Asbestos farm shed roof grants in Ireland.

If you farm in Ireland and have an ageing asbestos cement roof on a shed, there is now real grant money to replace it. No Irish grant pays to remove asbestos on its own. The route that works for farmers is the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), which opened a roof replacement grant under its Farm Safety measure on 19 December 2025. It pays 60% of the approved cost, up to a ceiling of €90,000, for active farmers re-roofing an existing building. One point to be clear on from the start: the grant funds the new roof, not the asbestos removal. The old asbestos sheeting still has to come off first, done by a contractor holding a valid HSA permit, and that removal is your own cost.

The TAMS roof replacement grant

Re-roofing was added to TAMS 3 under the Farm Safety Capital Investment Scheme, with applications opening on 19 December 2025. The headline terms:

• Rate: 60% of the approved cost.
• Ceiling: a €90,000 investment ceiling (€160,000 for registered partnerships).
• What is eligible: all roof cladding and purlins, or cladding with purlins and rafters, and side or gable cladding, to the S101R re-roofing specification.
• Who qualifies: active farmers who meet TAMS conditions, which include farming at least 5 hectares declared under BISS or generating at least 20 production units.
• Conditions: planning permission or a declaration of exemption, and a chartered engineer report where the roof is supported by a wall.
• How it pays: TAMS is reimbursement based, so you fund the works and claim back against your approval, within the application tranche deadlines.

Scheme terms change between tranches, and at the time of writing the Department had not yet published a reference cost for re-roofing. Confirm the current rate, reference cost and specification with the Department of Agriculture or your agricultural consultant before you commit.

Where the asbestos removal fits

This is the question most farmers ask, and the part most pages skip. The grant funds the new roof, not the asbestos. Because the eligible list covers cladding, purlins and rafters but not asbestos removal, the cost of taking off and disposing of the old asbestos sheeting is yours to carry as the enabling step. Get the removal quoted and done compliantly by a permit-holding contractor, then claim the re-roofing under TAMS. The asbestos work follows the same rules as any other removal in Ireland, set out in our asbestos cement roof guide.

What asbestos shed roof removal costs

Removal is priced per job, not from a list, because the cost depends on roof area, access, sheet condition, waste volume and whether a new roof is included. As a guide to current Irish pricing:

• Small shed or garage roof: about €1,200 to €4,500.
• Typical farm shed: about €3,000 to €8,000 for asbestos sheeting removal and compliant disposal, before the new roof.

The 60% grant applies to the re-roofing, not to the asbestos removal, so treat the two as separate lines when you budget. For the full picture on what drives a quote, see the cost guide.

Why this is the year to act

Since 21 December 2025 the asbestos rules changed under S.I. No. 632 of 2025. A permit is now required from the HSA for each notifiable asbestos job, the workplace exposure limit was cut tenfold, and the default shifted from managing asbestos in place to removing it. Removing a notifiable asbestos roof without a permit is a criminal offence, and the liability for unauthorised disposal falls on you as the property owner. An old asbestos roof also grows more dangerous as it weathers, because cracking and storm damage release fibres. The grant and the regulations now point the same way. See the 2025 regulation changes for the detail.

How to get a quote for your application

For a TAMS application you will want a written, itemised quote from a contractor who can show a valid HSA permit. There is no asbestos removal firm based in every county, but permit-holding contractors travel for farm work. Tell us your county, the building and the rough roof size, and we will do our best to put you in touch with a permit-holding contractor who can quote it. It is free, and there is no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

Does TAMS cover asbestos removal?

Not the removal itself. The Department of Agriculture TAMS 3 investment list funds re-roofing of an existing building (cladding, purlins and rafters) under the Farm Safety scheme at 60% up to €90,000. Asbestos removal and disposal is not a listed eligible item, so you fund the removal and the replacement roof is grant aided.

Can I claim the grant for a poultry or chicken house?

The grant is for active farmers re-roofing farm buildings. Eligibility depends on your TAMS status and the building use, so confirm with your agricultural consultant or the TAMS office before you apply.

Who is eligible for the TAMS roof grant?

Active farmers who meet the standard TAMS conditions, which include farming at least 5 hectares declared under BISS or generating at least 20 production units. You also need planning permission or a declaration of exemption, and a chartered engineer report where the roof is supported by a wall.

Can a general roofer take the asbestos roof off?

No. Notifiable asbestos work needs a contractor holding a valid HSA permit and a permitted waste carrier. Carrying out notifiable asbestos work without a permit has been a criminal offence since December 2025. See the permit rules.

What does asbestos shed roof removal cost?

Roughly €1,200 to €4,500 for a small shed or garage, and €3,000 to €8,000 for a typical farm shed, covering removal and compliant disposal, before the cost of the new roof. See the cost guide. The Department had not published a reference cost for the re-roofing itself at the time of writing.