Grants for asbestos removal in Ireland.

Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

Croí Cónaithe is the most relevant scheme if you are facing significant asbestos work. It pays up to €50,000 for vacant properties and up to €70,000 for derelict properties, available nationwide and administered by your local authority.

To qualify, the property must have been built before 2007 and either vacant for at least two years or on the local authority's Derelict Sites Register. It can be for owner-occupier or rental use.

How asbestos fits in

The grant covers refurbishment costs up to the ceiling — and asbestos work can sit inside that scope. A pre-2000 derelict property is very likely to contain asbestos cement roof sheets, asbestos insulating board, Artex ceilings or vinyl floor tiles. The asbestos survey, removal and disposal can all be paid for as a line in your overall refurbishment quote, provided the total stays within the grant ceiling.

What the grant does not do

• It does not pay you up front. Croí Cónaithe is generally reimbursement-based — you pay first, the local authority refunds you against vouched expenditure. Confirm payment timing with the Vacant Homes Officer before committing.
• It does not require an asbestos survey at the application stage. (See the warning above — the survey requirement comes from the asbestos regulations, not from the grant.)
• It does not make asbestos cheaper. The grant is a ceiling against your refurbishment cost — if asbestos work uses up the ceiling, other refurbishment work has to come from your own budget.

Practical sequence

1. Confirm eligibility with your local authority's Vacant Homes Officer (built before 2007, vacant 2+ years or on the Derelict Sites Register).
2. Commission an asbestos survey — required by the asbestos regulations before refurbishment.
3. Get a written removal quote from a HSA permit-holding contractor.
4. Submit the grant application with refurbishment plans that include the asbestos line as part of the overall scope.
5. Once approved, complete the works and submit invoices for reimbursement.

SEAI retrofit grants

The SEAI runs the National Residential Retrofit Plan, with grants for individual energy measures (insulation, heat pumps, solar PV) and the One Stop Shop scheme for full retrofits. Asbestos work is not refunded by SEAI.

Retrofit and asbestos collide most often in three scenarios. In each case, the asbestos cost is yours to fund:

• Solar PV on asbestos cement roofs. Many installers refuse to work on an asbestos roof. The usual sequence is: survey, asbestos removal, reroof, install PV. The asbestos line is not refunded.
• Internal insulation in properties with AIB partitions. Internal wall insulation requires removing the existing finishes; if asbestos insulating board is present, that is friable removal under permit and clearance.
• Attic insulation in properties with asbestos pipe lagging. Lagging on heating pipes in older attics can contain asbestos and must be addressed before insulation is installed over it.

Some One Stop Shop providers will price asbestos as a transparent project line item. Where you are managing a self-led retrofit, the asbestos cost is yours to fund — but the regulatory framework is the same as for any other removal.

Local authority housing grants

Three local-authority housing grants can incidentally cover asbestos handling:

• Disabled Persons Grant — up to €30,000 for adaptations such as accessible bathrooms, ramps, downstairs sleeping accommodation. Where these involve removing internal walls or ceilings that contain asbestos, the asbestos work is part of the overall scope.
• Housing Aid for Older People — up to €8,000 for repairs. Where works disturb asbestos cement roofing or pipe lagging, the relevant cost is part of the overall scope.
• Mobility Aids Grant — up to €6,000 for stairlifts and grab rails. Can apply where works disturb existing flooring or wall finishes.

All three are means-tested and administered by your local authority. They are not designed to fund asbestos work in isolation but can absorb it where the underlying works are eligible.

Application tips that work

1. Survey before quote, quote before application. The survey scopes the asbestos work. Without it, the removal quote is a guess and the application is weaker.
2. Use a HSA permit-holding contractor for quotes. Some local authorities check that the works are technically deliverable. A quote from a non-permit-holder can flag the application.
3. Keep all documentation. Survey reports, contractor permits, consignment notes and clearance certificates are needed for grant reimbursement and for any future property sale.
4. Plan cash flow. Most schemes are reimbursement-based. You pay first, get refunded after.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a grant for asbestos removal in Ireland?

No. No grant in Ireland pays for asbestos removal as a standalone activity. The cost can be funded indirectly through three routes: the Croí Cónaithe Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (where asbestos work forms part of a wider refurbishment), SEAI retrofit grants (where retrofit unavoidably disturbs asbestos — though SEAI does not refund the asbestos line), and local authority housing grants (Disabled Persons, Housing Aid for Older People, Mobility Aids) where the asbestos handling is incidental to eligible works.

Do I need an asbestos survey to apply for Croí Cónaithe?

Not for the grant itself. The published Croí Cónaithe scheme outline does not list an asbestos survey as a requirement — the local authority arranges its own technical inspection of the property after the application. However, an asbestos survey is required by separate law (the 2025 amendments to the asbestos regulations) before any refurbishment work begins on a pre-2000 building. So if you are using Croí Cónaithe to refurbish a pre-2000 derelict property, you will need a survey before work starts — not because of the grant, but because of the asbestos regulations.

Will Croí Cónaithe pay for the asbestos survey?

The asbestos survey is part of your refurbishment cost and can sit within the overall €50,000 or €70,000 ceiling, but it is your responsibility to arrange and pay for it up front. Croí Cónaithe is generally a reimbursement-based scheme — confirm payment arrangements with your local authority's Vacant Homes Officer before committing.

Does SEAI cover asbestos as part of a retrofit?

No. SEAI grants are based on the energy upgrade itself (insulation, heat pump, solar PV, deep retrofit) and not on enabling work like asbestos removal. Where retrofit unavoidably disturbs asbestos — a solar install on an asbestos cement roof, internal insulation in a property with asbestos insulating board partitions, attic insulation in a property with asbestos pipe lagging — the asbestos cost is yours to fund. Some One Stop Shop providers will quote it transparently as a project line item, but it is not refunded by SEAI.

Are there local authority grants beyond Croí Cónaithe?

Yes. The Disabled Persons Grant (up to €30,000 for adaptations), the Housing Aid for Older People scheme (up to €8,000 for repairs), and the Mobility Aids Grant (up to €6,000 for stairlifts and grab rails) can each cover work that incidentally requires asbestos handling. They are means-tested, administered by your local authority, and not designed for asbestos work in isolation.