Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy and understand the merits of the question on affordability and the challenges people may encounter when building homes. However, the grant eligibility for solar PV is very much focused on older homes where the need is greatest. Many homes built since 2021 must comply, as I said in my earlier contribution, with Part L of the building regulations and require high energy performance. Many builders have included heat pumps or solar PV during construction. Indeed, it reduces the overall installation cost because if it is not included in a new build, the costs will be greater compared to retrofitting. We are very much focused on older buildings and, therefore, newer buildings already have a higher energy efficiency than others.

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