Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment how many solar panels were installed under the warmer homes scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; how many were standard B2 or above; the post-retrofit BER of solar panels installed under the warmer homes scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46857/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme (WHS) delivers a range of energy efficiency measures free of charge to homeowners who receive certain welfare payments, which make them vulnerable to energy poverty. Delivering free energy upgrades to these households as quickly as possible is a top priority for my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

There are a number of home energy improvements offered as part of the scheme. The upgrades that will be recommended for a property will depend on many factors, including age, size, type and condition of the property. These can include:

• Attic insulation and appropriate ventilation,
• Wall insulation and appropriate ventilation – cavity wall, external wall or dry lining depending on the property,
• Secondary measures – lagging jackets, draughtproofing, energy efficient lighting,
• In certain circumstances: heating system replacements, window replacements where the wall is being insulated

Solar PV panels are not offered as a measure under the scheme. Supports for Solar PV panels are available under the dedicated domestic solar PV scheme, which offers grants of up to €2,400 to all homeowners in homes built before 2021.

A more detailed overview of the SEAI performance against annual targets on the residential and community energy efficiency schemes can be found in the recently published quarterly report, which can be found on the SEAI website: www.seai.ie/publications/SEAI-Retrofit-Quarterly-Report-Q2-2023.pdf

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Domestic Solar PV grant scheme under the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The scheme came into operation in February 2022 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme.

Since 2018, the SEAI has supported the installation of Solar PV systems for over 29,456 homes, with demand for the domestic Solar PV grant increasing significantly throughout 2022. As part of the transition between schemes, the minimum BER C3 requirement was removed and the eligibility of the homes was changed from those built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021.

Additionally, on the 5th of April 2023 the Government approved an amendment to Finance Bill 2023 to apply a zero percent VAT rate for the ‘Supply and installation of solar panels on domestic premises.”

The information requested is set out in the following table.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Domestic Solar PV grant scheme under the Government's Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS) is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

The grant is available to applicants who own houses built prior to 2021. The scheme came into operation in February 2022 and built on the success of the previous pilot version of the grant scheme. As part of the transition between schemes, the minimum BER C3 requirement was removed and the eligibility of the homes was changed from those built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021. Targeting the grant scheme at existing homes rather than new builds, ensures that the grants available through the SEAI maximize emission reductions and deliver energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible; whilst also ensuring efficient and effective use of exchequer funding.

The SEAI does not collect income details of applicants during the grant application process. Therefore, the average income of households which have received SEAI grant support for solar PV installation is not ascertainable.