Open since Tuesday 6 October
On 29 September the Government approved a package of grant changes, a week before the Budget:
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "New €2,000 boiler scrappage scheme, a battery grant and enhanced supports for households at risk of energy poverty among measures approved by Government."
SEAI's announcement gives the date, and a caveat:
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "All of the measures announced today will open from 6 October 2026, subject to final implementation arrangements."
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Full terms and conditions, and details in relation to eligibility, will be available in due course."
That was Tuesday 6 October 2026, the day of Budget 2027. Below is each change that affects a homeowner, in SEAI's words, and what has not changed. Where SEAI has not yet published the detail, we say so.
Solar grants: homes built up to 2024
Until 5 October the solar grants asked for a home built and lived in before 2021. Since 6 October it is 2025, for solar panels and solar water heating:
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Extend eligibility of solar PV and solar thermal grants to houses built and occupied pre-2025."
By 8 October SEAI's solar panel page had caught up, dropping its "changing to 2025" note:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "The house must have been built and occupied before 2025."
The amount does not change:
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Same as existing SPV and solar thermal grant (€1,800)"
The solar panel grant is up to €1,800. Amounts last checked 2026-10-03. One grant per home still holds:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "The grant is not open to homes with previous funding for solar PV at this MPRN."
So a house finished in 2021 to 2024 can now apply for the solar panel grant, and SEAI's solar water page and homeowner guide already say before 2025:
SEAI, solar water heating: "To qualify for the Solar Water Heating grant, the home must have been built and occupied before 2025."
The battery grant, which opened the same day, also takes homes built before 2025.
Up to €9,000 for solar and a battery, on certain welfare payments
SEAI's solar page now says the larger grant for homeowners on certain Department of Social Protection payments is live:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "An enhanced grant of up to €9,000 for Solar PV (up to 4kWp) and battery (5kWh) systems is now available for eligible homeowners in receipt of certain Department of Social Protection payments."
Since 8 October it also sets out how the panel grant is worked out, by the size of the system:
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "€3,350 for each kWp up to 2kWp"
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "€850 for each additional kWp up to 4kWp"
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "Total solar PV grant capped at €8,400 without battery, or €9,000 with battery."
SEAI, solar electricity grant: "€600 flat rate"
The welfare solar and battery grant has the whole schedule, set against the standard grant, size by size.
The announcement lists the payments it means:
- "Fuel Allowance as part of the National Fuel Scheme"
- "Job Seekers Allowance for over six months and have child under seven years of age"
- "Working Family Payment"
- "One-Parent Family Payment"
- "Domiciliary Care Allowance"
- "Carers Allowance and live with the person you are caring for"
- "Disability Allowance for over six months and have a child under seven years of age"
Some of these come with conditions of their own (six months on the payment, a child under seven). SEAI says the full terms will follow, and whether a grant is paid is SEAI's decision on the application.
Solar and a battery in the Warmer Homes Scheme
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Solar PV and battery will be offered as standard under fully funded Warmer Homes Scheme."
The Warmer Homes Scheme sets out who it is for today.
Insulation grants for HAP and RAS homes
Two new grants are for homes rented under the Housing Assistance Payment or the Rental Accommodation Scheme:
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Introduce grants for attic insulation for homes in Housing Assistance Payment (HAP)/RAS tenancies."
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "€1,400 - €2,500 depending on the house type"
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Introduce grants for cavity wall insulation for homes in HAP/RAS tenancies."
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "€900 - €2,300 depending on the house type"
On 6 October SEAI's attic and wall pages published these grants, and the attic page says they are for landlords with an active HAP tenancy or RAS arrangement. HAP and RAS insulation grants has the amounts and conditions in SEAI's words.
What has not changed
The heat pump grant still asks for a home built and lived in before 2021, and so does the boiler scrappage grant that comes with it:
SEAI, homeowner application guide: "before 2021 for the Heat Pump System and;"
SEAI, enhanced grants announcement: "Introduce a boiler scrappage scheme for fossil fuel heating systems (in houses built pre-2021)"
And the rule that costs people most: the grant is approved before any work starts.
SEAI, homeowner application guide: "You must have grant approval in place before you start work."
And the Budget?
These changes were announced before the Budget, so they are not a Budget measure. For a grant applied for from 6 October, SEAI's battery page sets out the general rule:
SEAI, battery grant: "Applicants are eligible for the grant amounts that are in effect at the time of application"
Budget 2027 and SEAI grants will carry any change made on the day, with its source. If solar panels are one job of several, a check of your home puts them in order and adds up the grants for each one.