Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his views on expanding the communities energy grant scheme to allow grants to be made available to community organisations and not-for-profit businesses who have very limited finances available to them to meet their costs under the scheme; his further views on making grants available to these organisations for standalone projects such as the installation of solar panels without the need for large projects to be undertaken; his views on whether allowing grants for standalone projects in this way would result in cost savings that could lead these organisations to be in a position to carry out larger-scale projects in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11938/21]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The SEAI Community Energy Grants Scheme funds community based partnerships to improve the energy efficiency of the building stock in their area. These partnerships can be between the public and private sectors, domestic and non-domestic sectors, commercial and not-for-profit organisations and energy suppliers.  By using an aggregated approach to retrofit, the scheme can deliver energy improvements more efficiently and cost effectively than might otherwise be possible.  In 2020, SEAI supported 25 projects under the Communities Energy Grant Scheme with total Government funding of €18.7 million offered. For 2021, the budget for the scheme has been expanded to €30 million.  A number of other improvements to the scheme were also introduced for the most recent call for projects including an increase in the maximum funding for projects, a longer period of time for projects to be delivered and a reduction in the evaluation period during the application process.  Not for profit/community based organisations can receive grants of up to 50% under the scheme, subject to State Aid rules as appropriate.  Further information is available here: https://www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants/. 

Given that the central priority for the scheme is building energy efficiency, projects are required to demonstrate a building fabric first approach as opposed to prioritising the installation of solar panels in isolation.  By supporting community organisations and not-for-profit businesses to become more energy efficient, the Scheme helps them to make savings  through lower energy bills. Action 30 of the Climate Action Plan commits to the delivery of a framework for micro-generation from renewable technologies, including solar PV, with a view to commencement of a support scheme in 2021 to ensure that people can generate electricity for their own use and sell excess electricity, if any, back to the grid, whilst ensuring principles of equity, self-consumption and energy efficiency first are incorporated.