DUBLIN (Azat TV) – Ireland has unveiled a €558 million National Retrofit Plan for 2026, introducing new and enhanced grants aimed at improving home energy efficiency, including significant financial support for replacing windows and doors.
The plan, announced by Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment Darragh O’Brien, is designed to upgrade up to 70,000 homes this year while reducing household energy costs and reliance on fossil fuels. The programme will be administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and represents one of the largest single-year investments in residential energy upgrades by the Irish government.
New grants for windows, doors, and insulation
Under the updated scheme, homeowners will be eligible for grants of up to €4,000 to replace windows and up to €1,600 for replacing doors. Insulation grants are also being increased, with up to €2,000 available for attic insulation and €1,800 for cavity wall insulation.
A new €4,000 grant has been introduced for homeowners installing heat pumps, bringing the maximum support for a full home heating system replacement to €12,500. The measures are intended to accelerate retrofitting activity across Ireland’s housing stock, much of which predates modern energy-efficiency standards.
Expanded eligibility and social supports
The 2026 plan includes additional support for first-time buyers of existing homes, who will be able to access an extra €500 for attic insulation. Households receiving certain welfare payments will also qualify for higher grant levels, a move aimed at tackling energy poverty and ensuring broader access to retrofit measures.
According to the Department of Climate and Energy, the new grants will come into effect on a phased basis between late January and early March 2026.
Building on previous investment
The government has invested approximately €1.3 billion in home retrofitting over the past six years, supporting upgrades in nearly 250,000 homes. In 2025 alone, more than 58,000 households benefited from SEAI-supported energy improvements.
SEAI Chief Executive William Walsh said the expanded grants represent a major boost for both homeowners and the construction sector, noting that industry capacity and expertise are now in place to deliver large-scale retrofitting nationwide.
The scale of the 2026 retrofit package signals a continued shift in Irish housing policy toward long-term energy efficiency, with windows and insulation upgrades positioned as central tools in reducing emissions and household costs.