Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2026
27. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment the breakdown of the €930 million provided to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29180/26]
View answerSEAI is key to informing, supporting, implementing, and delivering Government energy policy and the Climate Action Plan. The programmes administered by SEAI have a major impact on the Irish economy through home and community energy upgrades, business supports, research and innovation funding, and Electric Vehicle (EV) grants. SEAI has also been designated as the National Retrofit Delivery Body. In this role, the SEAI act as the lead agency in driving the delivery of Ireland’s residential retrofit targets.
SEAI was allocated €783.677 million of Exchequer funding through my Department's Vote in 2026. This included €733.531 Capital and €50.146 million Current. This includes a Capital carryover of €77.011 million.
The Residential and Community Retrofit programme has a capital budget of €641.011 million. This programme area includes the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme which offers free energy upgrades for eligible homeowners who are most at risk of energy poverty, the Better Energy Homes programme which is open to all homeowners and aims to make homes more energy efficient, Solar PV schemes, the Community Energy Grant scheme which supports projects at a community level, and the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme which provides capital grant support to private households and registered Housing Associations who wish to participate in delivering a “One Stop Shop” service for energy upgrade works.
The Other Efficiency Programmes area accounts for €63.5 million of the capital allocation. This programme area supports commercial and public sector energy efficiency initiatives, including the Pathfinder programme, Business Energy Efficiency, Support Scheme for Renewable Heat and EXEED.
An additional €29.106 million of non-Exchequer funding was approved for this programme area. This is detailed in the attached document.
Energy Research Programmes accounts for €27 million of the capital allocation. This programme area supports Renewable Energy Research, Development & Deployment, District Heating and Ocean Energy Development amongst other energy research programmes.
SEAI also receives funding from the Department of Transport for the Electric Vehicles Grant Scheme which is not included here.
A breakdown of the 2026 Current and Capital allocation is attached.
