Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will outline any scheme administered by his Department whereby recipients of fuel allowance can have solar panels installed, either free of charge or heavily grant-aided. [46588/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides support to both domestic and non-domestic applicants in the form of grants to support solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations, available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Homes built prior to 2021 are eligible for the domestic solar PV grant, with further details available on www.seai.ie.

Recipients of the Fuel Allowance are eligible for free energy upgrades through the Warmer Homes Scheme, administered by the SEAI. The scheme seeks to reduce the amount of energy a household needs by reducing heat loss through the installation of insulation and ventilation in the first instance, before moving to replacing heating systems where required under Building Regulations. This is in line with the fabric first/energy efficiency first principle and best practice.

SEAI are currently piloting the installation of renewable technologies, mainly heat pumps, where a major renovation is taking place. The purpose of the pilot is to test the capabilities and the suitability of installing heat pumps in the context of energy poverty objectives for the Warmer Homes Programme. While Solar PV is not currently offered as a standard upgrade under the scheme, SEAI data indicates that in a small number of homes in the pilot, Solar PV has also been installed with a heat pump with the aim of providing further insights in relation to running costs and uptake. The learnings from piloting PV installations will also inform the approach to compliance with future changes to the Building Regulations for major renovations under the scheme.