Home adaptation · 15 September 2026
Mobility Aids Grant Ireland 2026: up to €8,000 for a stairlift, shower, ramp or grab rails
Quick answer
The Mobility Aids Grant pays up to €8,000 for basic works that fix a mobility problem at home: a stairlift, a level access shower, a ramp or grab rails. It can cover 100% of the cost. Household income (owner and spouse) must be under €37,500. Your county council runs it, not the HSE, and it goes in on the same form as the Housing Adaptation Grant. An OT report is needed only for a stairlift or a hoist. Nothing can be ordered until the council approves in writing.
What the Mobility Aids Grant is
The Mobility Aids Grant Scheme is the smallest and quickest of the three council home grants. It is for one straightforward job that makes the house safe to move around in. Your county council runs it, with money from the Department of Housing, under the same national rules in every county.
Think of it as the little sister of the Housing Adaptation Grant. Less paperwork, a lower limit, and a lower income cut-off.
How much it pays, and who qualifies
- Up to €8,000, and it can cover 100% of the cost of the works.
- Household income under €37,500 a year. That is the gross income of the owner and spouse or partner for the previous tax year, after the same disregards as the Housing Adaptation Grant. A son or daughter living at home does not count.
- The person has a mobility problem at home, and the house is their main residence.
- No age limit. It is not only for older people.
If the job costs more than €8,000, the family pays the difference. If the income is over €37,500, the Mobility Aids Grant is closed, but the Housing Adaptation Grant is not. It pays a share of the cost for incomes up to €75,000.
What it covers
- A stairlift. A straight stairlift costs €2,200 to €5,000 fitted, so it usually fits inside the limit. A curved one (€5,000 to €10,000) may not. The stairlift grant, county by county.
- A level access shower. Taking out the bath and putting in a shower you can walk or wheel into. Typically €4,000 to €9,000. Bathroom grants explained.
- A ramp or step-free access to the front or back door. €1,500 to €5,000 depending on the rise.
- Grab rails and handrails. A few hundred euro, and a very common first application.
- A hoist, and other basic works that solve a mobility problem.
It does not cover second-hand equipment, general renovation, or anything started, ordered or paid for before approval.
Mobility Aids Grant or Housing Adaptation Grant?
| Mobility Aids Grant | Housing Adaptation Grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum | €8,000 | €40,000 |
| Income limit | Under €37,500 | Up to €75,000, sliding scale |
| Share of cost paid | Can be 100% | 100% down to 30% as income rises |
| Best for | One simple job: stairlift, shower, ramp, rails | Bigger or combined work: home lift, extension, bathroom plus stairlift |
| OT report | Only for a stairlift or hoist | Always |
| Form | The same council form for both | |
You cannot claim both for the same works. If your income is under €37,500 and the job costs under €8,000, the Mobility Aids Grant is usually the faster route. If you are not sure which fits, say so on the form and ask the council to assess it under the right scheme.
Three examples
- Grab rails in Sligo. A widow on the State Pension, income €16,000. Rails at the stairs, toilet and bath, quoted at €650. Grant €650. No OT report needed.
- A stairlift in Kerry. A couple, joint income €31,000. Straight stairlift quoted at €3,900. Grant €3,900, with an OT report.
- A shower in Dublin. Joint income €29,000. Bath out, level access shower in, quoted at €9,400. The Mobility Aids Grant tops out at €8,000, so the family would pay €1,400. At that income the Housing Adaptation Grant pays 100%, so that is the better scheme to ask for.
How to apply for the Mobility Aids Grant
There is no separate Mobility Aids Grant application form. It is the same council form that covers all three home grants. Every council's form, and what each part asks for.
- Get the form from your county council's website, or ask the housing grants section to post one.
- Fill in the applicant, property, household and works sections. Describe the job exactly: "level access shower to replace the bath, with two grab rails", not "bathroom".
- The GP completes the Doctor's Certificate page, signs and stamps it.
- For a stairlift or hoist, add an OT report. HSE or any CORU registered private OT. The private OT route.
- Get written quotes, usually two or three, itemised.
- Add proof of income for the previous tax year and proof that Local Property Tax is paid.
- Send it in, then wait for the approval letter. Order nothing before it arrives.
How long it takes in your county
The rules are national. The queue is local. Typical council processing time from a complete application:
A few councils have paused these grants for all but urgent cases when their budget for the year runs low. Ring your council's housing grants section before you start, and if the need is medical, ask for the application to be treated as a priority.
The mistakes that cost people the grant
- Ordering first. A rail fitted or a stairlift ordered before the written approval is not paid for, in any county.
- A vague description. "Bathroom works" invites questions. Name the adaptation and why it is needed.
- A missing GP stamp. One of the most common reasons a form comes back.
- One quote. Most councils want two or three before they will assess.
If the form is the part that stops you
Everything above is enough to apply yourself, for free. If you would rather not do the paperwork alone, our €49.99 grant kit prepares it for you: your answers laid out for the council form, a prep sheet for the OT visit, a supporting statement, quote request emails, a checklist and timeline, and a chase letter and appeal letter if you need them. We never ask for your PPS number, income figures or documents. Questions first? Email hello@thegranthub.ie, free.
Common questions
How much is the Mobility Aids Grant in Ireland?
Up to €8,000, and it can cover 100% of the cost of the works. Household income must be under €37,500 a year.
What does the Mobility Aids Grant cover?
Basic works that fix a mobility problem at home, such as a stairlift, a level access shower, a ramp, grab rails or a hoist. It does not cover second-hand equipment, general renovation or work started before approval.
Is there a Mobility Aids Grant application form?
It uses the same council application form as the Housing Adaptation Grant and Housing Aid for Older People. You get it from your county council, and the GP completes the Doctor’s Certificate section.
Do I need an OT report for the Mobility Aids Grant?
Only if the works are a stairlift or a hoist. The Housing Adaptation Grant always needs one.
Can I get the Mobility Aids Grant if my income is over €37,500?
No, but the Housing Adaptation Grant covers the same works for household incomes up to €75,000, paying between 30% and 100% of the approved cost.
Can I claim the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Adaptation Grant together?
Not for the same works. The council assesses the job under one scheme or the other.
Would you rather we did the paperwork?
Our €49.99 grant kit prepares your council application from a short questionnaire, with the OT prep sheet, supporting statement, quote emails and checklist. Everything on this page stays free.
See what is in the kit →