisory service and supports.Threshold →Free advice on renting and tenancy rights.FLAC →Free legal advice: a phone information line and clinics (family, employment, immigration and more).ALONE →Support and advice for older people.St Vincent de Paul →Help if you're struggling to make ends meet.SOLAS →Free and funded courses and training near you.
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