124. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if he will provide details on the work of the national energy affordability taskforce in relation to the PV Solar medically vulnerable scheme. [59786/26]

The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households who are registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies such as dialysis machines and respirators. As such, these households may have a higher energy demand than the average user and this scheme is designed to go some way towards helping to reduce those energy costs.

The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in conjunction with energy suppliers, with each energy supplier contacting their own eligible customers directly, in line with the work plans for their solar PV installers. Eligible households can avail of a fully funded 2kWp solar PV system, including survey/design, supply, installation, and the post works BER.

Over 470 systems were installed under the scheme last year with expenditure of €2.8 million. The scheme has a budget allocation of €11.7 million for 2026, with 319 systems installed to end July this year.

The National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT) continues to work intensively on an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be submitted to Government in Q3 of this year. Publication of the Action Plan will follow approval by Government. This Action Plan will be focused on short, medium and longer term measures to support households and businesses in meeting their energy costs and will be built around 4 key pillars:

• addressing the price of energy;

• sustainable demand and enhancing flexibility;

• addressing energy poverty and customer protections; and

• energy affordability for businesses.

To facilitate this robust and coordinated cross-Government response, a number of NEAT subgroups have been established, bringing together officials from a wide range of Government Departments and Agencies. This includes a dedicated subgroup on energy poverty. A period of intensive engagement to refine options for consideration by the Taskforce is currently underway, with subgroups meeting on an ongoing basis. This will include consideration of potential actions in relation to existing targeted schemes.

This work is also being supported by structured engagement with relevant external stakeholders. This included a targeted stakeholder consultation session on tackling energy poverty.