Stairlifts · 10 September 2026 · updated 21 October 2026
Stairlift grant in Ireland: what the council actually pays, county by county
Quick answer
A new straight stairlift costs €2,200 to €5,000 fitted. A curved one, €5,000 to €10,000. If the owner and spouse earn under €37,500, the Housing Adaptation Grant pays 100% of the approved cost (up to €40,000). For a simple stairlift the Mobility Aids Grant (up to €8,000, same income limit) is usually faster. The rules are the same in every county. The waiting time is not: 5 to 9 weeks in most counties, 8 to 12 in Dublin. Get council approval before the stairlift goes in, or there is no grant.
What a stairlift costs in 2026
- Straight stairlift: €2,200 to €5,000 fitted. One flight, no turns.
- Curved stairlift: €5,000 to €10,000 fitted. The rail is made to measure for the turn or landing, which is where the money goes.
- Outdoor stairlift: €3,500 to €6,500 fitted.
Servicing is €80 to €150 a year. Our stairlift guide covers the types, the brands sold here and how to choose.
The council has to approve the job and its cost before anything is bought or fitted. A stairlift bought first, new or second-hand, is not covered.
Two grants, and which one to use
Both come from the county council. Both need approval before the work starts. You cannot claim both for the same stairlift.
Mobility Aids Grant, up to €8,000
The quick one. For basic mobility work: stairlifts, grab rails, ramps, a level access shower. Household income must be €37,500 or less, after disregards and deductions. It can pay 100% of the cost the council approves, but not the VAT. Less paperwork, and most councils turn it round faster. For a straight stairlift in a normal house, this is the grant to ask for.
Housing Adaptation Grant, up to €40,000
The big one. For anything bigger than a stairlift, or where the stairlift is part of a wider job (stairlift plus bathroom, say), or where household income is above €37,500. It pays a percentage that falls as income rises:
| Gross household income (owner and spouse) | Share of approved cost paid | Maximum grant |
|---|---|---|
| Up to €37,500 | 100% | €40,000 |
| €37,501 to €43,750 | 85% | €34,000 |
| €43,751 to €50,000 | 75% | €30,000 |
| €50,001 to €62,500 | 50% | €20,000 |
| €62,501 to €75,000 | 30% | €12,000 |
| Over €75,000 | Not eligible | n/a |
Income is the owner's and spouse's gross income for the previous tax year. Not everyone in the house. A daughter living at home does not count against her mother.
A worked example
A couple in Kildare, both retired, joint income €33,000. Curved stairlift quoted at €6,800.
- Income is under €37,500, so the rate is 100%.
- The council sets the approved cost, say €6,800.
- Grant: €6,800. Cost to the family: the VAT on top, which the grant does not cover.
Same couple, income €48,000. Rate drops to 75%. Grant €5,100, family pays €1,700 plus the VAT. Still worth doing.
Revenue may refund the VAT on the stairlift itself for a person with a disability, through myAccount or on form VAT 61A. It does not refund VAT on labour or other services.
How to apply for a stairlift grant
Most councils ask for these things.
- The national application form for the three council home grants, from your council, signed.
- The Doctor's Certificate pages of the form, filled in, signed and stamped by your GP.
- An Occupational Therapist report recommending the stairlift. Mandatory for any stairlift. HSE or private, explained here.
- A written quote if your council asks for one. Some ask for two, and some set the cost from their own standard costs. How quotes work.
- Proof of income for the owner and spouse for the previous tax year: a Statement of Liability from Revenue, or a statement from the Department of Social Protection if welfare is the only income.
- Proof that Local Property Tax is paid, deferred or exempt, showing the owner's name and the address. This also shows who owns the house.
- Tax clearance if the grant is over €10,000 (unlikely for a stairlift alone).
Then the council technician visits and the council decides. The approval letter asks for your contractor's quote, their tax details and your bank details. Only then does the installer go ahead. The grant is paid into your own bank account when the job is finished.
Is there a HSE stair lift grant?
People search for one, and it is an easy mix-up. Stairlift grants in Ireland come from your county council, through the Mobility Aids Grant or the Housing Adaptation Grant. The HSE’s part is usually the occupational therapist assessment the council asks for.
The HSE does run an aids and appliances scheme for smaller equipment. For a stairlift, the application goes to the council.
County by county: how long it takes
This is the part the official pages will not tell you. The rules are national. The queue is local. These are the typical times from a complete application to a decision, from our county guides, not counting the OT wait.
Some councils have paused or limited new applications for now: Kildare, Louth, Offaly (reopening 1 February 2027), Cavan, Sligo and Monaghan. Check your council’s notice before you apply.
The OT report is the slow bit almost everywhere. By our own estimate, HSE community OT waits run from about 2 months in the North West and Midlands to 6 months in parts of Dublin and Galway. A private OT costs €250 to €450, reports inside two weeks, and if the grant is paid it refunds up to €300 of that, inside the grant limit. How to use the private route.
Three ways people lose the grant
- Fitting the stairlift first. No approval, no grant. Every council, every time. If a fall makes it urgent, ring the council and ask for an emergency assessment. Do not just buy it.
- No GP stamp on the Doctor's Certificate. Both grants need it. Without it the application is not complete, and the clock does not start.
- Applying in the wrong name. The application is in the name of the person with the mobility need, or the homeowner on their behalf. Not the son who is paying.
Sources, checked 21 October 2026: S.I. No. 612 of 2024; Mobility Aids Grant guidelines, December 2024; Housing Adaptation Grant guidelines, December 2024; the national application form; Citizens Information, Mobility Aids Grant; Revenue, VAT on aids and appliances; council notices from Kildare, Louth (report of 7 October 2026), Offaly, Cavan, Sligo, Monaghan.
Common questions
Is there a HSE stair lift grant?
Stairlift grants come from your county council, through the Mobility Aids Grant (up to €8,000) or the Housing Adaptation Grant (up to €40,000). The HSE usually provides the occupational therapist assessment the council asks for, and runs a separate scheme for smaller aids and appliances.
How much is the stairlift grant in Ireland?
Under the Mobility Aids Grant up to €8,000, under the Housing Adaptation Grant up to €40,000. With household income under €37,500 the council pays 100% of the approved cost of the stairlift.
Can I get a grant for a second-hand stairlift?
The national rules do not say. They do say that nothing can be bought or fitted before the council approves the works in writing, and that the council sets the cost it will pay. Ask your council what it will fund before you buy anything.
How long does a stairlift grant take?
Typically 5 to 9 weeks from a complete application in most counties, 6 to 10 in the larger ones, and 8 to 12 weeks in Dublin. The OT report wait comes on top of that.
Can I fit the stairlift and claim the grant afterwards?
No. The council must approve the application before the work starts. Work done before approval is not grant aided in any county.
See what the grant would pay for your stairlift
Put in the household income and the county. The free checker shows your tier, the likely grant and what is left to pay. Two minutes, no email needed.
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