Written answer
Solar Energy Guidelines
The Warmer Homes Scheme provides fully funded insulation and ventilation upgrades to low-income owner-occupiers, but solar PV is currently limited to a renewables pilot, reaching 133 homes by August 2026. The Government is reviewing further support through SEAI programmes and the forthcoming Energy Affordability Action Plan.
104. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment further to his recent comments to provide an update on any proposals under consideration by his Department to roll out solar panels and insulation grants to low-income households. [64485/26]
Comment on this
The Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people at risk of energy poverty by providing fully funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax revenues and the European Regional Development Fund.
The Warmer Homes Scheme is available to owner-occupied properties, based on the householder being in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection income supports. The scheme targets support to those on the lowest incomes who are living in the least efficient homes so that the resources available can have the greatest impact in addressing energy poverty.
The scheme follows a fabric-first approach, prioritising insulation and ventilation to reduce heat loss before replacing heating systems in line with building regulations and best practice. At present, solar PV is not offered as a standard upgrade under the scheme. However, the SEAI is piloting the installation of renewable technologies, including heat pumps and, in a small number of cases, solar PV where major renovations are taking place. As at end of August 2026, 133 Warmer Homes Scheme homes have received solar PV measures through the renewables pilot.
The renewables pilot is helping to assess the suitability of such technologies in the context of energy poverty. Measures available under the scheme are kept under ongoing review and my Department continues to work closely with the SEAI to ensure we maximise scheme output.
Homes built before 2011 are eligible for part-funded solar PV grants under separate SEAI programmes. We remain committed to ensuring that low-income households benefit from Ireland's renewable energy transition and will continue to explore how best to integrate solar and other technologies into our energy poverty programmes.
The cross-Government National Energy Affordability Taskforce (NEAT), chaired by my Department, was established June 2025 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 the increased uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades, in particular for lower-income households at risk of energy poverty, and the continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes in line with commitments in the Programme for Government. The Action Plan will be focused on short, medium and longer-term measures (including targeted measures) to support households and businesses to meet their energy costs.