William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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234. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there are plans to amend the eligibility criteria for the SEAI solar panel grant scheme to include residential properties built after 2020; if consideration has been given to extending the grant to households who were unable to install solar panels at the time of construction due to rising costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39648/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Domestic electricity micro-generation is supported by the Micro-generation Support Scheme (MSS). Grants are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) for domestic installations of solar PV, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 and are available to houses built and occupied prior to 2021.

Since the introduction of the MSS domestic grant in 2022, the MSS has gone strength to strength supporting more homes install solar PV. Since its launch in 2022 when over 10,000 homes received support, the Domestic Solar PV grant scheme has grown each year exceeding expectations with 22,214 and 28,000 homes receiving grant support in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

From 2022 to end of May 2025, 72,919 homes have received grants totalling €164.6m, resulting in over 396 MW installed and 83.2kt CO2 saved. The scheme supports households to reduce their energy use and in turn make savings on their energy bills. This high level of demand indicates that the scheme is working well and that not only have citizens recognised the significant benefits of investing in Solar PV, but that the solar pv industry and supply chain have adapted to the demands of our citizens.

The current scheme built on the success of a previous pilot version of the grant scheme. As part of the transition between schemes and in order to increase access to the new scheme; the eligibility criteria were changed from those houses built prior to 2011, to those built prior to 2021.

Targeting the grant scheme at older homes, maximizes emissions reductions and delivers energy savings for the widest range of homeowners possible, whilst also making the most efficient use of limited Exchequer funding for the scheme. There are no plans to change the building year requirement at this stage but grant eligibility will be kept under review, and changes to the scheme will be made when necessary.