Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2025
174. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the plans to reconsider the timeline a person must be registered with the ESB Networks Priority Services Register before being eligible for the SEAI Solar PV for medically vulnerable households scheme; the reason for this time period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55428/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted scheme for the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households who are registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies for example dialysis machines or respirators. As such, these households may have a higher energy demand than the average user and this scheme is designed to go some way towards helping to reduce those energy costs.
The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in conjunction with Energy Suppliers, with each Energy Supplier contacting their own eligible customers directly in line with the work plans for their Solar PV Installers. Eligible households can avail of a fully funded 2kWp solar PV system including survey/design, supply, installation, and the post works BER. Since the scheme became available, over 470 medically vulnerable homeowners have had installations completed by their supplier.
The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable scheme was designed in using the Households/MPRN’s on the Life Support Category of the Priority Services Register as maintained by ESBN at that time.
Due to the strong uptake and the positive impact already observed in over 470 homes, the scheme is now in the process of being extended to include as eligible all homeowners who are registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register with their energy supplier, regardless of when they were registered.
Energy suppliers will communicate this update to eligible customers in the coming weeks, as the eligibility criteria are revised, and qualifying homeowners are identified to benefit from the scheme.
