Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:139. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost to increase the domestic solar PV budget by 50%. [54973/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 December 2023
Ceisteanna (139, 159)
Darren O'Rourke
Ceist:159. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the domestic solar PV budget in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55012/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 159 together.
The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installation under the Climate Action Plan 21. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, which are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Domestic applicants can currently avail of grants up to a maximum of €2,400.
The SEAI maintains data regarding the financing and functioning of the Domestic Solar PV scheme and the previous pilot scheme it replaced in 2022, and has facilitated the information in response to your question. Past allocations of capital and current funding to the SEAI in respect of the Domestic Solar PV scheme are as follows:
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
Capital |
€ 6,500,000 |
€ 11,000,000 |
€ 14,000,000 |
€ 28,770,000 |
|
Current |
€ 200,000 |
€500,000 |
€680,000 |
€630,000 |
Due to high grant uptake levels, the initial capital allocations in 2020, 2022 and 2023 were exceeded, requiring the provision of additional funds, bringing the total supports provided to:
|
2020 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
|
Total capital provided |
€ 7,600,000 |
€ 25,200,000 |
€ 52,900,000 |
Increasing the allocation for the Domestic Solar PV scheme by 50%, based on the 2023 outturn, would therefore require capital funding of €79,350,000.