Housing Adaptation Grant Dublin 2026: stairlift and bathroom grants up to €40,000 from your Dublin council
Last updated: 12 October 2026 · For all four Dublin local authorities
Dublin residents have access to the same two State grant schemes as the rest of Ireland, the Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and the Housing Adaptation Grant for People with a Disability, but applications are processed by one of four Dublin local authorities depending on your address. This page covers all four, with the contact details and what's specific to applying in Dublin.
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See your plan first, free: the grant that fits, what your council would pay at your income, and how long it takes. If it looks right, get your kit and a person prepares your whole application within one working day.
Your complete grant kit
€44.99 one-off, VAT included
- Your council form: Dublin City Council's filled in for you, and for Fingal, South Dublin and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown every answer laid out ready to copy across
- A supporting statement setting out why the work is needed
- A prep sheet for the occupational therapist visit
- Quote request emails, ready to send
- Your checklist, a timeline with real dates, a chase letter and an appeal letter
- Checked by a person before it is sent
You only pay if the plan looks right, and there is a 14-day money-back promise. See exactly what is in the kit. We never ask for your PPS number, your income figures or any documents.
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We cannot promise any council will approve a grant. What we promise is that your application is complete, on time and with nothing left vague.
Dublin grant, quick facts
- Maximum grant: €40,000 (Housing Adaptation) or €8,000 (Mobility Aids)
- Income cap: €75,000 (HAG) / €37,500 (Mobility Aids)
- Submission method: Varies by council. South Dublin also takes applications online (Housing Online). Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown by post to the addresses below. Dublin City publishes no return address, so ring Home Grants on 01 222 2195 first. Full table.
- Processing time in Dublin: the national target is a decision within six weeks of a complete, valid application. South Dublin’s six-week approval window starts on the date it receives a fully completed application, including income evidence, Local Property Tax proof and architect drawings where needed. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown says it makes every effort to issue a provisional approval within six weeks of a fully completed and valid application. The others publish no time of their own.
- OT report: needed for a stairlift or through-floor lift, a fixed hoist, an extension or a big change to how a room is used. Most councils can arrange an assessment after they get your application, but not all. South Dublin County Council asks for an OT report for all Housing Adaptation work and most Mobility Aids work (not for replacing or repairing a stairlift, or for grab rails), and it does not supply OTs. If you pay a private OT and the grant is paid, the council pays back up to €300 of the fee as part of the grant, not on top of it (for the Mobility Aids Grant, only where the council decides the assessment was needed).
- Apply to: Dublin City, Fingal, South Dublin, or Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, depending on your address
Which Dublin council do you apply to?
Dublin is divided into four local authority areas. Use the address rule below, your Eircode determines which council handles your application.
| Council | Area covered | Eircodes start with |
|---|---|---|
| Dublin City Council | Dublin 1 to 13, 15 (city centre and inner suburbs) | D01 to D13, D15 |
| Fingal County Council | Swords, Malahide, Howth, Balbriggan, Skerries, Lusk, Blanchardstown | D11, D13, D15, K-codes (north Dublin) |
| South Dublin County Council | Tallaght, Lucan, Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Templeogue | D14, D16, D22, D24 |
| Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council | Dún Laoghaire, Stillorgan, Blackrock, Dundrum, Cabinteely | A-codes (south Dublin coast) |
If unsure, enter your Eircode at finder.eircode.ie, the result confirms your local authority.
How to apply in Dublin, step by step
- Identify your council using the table above.
- Check whether you need an OT report. You need one for a stairlift or through-floor lift, a fixed hoist, an extension or a big change to how a room is used (for the Mobility Aids Grant, only a stairlift or fixed hoist). Ask your GP or public health nurse for an HSE occupational therapist referral early, or use a private OT. If you pay a private OT and the grant is paid, the council pays back up to €300 of the fee as part of the grant, not on top of it (for the Mobility Aids Grant, only where the council decides the assessment was needed). Most councils can arrange an assessment after they get your application, but not all. South Dublin County Council asks for an OT report for all Housing Adaptation work and most Mobility Aids work (not for replacing or repairing a stairlift, or for grab rails), and it does not supply OTs.
- Check what the council wants on quotes. South Dublin County Council does not require quotations for certain works, and prices them from its own standardised costing. Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown and Fingal use the national form, which asks for no set number: after approval, the council asks for information from the contractor doing the work, such as a quote and their tax reference number.
- Download the application form from your council's website (links below).
- Submit: the form (with the Doctor’s Certificate signed and stamped by your GP, for the Housing Adaptation or Mobility Aids Grant), proof of income for the previous tax year for the owner and their spouse or partner (a Revenue Statement of Liability, not a P60, plus a Department of Social Protection payment statement for payments that are not on it, such as Disability Allowance or Fuel Allowance), proof that Local Property Tax is paid, deferred or exempt for all years, with the owner’s name and the address, and an OT report if the work needs one. If the grant comes to €10,000 or more you will also need tax clearance from Revenue, which the council asks for after approval. Fingal also asks for written confirmation from your contractors that they will follow the OT’s or HSE specification, drawings for building work and its bank details form. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown asks for copies only.
- Wait for written approval. The national target is a decision within six weeks of a complete application. South Dublin’s six-week approval window starts on the date it receives a fully completed application, including income evidence, Local Property Tax proof and architect drawings where needed. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown says it makes every effort to issue a provisional approval within six weeks of a fully completed and valid application. Do not start works.
- Have works carried out after approval. Submit completion documents to receive payment.
Steps, documents, quotes and OT reports: national application form, South Dublin County Council, national guidelines, December 2024, checked 12 October 2026.
Dublin council application details
Dublin City Council
- Dublin City Council publishes no return address for these forms. Ring or email Housing - Home Grants to confirm where to send it before you post it. The council’s headquarters are the Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8, D08 RF3F
- Home Grants: 01 222 2195
- Email: homegrants@dublincity.ie
- Public counters are by appointment only
- Grants page: dublincity.ie
Fingal County Council
- Send to: Housing Grants, Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 (the address on the council’s form; the Swords address on its bank details page is for Accounts Payable, not applications)
- Grants line on the form: 01 890 5587
- Email, for questions: housinggrants@fingal.ie
- Grants page: fingal.ie
South Dublin County Council
- Apply online through Housing Online, or post the form to: Private Housing Grants, South Dublin County Council, Housing Department, County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 A3XC
- Grants team: 01 414 9373 (9am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm; lines close at 4.30pm on Fridays)
- Email, for questions: hgrants@sdublincoco.ie
- Grants page: sdcc.ie
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council
- Send to: Private Grants Section, Housing Department, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, County Hall, Marine Road, Dún Laoghaire, Co. Dublin, A96 K6C9
- Send copies only: the council shreds the documents it receives
- Grants line: 01 205 4847 (the grants page gives the main number, 01 205 4700)
- Email, for questions: housinggrants@dlrcoco.ie
- Grants page: dlrcoco.ie
Addresses, phone numbers and emails checked on Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council pages and application forms on 12 October 2026. Confirm with the council before posting anything.
Dublin council grants for pensioners, stairlifts and bathrooms
When people look for Dublin City Council grants for the elderly, or the Dublin City Council housing adaptation grant, they usually mean three grants. Dublin City, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and South Dublin councils each run all three, and each takes all three on one application form.
- Housing Aid for Older People: up to €10,700 for homeowners aged 66 or over, for essential repairs and improvements such as heating, windows or rewiring.
- Mobility Aids Grant: up to €8,000 for a stairlift, grab rails, a ramp or a level-access shower, for household incomes up to €37,500.
- Housing Adaptation Grant: up to €40,000 for bigger work such as a through-floor lift, a downstairs bathroom or an extension, for household incomes up to €75,000.
These are also what people mean by home improvement grants for pensioners, or grants for disabled adaptations, in Dublin. There is no separate HSE stair lift grant in Dublin. The council pays the grant, and the HSE’s part is usually the occupational therapist report.
How long it takes in Dublin
The national guidelines ask councils to decide within six weeks of receiving a fully completed and valid application. That is a target, not a deadline, and the clock starts only when nothing is missing: a council sends back an application that is missing key documents, with a checklist. South Dublin’s six-week approval window starts on the date it receives a fully completed application, including income evidence, Local Property Tax proof and architect drawings where needed. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown says it makes every effort to issue a provisional approval within six weeks of a fully completed and valid application. We found no processing time on the other councils’ pages (checked 12 October 2026).
If the work needs an occupational therapist report (a stairlift or through-floor lift, a fixed hoist, an extension or a big change to how a room is used), ask your GP or public health nurse for the referral early, and ask how long the wait is: we found no official waiting times for these assessments. If you pay a private OT and the grant is paid, the council pays back up to €300 of the fee as part of the grant, not on top of it (for the Mobility Aids Grant, only where the council decides the assessment was needed). South Dublin County Council asks for an OT report for all Housing Adaptation work and most Mobility Aids work (not for replacing or repairing a stairlift, or for grab rails), and it does not supply OTs. Order nothing until the council approves in writing: work started before approval is not paid for.
Getting the application form
Each Dublin council has its own version of the form on its website, under housing grants. You apply to the council for the area you live in, and your Eircode settles it. Our guide to the housing adaptation grant application form shows what each section asks for and what to have ready before you start.
What's different about applying in Dublin
- Older housing stock. Many Dublin homes have narrow staircases or cottage-style stairs that need a curved or slimline stairlift. Tell your installer the staircase width, under 700mm needs a slim model.
- Apartment access. If you live in a managed apartment, you'll need the management company's written consent before any structural works. Some buildings refuse platform lifts on shared common areas.
- Send a complete application. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown returns applications missing key information and shreds the documents it receives, so send copies only. South Dublin’s six-week window starts only when the application is complete.
FAQs, Dublin specifically
Which Dublin council do I apply to for a stairlift grant?
Apply to the local authority covering your home address: Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council, or Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. Each runs the same national Mobility Aids Grant Scheme and Housing Adaptation Grant.
How long does the Dublin stairlift grant take?
The national guidelines ask councils to decide within six weeks of receiving a fully completed and valid application. South Dublin’s six-week approval window starts on the date it receives a fully completed application, including income evidence, Local Property Tax proof and architect drawings where needed. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown says it makes every effort to issue a provisional approval within six weeks of a fully completed and valid application. The others publish no time of their own. A stairlift also needs an occupational therapist report, so ask your GP for the OT referral early, or use a private OT. If you pay a private OT and the grant is paid, the council pays back up to €300 of the fee as part of the grant, not on top of it (for the Mobility Aids Grant, only where the council decides the assessment was needed).
Can I apply if I rent in Dublin?
Yes, private tenants can apply with the property owner's written consent. Local-authority tenants apply directly to the council under a separate housing scheme. Approved Housing Body tenants apply to the council too, with the AHB's written permission.
Are private OT assessments worth it in Dublin?
It depends on the wait, and we found no published HSE waiting times for these OT assessments, so ask your local HSE OT service how long it is. If you use a private OT and the grant is paid, the council pays back up to €300 of the fee as part of the grant, inside the grant maximum, not on top of it. South Dublin County Council does not supply OTs and asks for a report with most applications.
What if I live in an apartment?
Stairlifts inside an apartment unit are generally fine. Stairlifts on shared common areas (e.g., communal staircases) require management-company consent and are sometimes refused. Through-floor lifts inside the apartment are possible but require structural surveyor sign-off.
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