Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a breakdown can be provided, by county, on the uptake of the home energy upgrade loan scheme in its first year of operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30064/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was launched in April 2024. The scheme is intended to play a crucial role in helping homeowners 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.

The scheme is available nationwide. PTSB was the first lender to join 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).

Loan uptake reached 355 by end Q1 2025. The Deputy may wish to note that as uptake figures in certain counties mean that it could be possible to identify individual homeowners, county figures have not been disclosed. Instead, uptake figures by region are provided as follows:

In line with 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 continues to work closely with the SBCI, the SEAI and the participating finance providers to increase awareness of and demand for the scheme and drive additional uptake in 2025 and beyond.