33. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of grants paid per local authority to householders for solar panels, either on their own or as part of a wider retrofit of domestic dwellings; the total reduction of greenhouse gases estimated to be achieved by this roll out to date; the further steps to be taken to increase the number of solar panels on domestic dwellings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38656/24]

Solar PV panels are installed under a number of scenarios and are supported under a number of Department funded and Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) administered schemes.

Supports for Solar PV panels are available under the dedicated domestic solar PV scheme, which currently offers grants of up to €2,100 to all homeowners in homes built before 2021, as well as the Community Energy Grants Scheme and the One Stop Shop (OSS) Service.

The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was launched in February 2022 to support up to 380 MW of new micro-generation by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan 21 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme. The domestic scheme has proved enormously successful since its launch, and further aided by the Government decision to apply a zero percent VAT rate for the ‘Supply and installation of solar panels, since May 2023.

The success of the MSS has resulted in a saving of 68.4kt CO2e

The table below sets out the number of grants paid per local authority area :