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Heat pump grant Ireland 2026: up to €14,500, and what a heat pump really costs

Last updated: · Figures checked 18 October 2026 · By the HouseWise team

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The SEAI heat pump grant went up twice in 2026. Since 6 October 2026 a house can get up to €14,500 for an air-to-water (or ground, exhaust-air or water source) heat pump system, because a new €2,000 boiler scrappage grant was added when you remove oil, gas, solid fuel or storage heating (SEAI heat pump systems).

How the €14,500 is made up

Part Houses Apartments
Heat pump system up to €10,500 up to €8,500
Central heating upgrade (new radiators or underfloor heating), where the design needs it up to €2,000 up to €1,000
Boiler scrappage (removing oil, gas, solid fuel or electric storage heating; also paid if you have no central heating) €2,000 €2,000
Maximum total €14,500 €11,500

Sources: SEAI heat pump systems (totals) and SEAI One Stop Shop grant values (apartment split), checked 18 October 2026.

  • Air-to-air heat pumps (which heat air but don't provide hot water) get up to €9,500.
  • A €200 grant is available for a technical assessment of heat loss (see below).
  • Replacing an existing heat pump that was never grant-aided gets up to €6,500 (€4,500 for apartments), without the scrappage or central heating parts.
  • The grant can't be more than the cost of the works.

If you already had a heat pump application in progress on 6 October 2026, SEAI says eligible applicants get the €2,000 scrappage uplift automatically.

Is your home ready? The heat loss test

A heat pump only works well in a home that holds its heat. SEAI's rules (heat pump page):

  • Built from 2007 onwards: no technical assessment needed; you sign a self-declaration form.
  • Built before 2007: you need a technical assessment (€200 grant) unless you have a valid BER showing a Heat Loss Indicator of 2.3 W/K·m² or less.
  • If the assessment shows high heat loss, you may need to improve insulation, windows or draught-proofing first. Attic, wall and window grants are available separately: see our insulation grants guide.
  • The home must have an MPRN and have been built and occupied before 2021.

What a heat pump costs in Ireland

SEAI's median costs for grant-aided heat pump jobs completed January to June 2026 (PDF):

Home Median cost Grant at the time Left to pay then Max grant now (from 6 Oct 2026) Left to pay now*
Detached €17,000 €12,500 €4,500 €14,500 €2,500
Semi-D / end of terrace €16,741 €12,500 €4,241 €14,500 €2,241
Mid-terrace €16,000 €12,500 €3,500 €14,500 €1,500
Apartment €9,025 €9,500 n/a €11,500 n/a

*Our arithmetic: median cost minus today's maximum grant, assuming you qualify for every part (including scrappage and the central heating upgrade). The medians were recorded before the scrappage grant existed and don't tell us whether every job needed new radiators, so treat this as a rough guide. For apartments the maximum grant is above the median cost, and the grant can't exceed the actual cost.

Ask what's in a quote: the heat pump unit, hot water cylinder, any radiator or pipework changes, electrical work, the heat loss and design calculations, commissioning and controls. Radiator changes move the price the most.

Running costs

A heat pump runs on electricity. Irish electricity averaged 32.49c per kWh (standard 24-hour urban rate, including VAT) in October 2026, according to the price-comparison site Selectra. Running costs depend heavily on how well insulated the home is, the system's efficiency and your tariff (a night-rate or smart tariff can help), so be wary of any quote that promises a fixed saving without a heat loss calculation for your home.

Planning permission

Heat pumps can be exempted development, subject to conditions. The national planning exemptions changed on 27 July 2026, and the Department's circular says the exemption for a heat pump "will be expanded so that it is not restricted to the rear of the property" (SDCC copy of the circular, PDF). The detailed conditions are set out in the regulations, so check with your installer or local authority before you choose a spot, especially for a protected structure, a conservation area or an apartment. See our planning exemptions guide.

How to apply

  1. Get the technical assessment (if needed) and quotes from SEAI-registered heat pump installers.
  2. Apply online with your MPRN, installer's details and the technical assessment or self-declaration form. Accept the offer within 30 days.
  3. Complete the installation within eight months, then get a post-works BER (€50 grant).
  4. Submit the declaration of works, the installer's heating design sheet and eco-design data sheet, and the request for payment (plus a tax clearance certificate if you receive more than €10,000 in grants in a calendar year). Allow 4 to 6 weeks.

Add up the grants for your home with our grant estimator

FAQs

Is the heat pump grant €14,500 for everyone? No. €14,500 is the maximum for a house, and it includes €2,000 for central heating upgrades (only where the design needs them) and €2,000 for scrapping a fossil-fuel or storage heating system. Apartments get up to €11,500 and air-to-air systems up to €9,500.

Do I need a BER before I apply? Not always. Homes built from 2007 can self-declare. Older homes need either a valid BER showing a Heat Loss Indicator of 2.3 or less, or a technical assessment.

Do I get the €2,000 scrappage grant on its own? No. It's part of the heat pump system grant, paid when a heat pump replaces an oil, gas, solid fuel or electric storage system (or goes into a home with no central heating).

Can a One Stop Shop do it instead? Yes. A One Stop Shop gets the same heat pump grants deducted upfront, usually as part of a bigger upgrade to at least a B BER. See our SEAI grants guide.

Sources

All checked 18 October 2026.