APPLICATIONS FOR HOME energy upgrades are up by 96% so far this year, when compared to the first three months of 2025.

Meanwhile, applications to the SEAI for individual home energy upgrades are up 186%.

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’s 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%.

A spokesperson added that since 2019, government funding of over €1.7bn has allowed for over 257,000 home energy upgrades to be delivered.

Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien remarked 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”.

Applications to SEAI for individual home energy upgrades are up 186% on the first quarter of last year, and overall applications are up 96%.

O’Brien said the National Energy Affordability Taskforce will examine how to support further uptake of home energy efficiency upgrades.

The National Energy Affordability Taskforce was formed to assess and implement measures to enhance energy affordability for households.

It is now leading the response to the energy shock, and the immediate associated energy affordability challenge, as well as preparing an Energy Affordability Action Plan to be completed in Quarter 3 of this year.

Meanwhile, William Walsh, CEO of SEAI, remarked that the “near doubling of applications to SEAI grants this year to date shows the demand for affordable energy upgrades”.

He added that “new and expanded grants are helping families to get the benefits of a warmer, healthier home with lower energy costs”.

He noted that 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.