Solar scheme for medically vulnerable needs highlighting – Scahill

There needs to be greater awareness of the Solar PV scheme for medically vulnerable people, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Gareth Scahill received confirmation in the Seanad the scheme is set to deliver fully funded solar panel installations to over 1,900 additional homes in 2026.

“This is a genuinely excellent scheme that’s making a real difference to families who face significant energy costs due to their reliance on life-critical medical equipment. The Minister has confirmed that it will reach another 1,900 homes this year alone,” he said.

“Public representatives know the areas and households which experience outages and electricity issues more than others. However, too many people eligible for the scheme aren’t aware it exists. When they try to find out more about it, they hit a wall with nobody to answer their questions.

“I’ve contacted the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) about this and am calling for a dedicated point of contact to be set up for the public to get clear, timely answers on whether they qualify and what the next steps are.”

The scheme was first launched in 2022 in response to the energy crisis from the war in Ukraine as a cost saving measure for individuals in areas which are susceptible to power outages. It provides a complete, no-cost solar PV system including survey, design, supply, installation, and a post-works Building Energy Rating.

It is available to homeowners registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register with their energy supplier. Those relying on electrically powered medical equipment such as dialysis machines, ventilators, respirators, and other assistive technologies may qualify.

Senator Scahill is urging anyone who believes they may be using life support equipment at home to contact their electricity supplier to ensure they are correctly registered under the life support category of the Priority Services Register so they don’t miss out.