Last updated: September 2026
Searching for a boiler replacement grant in Ireland brings thousands of people to a frustrating discovery: there is no SEAI grant for replacing a gas or oil boiler, and there hasn't been for years. But that is not the end of the story. Depending on your situation, there is up to €12,500 for switching to a heat pump, up to €10,700 for over-66s through the local authority, a €700 heating controls grant that works with your existing boiler, and a route to completely free heating upgrades for qualifying households. This guide lays out what actually exists in 2026, what each option costs and covers, and what to do if you just need working heat this winter.
⚡ Quick Summary
🌿 No boiler grant: the SEAI does not fund new gas or oil boilers, and the free Warmer Homes Scheme stopped installing them in January 2025.
🌿 The big alternative: up to €12,500 towards a heat pump - installation, radiators/pipework and a renewable heat bonus.
🌿 Over 66? The Housing Aid for Older People grant pays up to €10,700 - it can fund boiler repair (not new fossil boilers) and alternative heating.
🌿 Keeping your boiler? The €700 heating controls grant cuts gas/oil use by making your existing system smarter.
🌿 On a qualifying welfare payment? The Warmer Homes Scheme provides free heating upgrades, including heat pumps.
🌿 Paying yourself: a new gas boiler runs roughly €1,500-€3,500 installed; oil €2,000-€4,000.
🚫 The Straight Answer: No Oil or Gas Boiler Replacement Grant Exists
Government policy is to move Irish homes off fossil-fuel heating, not subsidise new fossil-fuel appliances - which is why grant money flows to heat pumps, insulation and solar instead. The shift is now consistent across every scheme: the SEAI's individual grants exclude boilers, and since January 2025 even the fully-funded Warmer Homes Scheme no longer installs oil or gas boilers, fitting renewable systems instead.
A new boiler can still be the right practical choice for some homes - but you will be paying for it yourself, so it is worth knowing every alternative first.
💨 The Big Alternative: Up to €12,500 for a Heat Pump
If your boiler is on its way out, the State will pay a substantial share of replacing it with a heat pump. Since February 2026 the SEAI heat pump grant has three parts:
🌿 Up to €6,500 for the heat pump installation itself
🌿 Up to €2,000 for radiator and pipework upgrades
🌿 €4,000 renewable heat bonus when you remove fossil-fuel heating
A full air-to-water heat pump system typically costs €8,500 to €18,000 installed, so the grant covers a large slice - and running costs are lower than oil for most homes. One catch: your home needs to be reasonably well insulated to qualify (a Heat Loss Indicator of 2.3 or better, or attic and walls rated "Good" on your BER Advisory Report). Our heat pump guide covers the whole process, and our attic and wall insulation guides show the grants for getting the fabric right first.
👵 Over 66? The Grant Nobody Mentions
The Housing Aid for Older People grant - run by local authorities, not the SEAI - helps homeowners aged 66 and over living in poor housing conditions, and heating is one of the things it covers. In 2026:
🌿 Maximum grant: €10,700, covering up to 100% of the cost of works
🌿 It can pay to repair an existing oil or gas boiler (by a qualified contractor) - though since January 2025 it cannot fund a new fossil-fuel boiler
🌿 It can fund alternative heating such as electric or renewable systems
🌿 Means-tested by household income: 100% covered up to €37,500 a year, tapering to 30% at €62,501-€75,000; above €75,000 no grant
🌿 Apply through your local authority - forms are on gov.ie and county council websites
Details and forms: Citizens Information.
🆓 Free Heating Upgrades: The Warmer Homes Route
If you receive a qualifying welfare payment (Fuel Allowance is the most common) and your home was built before 2006, the SEAI's Warmer Homes Scheme will carry out recommended energy upgrades completely free - including renewable heating systems where suitable. It will not install a new boiler, but a free heat pump plus insulation beats a paid-for boiler in both comfort and running costs. The waiting list is long (up to 24 months), so apply early.
🔧 If You Just Need a Working Boiler
Sometimes the honest answer is: fix or replace the boiler, self-funded, and take the supports that do exist around it.
🌿 Typical replacement cost: gas €2,200-€4,000 installed; oil €2,800-€5,000 - see our boiler replacement cost guide for the full 2026 breakdown. A modern condensing boiler is meaningfully more efficient than a 15-year-old unit. Oil users should also see our heating oil prices guide and the HVO renewable fuel option.
🌿 Claim the €700 heating controls grant: thermostatic radiator valves, zoned heating, a programmable timer and boiler interlock typically cut fuel use by 10-20% - and this SEAI grant works with your existing boiler.
🌿 Insulate first: a smaller heat demand means a smaller bill whatever heats the house - the insulation grants are the best-funded of all.
🌿 Service annually: a €80-€120 service protects efficiency and catches faults before mid-winter. Our gas boiler service guide covers what a service should include and what it costs.
🧭 Boiler or Heat Pump: How to Decide
🌿 Boiler is failing and the house is poorly insulated: repair or replace the boiler now, use the insulation grants, and plan the heat pump for when the fabric is ready.
🌿 Boiler is failing and the house is well insulated: the €12,500 grant makes this the moment to switch - you will likely never get a bigger push.
🌿 Boiler works but is old: add the €700 controls now, insulate, and switch on your own schedule.
🌿 Over 66 on a modest income: look at Housing Aid for Older People before spending anything.
🌿 On Fuel Allowance: apply to the Warmer Homes Scheme first - the upgrade is free.
Your BER Advisory Report is the best €50 you can spend on this decision: it tells you exactly what your home needs and in what order. Our retrofitting guide covers sequencing in detail.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
🌿 Paying for "grant-assisted" boilers: if a salesperson mentions a boiler grant, walk away - there isn't one, and reputable installers know it.
🌿 Replacing like-for-like in a panic: a mid-winter breakdown pushes people into same-day decisions; a repair often buys you time to choose properly.
🌿 Skipping the controls grant: €700 towards controls is the one support that works with the boiler you already have - and it is one of the least-claimed grants.
🌿 Fitting a heat pump into a leaky house: without decent insulation it will underperform and cost more to run - fabric first.
🌿 Missing the age-based route: families often fund a parent's boiler crisis without checking the €10,700 Housing Aid grant their parent may be entitled to.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🔹 Is there a boiler replacement grant in Ireland?
No. The SEAI does not offer grants for new gas or oil boilers in 2026. Supports exist instead for heat pumps (up to €12,500), heating controls (€700), insulation, and - for over-66s - the €10,700 Housing Aid for Older People grant.
🔹 Is there an oil boiler replacement grant in Ireland?
No - and the same applies to gas. The SEAI does not fund a like-for-like oil boiler replacement, a condensing upgrade or an HVO conversion. What it does fund is getting off oil: the heat pump grant includes a €4,000 Renewable Heat Bonus specifically for homes replacing an oil, gas or solid-fuel system, taking the total to €12,500. If you are staying on oil, the €700 heating controls grant is the only support, and the boiler itself is self-funded.
🔹 Can pensioners get a free boiler in Ireland?
Not a new fossil-fuel boiler. Over-66s on lower incomes can get up to €10,700 through Housing Aid for Older People, which can fund boiler repair or alternative heating. Those on Fuel Allowance can get free heating upgrades (heat pumps, not boilers) via the Warmer Homes Scheme.
🔹 How much is the heat pump grant?
Up to €12,500: €6,500 for the heat pump, €2,000 for radiators/pipework and a €4,000 renewable heat bonus for removing fossil-fuel heating.
🔹 How much does a new boiler cost in Ireland?
Roughly €1,500-€3,500 installed for gas and €2,000-€4,000 for oil, depending on the model, flue work and system flush.
🔹 Does the Warmer Homes Scheme replace boilers?
Not any more - it stopped installing oil and gas boilers in January 2025. Where heating is upgraded, it installs renewable systems such as heat pumps, free of charge for qualifying households.
🔹 What is the heating controls grant?
An SEAI grant of up to €700 towards zoned heating, thermostatic radiator valves, timers and boiler interlock - it works with your existing boiler and typically cuts fuel use by 10-20%.
📚 Related Guides
🌿 SEAI Grants
🌿 Home Improvement Grants
🌿 Warmer Homes Scheme
🌿 Windows & Doors Grant
🌿 Vacant Property Grant
🌿 Electric Car Grant
🌿 Home Energy Upgrade Loan
🌿 Retrofitting
👉 All guides and calculators
Climate Jargon Buster is an independent resource providing plain-English information on climate, energy and sustainability topics for an Irish audience. Costs are indicative and vary by home and installer; grant amounts are correct as of August 2026 and are set by the SEAI and local authorities. For official grant terms and to find a registered contractor, visit seai.ie. This site is not affiliated with SEAI - always check the official website for current figures.