Applications for home energy upgrades have increased by 96% in the first quarter of the year when compared to the first three months of 2025.
That’s according to new figures from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) which were brought to a Cabinet meeting this week by Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien as part of an update on the National Residential Retrofit Plan.
The figures also show that applications to the SEAI for individual home energy upgrades are also up 186% on Q1 2025.
In Budget 2026, the Government provided a record allocation of €640 million, with the aim of targeting 73,000 home energy upgrades this year.
The almost doubling of applications so far in 2026 means that SEAI has processed around 29,000 applications from January to March.
A new grant commenced at the end of January for window and door upgrades and over 7,000 applications to this have been processed in the first quarter of this year. Applications for attic insulation are also up 81%, to hit around 1,700.
There have also been over 1,000 applications for cavity wall insulation, up 62%, while over 350 applications have been lodged for heat pump installations, an increase of 95%.
The SEAI said that since 2019, government funding of over €1.7bn has allowed for over 257,000 home energy upgrades to be delivered.
O’Brien said that this is a “very welcome update on the National Residential Retrofit Plan.”
He added that the data from the first quarter of this year “shows a very clear and positive upward trend, with evidence of substantial growth in both demand and output.”
Minister O’Brien concluded: “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,” said Mr Walsh.
You can find out more about energy supports on the MyHome Retrofit Hub here.
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