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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht – Questions on Policy or Legislation

Balcony solar panels

Summary

Deputy Gogarty suggested grants or discounts for balcony solar panels as a low-cost way to help households cut energy bills. The Taoiseach said he would raise the ideas with the Minister and agreed more should be done to encourage uptake.

We have had a discussion about the immediate measures needed to help with the fuel crisis. We have also talked about the longer term investment in the grid network. I am talking about a couple of quick wins. Yesterday the issue of plug-in solar, which would put it into the household, was referenced. I would like to add to that by talking about the solar panels that you can put on your balcony and use to charge your devices. There should be some sort of a discount on them, or some sort of a grant should be available, so people can save those little costs that add up over a period.

Second, in relation to EVs, at the moment a lot of newer estates do not have their own driveways. They are trying to put a cable underground. I have raised this before. It is massively more expensive to charge using these on-street chargers rather than using the domestic tariff. Could that be looked at in this context?

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I thank the Deputy for his constructive, low-hanging fruit-type ideas. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, in respect of those issues and how we can incentivise or trigger a greater uptake and utilisation of them.

On the EV question, something has to be done there.

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