Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 December 2025
37. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to establish a retrospective or exceptional circumstances mechanism to provide reimbursement or partial compensation to Priority Services Register households who installed solar PV systems at their own expense before receiving notification of their eligibility for the free Government-funded scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67825/25]
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 such as dialysis machines or respirators. As a result, 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 Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme was designed in 2022 using the Households/MPRNs on the Life Support Category of the Priority Services Register as maintained by ESB Networks at that time. The scheme became operational in February 2023 when suppliers were invited to participate. 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 2 kWp solar PV system including survey/design, supply, installation, and the post works BER.
The scheme is not designed to be retrospective and is to supply a new installation to a property that did not previously have solar PV, directly installed. There is no mechanism to provide payments to homeowners under this scheme.
