Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the update. It is becoming somewhat rare that everybody in the House agrees on something when it is a good idea. I think everybody in this House agrees that PV solar panels on schools are an exceptionally good idea, particularly given the level of increase that we have seen in electricity costs and the financial pressures that has placed on schools over the past 12 to 18 months. While preparatory work is important, one must question the inordinate time that it has taken to get to this point. If the preparatory work on how many schools currently have solar panels has taken this long, I would concur with schools when they express concerns to me about how long it will be before those solar panels are physically on their roof, reducing their electricity bills and facilitating them to sell any excess energy back into the grid, much to their benefit and to the benefit of the State's carbon footprint.

When will this scheme be open for schools to apply? Will it be before Christmas? Will it be in the first quarter of 2024? I know that will be greatly appreciated by the schools that have expressed genuine willingness and desire for this to happen for their schools.

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