Over 10,000 Mayo homes benefit from €64.3m energy upgrade investment
Over 1,700 households receive fully funded improvements as solar grants support almost 3,800 homes
According to figures announced by Minister Alan Dillon, more than 10,000 homes across Mayo have received energy upgrades since 2019, representing a Government investment of more than €64.3 million.
A total of 10,099 home energy upgrades have been completed in the county through schemes operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), with Government funding amounting to €64,323,431.
The figures include 1,712 Mayo households that have received fully funded upgrades under the Warmer Homes Scheme, which supports eligible households experiencing energy poverty.
A further 3,792 homes in Mayo have received grants to install solar panels, representing an investment of €8.1 million in renewable home energy.
Minister Dillon said the fully funded improvements were helping vulnerable households enjoy warmer, healthier homes and lower energy bills, while solar grants were enabling thousands of Mayo homeowners to generate their own renewable electricity.
“With new grants now available for windows and doors alongside increased supports for heat pumps, I would encourage every Mayo homeowner and landlord to look at the options available through the SEAI,” he said.
Increasing demand for energy grants
Demand for home energy upgrades has increased following the introduction of new measures, higher grant rates and expanded eligibility in January and October this year.
Among the changes, solar photovoltaic panels and battery storage are now offered as standard under the fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme.
More generous grants have also been introduced for solar panels, attic insulation and cavity wall insulation for certain Department of Social Protection recipients and households in Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and RAS Plus (RASP) tenancies.
Other measures include more favourable eligibility criteria for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, a fossil fuel boiler scrappage support scheme, and a grant for home battery energy storage.
Enhanced supports have also been introduced for businesses seeking to reduce their energy costs.
The expanded package has contributed to a significant increase in applications, with the SEAI receiving more than 120,000 applications so far this year. This is more than double the number recorded at the same point last year.
Minister Dillon said the continued uptake of the schemes showed the importance of making energy improvements accessible to households and businesses.
“With new grants now available for windows and doors alongside increased supports for heat pumps, I would encourage every Mayo homeowner and landlord to look at the options available through the SEAI,” he said.
The SEAI offers a range of grants and supports for homeowners and landlords seeking to improve energy efficiency, reduce heating costs and move towards cleaner energy.