New Solar PV Grant should be extended to all households – Rock

A Fine Gael TD has expressed concern relating to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) newly announced Solar PV Grant for homeowners.

Dublin North West TD, Noel Rock raised his concerns that owners of dwellings built and occupied after 2011 will not be eligible for this scheme.

Deputy Rock said: “I welcome yesterday’s announcement by Minister Denis Naughten of this new grant scheme which will encourage homeowners’ to install solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage systems in their properties. This is a positive step forward.

“However, I am concerned that homeowners in dwellings built and occupied after 2011 will be excluded from this scheme. We should be encouraging all of our citizens to transfer over to renewable energy sources.

“While I appreciate many new build houses are energy efficient and while we have seen progress in terms of new developments equipping their dwellings with solar panels, there is still a number of young families in dwellings post-2011 who don’t have solar panels and are now being excluded from this scheme.

“I think it is ridiculous that the houses with the most recent wiring, and already the most energy efficient on average, are being actively excluded from this improvement scheme,” continued Deputy Rock.

“I acknowledge that the scheme will be reviewed in six months’ time and I would call on the SEAI to review the eligibility process for this scheme at that time.

“We need to be taking the lead on the use of renewable energy and we need to be encouraging all of our citizens to make the switch over and ensuring an easy and stress free transition for all of those considering moving to renewable energy.“