Malcolm Byrne
Question:31. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide details of the community energy projects supported by his Department that were delivered in 2025. [4790/26]
View answerWednesday, 21 January 2026
Questions (31)
Written answers
The Government is fully supportive of community initiatives that encourage wider adoption of energy efficiency measures. My Department funds a number of supports and schemes administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) under which communities can be supported. These include:
• the Sustainable Energy Communities which supports communities, through local mentors and co-ordinators, on their decarbonisation journey and to undertake Energy Master Plans identifying energy projects in their local areas;
• the Community Energy Grant Scheme which provides funding for a range of improvements to existing buildings including insulation, heat pump systems, solar PV, energy-efficient lighting, and energy monitors, as well as other energy upgrades; and
• the Micro-generation Support Scheme which can provide support to community organisations for renewable installations.
Information on SEAI supported community grants can be found at: www.seai.ie/grants/community-grants. Furthermore, I note that the SEAI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that requests for scheme-specific information and queries can be addressed directly and promptly in line with the SEAI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is: pq@seai.ie.
My Department also supports local community groups through the Community Climate Action Programme administered by Community Climate Action Officers (CCAO) in our Local Authorities. The programme’s two strands support communities, large and small, rural and urban, to build low carbon communities in a considered and structured way. Community groups should contact the CCAO in their Local Authority for more information.