09 February 2026
Making Home Energy Upgrades Easier with Enhanced SEAI Grants
On January 27th 2026, the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien, announced new and enhanced grant supports from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as part of the Government’s National Residential Retrofit Plan. These changes aim to make energy upgrades more accessible to Irish homeowners.
What was announced under the National Residential Retrofit Plan 2026?
- New and enhanced individual upgrades to support homeowners with their upgrade journey – including new windows and doors grant.
- Higher grants and wider eligibility making it easier for homeowners to complete deep retrofits on a phased basis.
- New support for First Time Buyers (of existing houses).
- Higher grants for homeowners on qualifying welfare payments.
- Increased grant support for Approved Housing Bodies and Local Authorities, as well as supporting older people.
The expanded package increases grant levels, extends eligibility and introduces new supports as well as additional supports for households on qualifying welfare payments. Some of the measures most relevant to homeowners are outlined below.
Measure | When Does It Comes Into Effect? | What’s Changing? |
| Increased grants for attic & cavity wall insulation | From Feb 3 2026 | Higher fixed grants for attic and cavity wall insulation |
| Attic insulation grant for First-Time Buyers | From March 2 2026 | Higher fixed grant for attic insulation specifically for First-Time Buyers |
| ‘Second wall’ insulation measure | From March 2 2026 | Enables homeowners who already insulated one wall to receive a grant for a second wall upgrade |
| Heat Pump System Grant (up to €12,500) | From Feb 3 2026 | New fixed-amount grant combining heat pump (€6,500), heating system upgrades (€2,000) and a new renewable heating bonus (€4,000) |
| Windows & doors grant (building fabric standard) | From March 2 2026 | New grant for energy-efficient windows and doors where minimum fabric standards are met |
| One Stop Shop (OSS) – continued and enhanced | Ongoing (with new grants applied) | Fully managed upgrades with grants deducted upfront, plus access to new increased grants |
According to data released by SEAI, homeowners who took advantage of SEAI grants in 2025 included more than 58,000 households, making 2025 a record year for energy upgrades. The new measures aim to keep that momentum going for 2026 and make deeper retrofits more accessible.
While SEAI grants reduce costs, many homeowners still face a gap between the grant and full cost of renovations. The Greenify Home Energy Upgrade Loan from Donore Credit Union offers a proactive solution and helps to unlock the full potential of SEAI supports.
Key features of the Greenify Home Energy Upgrade Loan include:
• Competitive interest rates for eco-friendly home improvements
• Unsecured lending – no property charge required
• Borrow up to €100,000 over 10 years – suitable for a range of retrofit projects
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For more information contact us at:
info@donorecu.ie or 01 453 6686
