139. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will review the eligibility criteria of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s micro-generation support scheme, which currently restricts grant support for domestic solar PV installations to homes built and occupied prior to 2021; if he will consider extending eligibility to newly constructed domestic dwellings in view of evidence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55546/26]

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) provides grant support of up to €1,800 for domestic solar PV installations. Grants are available to support installations to houses built and occupied prior to 2021.

Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in 2022, the scheme has gone from strength to strength. 10,000 homes received support in 2022 followed by over 22,000 in 2023, and over 28,000 in 2024. Last year, over 33,000 installations were supported. This has continued into 2026 with over 26,000 applications for the Solar PV Scheme received by the SEAI and over 15,000 installations to end June 2026.

The current scheme built on the success of a previous pilot version of the grant scheme. As part of the transition between schemes, the eligibility criteria were changed from those houses built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021. This increased the number of homes eligible for grant support.

New build homes must follow Part L of the Building Regulations which relates to the energy performance of buildings requirements. Solar PV can help meet these requirements, but they can also be achieved through use of other measures such as heat pumps and solar heating. The homeowner can decide how best to meet these standards. The cost of installing solar PV systems during the new build process is significantly lower than for existing homes. As set out previously, targeting the grant scheme at older homes makes the most efficient use of limited Exchequer funding.

The Deputy may wish to note that new homes can obtain a zero percent VAT rate for the supply and installation of solar panels. This is a permanent change that came into effect from 1 May 2023. This measure underlines the Government’s commitment to help households save money on their energy bills.

The cross-Government National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT), chaired by my Department, was established in June of last year to identify and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households and businesses. The first report of the NEAT, published last November, helped to inform key aspects of Budget 2026 including new measures to further support householders contained in the National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026.

The NEAT is now working intensively to prepare an Energy Affordability Action Plan. This work includes examining how to support increased uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades, in particular for lower-income households at risk of energy poverty, and continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes in line with commitments in the Programme for Government. The Action Plan will be focused on measures to support households and businesses to meet their energy costs and will be submitted to Government in Q3 2026.