Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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293. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment to provide figures on the uptake of the low-cost loan scheme since it was rolled out in 2024, broken down by quarter, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23194/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In line with commitments in the Climate Action Plan and National Retrofit Plan, the Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was launched in April 2024. The scheme will play a crucial role in helping homeowners to invest in energy upgrades to make their homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills.

The scheme was developed by my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund.

Under this Government-backed €500 million scheme, which is the first of its kind for both Ireland and the EIB Group, homeowners can borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 at significantly lower interest rates to those currently on the market because of the combination of an EIB Group loan guarantee and a Government-funded interest rate subsidy.

PTSB was the first lender to join the scheme in April 2024, with AIB and Bank of Ireland joining in June. Avant Money (in partnership with An Post Money) launched under the scheme in February 2025 and seven credit unions from the Irish League of Credit Unions began offering loans in April 2025. Rates start from as low as 2.99% (pricing varies depending on the finance provider).

The Deputy may wish to note that as only one lender was operating under the scheme for the majority of quarter 2 (Q2) 2024, the uptake figures for Q2 have not been disclosed due to commercial sensitivity. Instead, cumulative figures for Q3 and Q4 of 2024 and Q1 of 2025 are provided as follows:

In light of the Programme for Government’s commitment to “Promote the €500 million Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme, offering low interest loans for home energy upgrades, from €5,000 to €75,000”, my Department is working closely with the SBCI and the SEAI to develop an enhanced marketing and communications campaign to boost awareness and drive additional uptake of the scheme in 2025 and beyond. Furthermore, with all 11 Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme lenders now on board, homeowners across the country will have convenient access to retrofit loans, allowing more choice and greater access to Government-backed, low-cost retrofit loans.