David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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704. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policy with regard to registered PV installers subcontracting the installation, commissioning and signing off of the installation of TAMS aided PV solar systems to persons or companies not registered with his Department or with the SEAI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11532/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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A PV installer subcontracting the installation, commissioning and signing off of the installation of TAMS grant aided PV solar systems to persons or companies not registered with his Department invalidates the TAMS approval.

This is for individual installations and a TAMS grant will not be paid to the applicant. This is the case even where persons or companies are registered with the SEAI; my Department operates its own registered list independent of the SEAI registered list and it is a prerequisite that installers are on my Department's registered list in order to qualify the TAMS application for solar.

Safety of the facilities, both at installation phase and for subsequent use by the farmer is of paramount importance and this is evident in the various technical specifications, not least specification S198 - Minimum Specification for the Installation of Solar PV Systems. All relevant electrical and structural standards are prescribed in this specification.

Furthermore the solar PV installer is required to sign off on a testing and commissioning report that confirms that the system is ready for electricity generation in a safe manner in line with the latest electrical standards applicable. In addition, the provision of an ETCI certificate by a Safe Electric registered electrician for the works completed is required. This certification process monitors the quality of electrical work completed.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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705. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 662 of 24 January 2023, to outline the way in which the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland monitors his Department's registered solar PV installers as outlined in his response; the further role, if any, that the SEAI has in respect of TAMS grant aided solar PV installations on farm buildings especially in relation to safety and standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11533/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) does not monitor my Department's registered solar PV installers list per se, rather it monitors its own registered solar PV installers list. Effectively almost all of the companies and businesses on my Department’s registered list are also on the SEAI registered solar PV installers list.

The monitoring process employed by the SEAI on their approved list is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications.