Preasráitis

Applications for Home Energy Upgrades up 96% so far in 2026 – Minister O'Brien

Ó: An Roinn Aeráide, Fuinnimh agus Comhshaoil
Foilsithe: 21 Aibreán 2026
An t-eolas is déanaí: 21 Aibreán 2026

Applications for individual home energy upgrades are up 186% on Q1 2025; overall applications are up 96%
Minister O'Brien has updated Cabinet colleagues on a very significant ramp-up in interest in Home Energy Upgrades
New National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026 phased in a host of new, more affordable measures – 7,000 have already applied for windows and doors grants
Data for the first quarter of this year from SEAI shows a very positive upward trend – in both demand and output. 73,000 upgrades are targeted this year

Today, Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O'Brien brought a Memo for Information to government – to provide an update to Cabinet colleagues on the National Residential Retrofit Plan (announced in January of this year). The Programme for Government committed to take decisive action to provide warmer, more comfortable homes, as part of our drive to support energy affordability, security, and sustainability. The new National Residential Retrofit Plan was designed to deliver on this commitment – making home energy upgrades more affordable, and accessible to many more homeowners.

In Budget 2026, the government provided a record allocation of €640 million, allowing us to target 73,000 home energy upgrades this year. The latest data from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) shows that we are delivering on this increased ambition. The data also shows that the retrofit sector is mobilising and responding to growing interest in home energy upgrades, underpinned by government-funded SEAI grant support.

The almost doubling of applications so far in 2026 (year-on-year) means that SEAI processed 29,000 applications from January to March. Among the most noteworthy increases are the following:

over 7,000 applications for window and door upgrades (new grant)
over 1,730 applications for attic insulation (up 81% year on year)
over 1,000 applications for cavity wall insulation (up 62% year on year)
over 350 applications for heat pump installations (up 95% year on year)

Over a quarter of a million Home Energy Upgrades since 2019

Since 2019, over a quarter of a million (257,000) Home Energy Upgrades have been delivered since 2019, thanks to government funding of over €1.7 billion.

Continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes

The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was formed to identify, assess and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households. The Taskforce is now leading the response to the energy shock, and the immediate associated energy affordability challenge (with an initial focus – reflecting wider recommendations from both the EU and IEA – on-demand measures to reduce energy use and make costs more affordable for households and businesses), as well as preparing an Energy Affordability Action Plan – to be completed in Quarter 3 of this year. This work includes examining how to support increased uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades and continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government.

Commenting, Minister O'Brien said:

"I am delighted to inform government of this very welcome update on the National Residential Retrofit Plan, which I announced just a few months ago. As a government, we committed to take decisive action to provide warmer, more comfortable homes – as part of our drive to support energy affordability, security, and sustainability. In the first quarter of the year, data shows a very clear and positive upward trend, with evidence of substantial growth in both demand and output.
"Applications to SEAI for individual home energy upgrades are up 186% on the first quarter of last year, and overall applications are up 96%. Through the work of the National Energy Affordability Taskforce, we will examine how to support further uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades, and this will inform continued development of the SEAI retrofit schemes."

William Walsh, CEO of SEAI, said:

"At a time when energy costs are a concern for many households, the near doubling of applications to SEAI grants this year to date shows the demand for affordable energy upgrades. The new and expanded grants are helping families to get the benefits of a warmer, healthier homes with lower energy costs. Generous grant support is available for windows and doors, attic and wall insulation, heat pumps, and solar panels as well as fully-funded energy upgrades under the Warmer Homes Scheme. Whether you’re planning to take it step-by-step, or to do a complete home energy upgrade, SEAI has a grant that will help you on your journey, reduce energy bills and increase comfort."

For more information, see SEAI's website.

The new National Residential Retrofit Plan is available on the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment's website.

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

Headline outputs across SEAI residential and community schemes

Over 29,000 applications have been processed in the first quarter of 2026, an increase of 96% on the same period last year.

Other key figures for the first quarter of 2026 include:

over 1,730 applications for attic insulation (up 81% year on year)
over 1,000 applications for cavity wall insulation (up 62% year on year)
over 350 applications for heat pump installations (up 95% year on year)
over 7,000 applications for window and door upgrades (new grant)
over 10,000 applications for Solar PV (up 65% year on year)
over 1,500 homes at risk of energy poverty upgraded under the Warmer Homes scheme to the end of March at an average cost per home of €31,000 (up 18% year on year)
over 900 heat pumps installed to the end of March (up 18% year on year)
new grant for first-time buyers: 225 active applications since launch on 2 March
new energy-poor grants: 151 active applications since launch on 2 March

Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme

The Home Energy Upgrade Loan Scheme was launched on 24 April 2024. The €500 million scheme was developed by the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, in collaboration with the Department of Finance, the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Investment Fund, and was the first of its kind for Ireland and the EIB Group.

Homeowners can borrow from €5,000 to €75,000 at significantly lower interest rates to those currently on the market, and the loans can be used by homeowners who want to undertake a deep retrofit, involving several energy upgrades at the same time, or to carry out 1 or 2 upgrades that will significantly improve the energy performance of their home.

To avail of the low-cost loans, the upgrade projects musts be supported by an SEAI grant, carried out by an SEAI registered One Stop Shop or Communities Project Coordinator, and be projected to achieve a minimum 20% improvement in the energy performance of the building.

PTSB, AIB, Bank of Ireland, Avant Money (in partnership with An Post Money) and 7 Credit Unions from the Irish League of Credit Unions are now offering loans under the Scheme, with rates starting from as low as 2.99% (pricing varies depending on the finance provider).