Budget 2026 must be the retrofit budget: Government needs to ramp-up investment

Green Party calls for increased retrofit supports for in response to Climate Change Advisory Council Report on Build Environment

Green Party Leader Roderic O’Gorman TD has called on the Government to use Budget 2026 to provide greater financial support to households seeking to retrofit their homes, allowing them to save money on energy bills.

He made the call as the Climate Change Advisory Council called on the Government to increase investment in solar power and heat-pumps for homes, and provide more funding to councils so they can retrofit social housing.

“When families retrofit their homes, they cut their fuel bills, they’re houses are warmer and more comfortable, and they reduce their emissions too. The Climate Change Advisory Council has singled out the ‘built environment’ – home, public buildings and commercial businesses – as an area where our emissions actually increased last year. That is why the Government needs to use Budget 2026 to increase investment in retrofit, make it cheaper for families, and increase the numbers of homes making a switch”, stated O’Gorman.

Green Party Climate Change & Energy spokesperson, Ossian Smyth stated:

“The Green Party worked hard in government to expand home retrofit supports - and as a result last year SEAI delivered their highest ever number of home energy upgrades - 54,000; including 22,000 B2 upgrades.

Today’s statement from the CCAC shows that this effort must continue, and must expand. It’s up to this Government to do it and Budget 2026 is the first test”.