Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if consideration will be given to amending the current eligibility criteria for solar PV grants (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54910/25]

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department will review the current eligibility criteria for the solar PV grant scheme, in particular the stipulation that the applicant must be the owner of the home built and occupied before 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54911/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together.

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 from 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 exceeding expectations each year with 22,214 and 28,000 homes receiving grant support in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

From 2022 to end of August 2025, over 90,000 homes have received grants totalling €196.7m, resulting in over 450 MW installed and 93.2kt 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.