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The Complete Irish Grants Guide 2026

80+ grants for Irish SMEs, charities, and community organisations. Organised by category, funding body, and amount. Updated April 2026.

80+
Grant schemes listed
12
Funding categories
€2B+
Total funding available

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🏢 LEO — Local Enterprise Office 7 schemes

LEO grants are administered through your local county enterprise board. Contact your local LEO office directly — most applications are open year-round but funding is limited.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Priming Grant Up to €150,000 Start-ups <18 months old Fewer than 10 employees; not funded by Enterprise Ireland; trading less than 18 months Details →
Business Expansion Grant Up to €150,000 Established micro-enterprises Trading >18 months; <10 employees; manufacturing or internationally traded services Details →
Feasibility Study Grant Up to €15,000 SMEs testing new ideas Covers market research, technical assessment, and IP registration costs Details →
Trading Online Voucher Up to €2,500 Businesses moving online <10 employees; <€2m turnover; trading >6 months; <€50k online sales Details →
Technical Assistance for Micro-Exporters (TAME) Up to €2,500 Micro-exporters First-time or expanding exporters; covers trade fairs, market research, translation Details →
Agile Innovation Fund Up to €50,000 Innovative SMEs Fast-track funding for product/process innovation; co-funded with company Details →
Women in Business Grant Up to €5,000 Female-led businesses Female majority ownership; covers mentoring, training, market development Details →

🚀 Enterprise Ireland 9 schemes

Enterprise Ireland supports Irish businesses with global ambitions. Most supports require a business plan and are competitive.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Competitive Start Fund (CSF) €50,000 High-potential start-ups Irish-based; international market potential; technology or innovation focus Details →
Innovation Voucher €5,000 SMEs seeking R&D expertise Work with Irish third-level institution on a business challenge; any sector Details →
HPSU Funding €250k–€1m+ High-potential start-ups Ambitious global growth target; Irish management team; market validation required Details →
R&D Fund (Large Projects) Up to €650,000 Established companies Significant R&D investment; must demonstrate commercialisation potential Details →
Lean Business Offer Up to €35,000 SMEs improving operations Lean process improvement programme; eligible for training and consultancy costs Details →
Market Discovery Fund Up to €35,000 Exporters entering new markets Existing Enterprise Ireland client; new market exploration; structured plan required Details →
Agile Innovation Fund Up to €300,000 Scaling companies Fast-track R&D; must have international market ambitions; 45–50% grant rate Details →
GreenStart Programme Up to €5,000 SMEs starting green journey Funded environmental review; covers consultant costs; baseline assessment Details →
Digital Transition Fund Up to €50,000 SMEs digitalising operations Established trading company; digital strategy plan; minimum €10k company co-fund Details →

⚡ SEAI — Energy Grants 4 schemes

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland funds energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for homes, businesses, and communities.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Business Energy Upgrade Grant Up to €1m Commercial buildings Energy audits, lighting, heating, insulation upgrades; registered SEAI contractor Details →
Solar PV Grant for Business Up to €162,600 SMEs & larger businesses Commercial solar panel installation; SEAI registered contractor required Details →
Better Energy Homes Scheme €3,500–€25,000 Homeowners Insulation, heat pumps, solar panels, window upgrades; occupying homeowners Details →
R&D Demonstration Fund €50k–€500k Research organisations Cleantech innovation; demonstration projects; collaborative applications preferred Details →

🧪 SFI, IDA & Research Funding 4 schemes

Science Foundation Ireland and IDA fund research, development, and scientific innovation at SME and enterprise level.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
SFI Frontiers for the Future €0.5m–€2m Research teams Irish academic/research institution; STEM-focused; transformative research potential Details →
SFI Industry Fellowship Programme Up to €120,000 Researchers & industry Transfer of academic knowledge to industry; secondment programme; 6–24 months Details →
IDA Ireland R&D Grant Up to €2.5m FDI companies in Ireland Foreign direct investors; qualifying R&D expenditure; job creation commitments Details →
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) €3m–€8m Industry-academic consortia Collaborative R&D; min 3 partners (2 industry, 1 academic); international scaling potential Details →

🤝 Community & Social Enterprise 8 schemes

POBAL, The Wheel, and government departments fund community development, social enterprise, and charitable organisations.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Social Enterprise Development Fund Up to €150,000 Social enterprises Registered social enterprise; trading for 2+ years; capacity-building focus Details →
Community Services Programme (CSP) Up to €19,033/person Community organisations Employment subsidy for disadvantaged communities; minimum 1 FTE; POBAL-managed Details →
LEADER Programme €5,000–€500,000 Rural businesses & communities Rural areas only; enterprise, tourism, community development; managed locally Details →
Dormant Accounts Fund Up to €250,000 Charities & community groups Economic, social, or educational disadvantage focus; competitive rounds; POBAL Details →
Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) Up to €190,000/yr National community & voluntary bodies National reach; charitable purpose; 3-year multi-annual support; DCEDIY Details →
Skillnet Ireland Training Networks Up to 50% subsidy SMEs across all sectors Join a Skillnet network for subsidised training; must be private-sector employer Details →
Skillnet Climate Ready Academy Fully subsidised Businesses in any sector Sustainability and climate training; open to all private-sector employees Details →
Knowledge Transfer Ireland Varies Businesses accessing HEI IP Technology licensing, spin-out support, collaborative research agreements Details →

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🎭 Arts, Culture & Heritage 3 schemes

The Arts Council and Creative Ireland fund artists, arts organisations, and cultural projects across Ireland.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Arts Council Project Award Up to €50,000 Artists & arts organisations Irish resident; defined project with outcomes; artistic merit assessed Details →
Creative Ireland Fund Varies Creative projects & organisations Cultural participation focus; local and national strands; annual calls Details →
Arts Council Agility Award Up to €10,000 Individual artists Irish-based practising artist; career development; reactive/fast-track strand Details →

🌳 Rural & Regional Development 6 schemes

Funding for rural regeneration, regional infrastructure, and community development in smaller towns and villages.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Rural Regeneration & Development Fund €0.5m–€5m Local authorities & communities Rural towns/villages under 10,000; economic/social renewal projects Details →
Urban Regeneration & Development Fund Up to €100m Local authorities Compact growth and brownfield regeneration in urban centres; NPF aligned Details →
Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund Up to €50,000 Homeowners & developers Vacant/derelict properties in towns; refurbishment for primary residence Details →
Western Development Commission Investment Fund €50k–€3m Western region businesses Connacht & Clare counties only; loans and equity; tourism, agri-food, tech Details →
Údarás na Gaeltachta Enterprise Support Varies Gaeltacht businesses Located in Gaeltacht areas; Irish-language business activity; job creation Details →
LEADER Programme €5k–€500k Rural businesses & community groups Rural areas only; applied through local action groups; broad eligibility Details →

🌾 Agriculture & Food 4 schemes

DAFM, Bord Bia, and Teagasc support Irish farmers, agri-food businesses, and food exporters.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
TAMS III (Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme) Up to 60% of costs Farmers Capital investment in farm buildings and equipment; registered herd number Details →
Bord Bia Marketing Assistance Programme Up to €40,000 Food & drink exporters Bord Bia client company; export-focused marketing activity; 50% grant rate Details →
Teagasc Collaborative Research Programme Varies Food & agri businesses Industry-Teagasc R&D collaboration; technology transfer focus Details →
Micro Enterprise Food Scheme Up to €50,000 Artisan & micro food producers Fewer than 10 employees; food production; through local LEO office Details →

🇪🇺 EU Programmes 6 schemes

EU programmes offer larger funding but require more complex applications. Many are competitive at European level.

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Horizon Europe — EIC Accelerator Up to €2.5m grant + €15m equity Innovative SMEs & start-ups Deep-tech or breakthrough innovation; EU-based company; full application required Details →
Horizon Europe — EIC Pathfinder Up to €4m Research teams & companies Visionary science with long-term commercial potential; consortium preferred Details →
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs Up to €1,400/month New & aspiring entrepreneurs Exchange programme with established EU entrepreneur; 1–6 months Details →
LIFE Programme (Climate & Environment) €0.5m–€5m Environmental organisations Climate action, nature, or circular economy projects; EU consortium possible Details →
COSME / Single Market Programme Varies SMEs Access to finance and market support for EU SMEs; channelled through EEN Ireland Details →
Interreg Cross-Border Programmes €50k–€2m Cross-border organisations Ireland-Northern Ireland-Scotland programme; community and enterprise projects Details →

💰 Tax Incentives & Credits 4 schemes

These are tax reliefs rather than direct grants — consult a tax advisor to ensure you claim correctly.

Incentive Name Benefit Who It's For Key Details Link
R&D Tax Credit (Section 766) 25–30% of R&D spend Companies with R&D activity Qualifying expenditure on scientific/technological R&D; payable credit available Details →
Employment Investment Incentive (EII) Up to 40% income tax relief Investors in Irish SMEs Invest in unquoted Irish company; hold shares 4+ years; Revenue approval required Details →
Key Employee Engagement Programme (KEEP) CGT vs income tax on options Qualifying SMEs & employees Share options taxed at CGT (33%) instead of income tax; SME criteria apply Details →
Start-Up Relief for Entrepreneurs (SURE) Up to 41% income tax refund Employees starting businesses Invest tax relief on starting a new company; refund of income tax paid in prior years Details →

🏖️ Tourism & Hospitality 2 schemes

Grant Name Amount Who It's For Key Eligibility Link
Fáilte Ireland Business Supports Varies by scheme Tourism businesses Registered tourism business; capital and marketing supports; regional specific Details →
Tourism Product Development Scheme Up to €200,000 Tourism attractions & experiences New or enhanced visitor experience; Fáilte Ireland approval; match funding required Details →

🏛️ Public Tenders & Contracts 6 portals

These are tender portals where Irish public bodies publish procurement opportunities. Unlike grants, you win by submitting the best tender response — not by applying for funding.

Portal / Buyer Annual Value Who Publishes Key Info Link
eTenders.gov.ie (OGP) €12B+ annually All government departments Main Irish public procurement portal; free registration; thousands of active tenders Details →
HSE Health Services Tenders €3B+ annually HSE and health agencies Health and social care procurement; medicines, equipment, services Details →
Local Authority Framework Agreements Varies 31 local councils Construction, maintenance, professional services; often open to regional SMEs Details →
Education Procurement (ETBs & HEIs) €500m+ annually ETBs, universities, IoTs IT, facilities, professional services, research; Education Procurement Service Details →
Defence Forces Procurement Varies Department of Defence Equipment, logistics, maintenance, professional services; security clearances required for some Details →
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) €1B+ annually TII — roads and light rail Civil engineering, consultancy, maintenance contracts; major infrastructure projects Details →

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Disclaimer: Grant details are correct to the best of our knowledge as of April 2026. Schemes open and close frequently — always verify eligibility and deadlines directly with the funding body before applying. TenderAI is not responsible for changes to funding availability.