Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

The schools photovoltaic, PV, programme provides eligible schools with up to 6 kW peak of roof-mounted solar photovoltaic installations on their roofs, which equates to approximately 14 solar panels. The schools PV programme is funded by the Government’s climate action fund in line with the Government’s recognition that taking action on climate change is central to Ireland’s social and economic development. It is assisting schools in reducing their energy costs and, most importantly, carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 climate action plan targets for the schools’ sector.

The overall programme will see up to 24 MW of installed renewable energy provision on schools, with associated savings in the region of €5.5 million per year across the 4,000 schools. The installation of solar panels directly assists schools to reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs, while also educating pupils and the wider school community about the benefits of solar technology. Since the launch of the programme in November 2023, 85% of schools, or 3,300 schools, have progressed to tender stage, with 92% of those, some 3,020 schools, so far approved for funding.

This is a high rate and a significant number of schools that have gone past the early stages. To date, 44% of eligible schools, or 1,713 schools, have confirmed their installations are complete. I have been in many of these schools and while they are at an early stage, they anticipate their bills will reduce. We are hoping to see a significant cost reduction for them.

The Department’s overall approach for projects delivered under the school building programme is to focus on the needs of primary and post-primary schools in the free scheme. This approach reflects how fee-charging schools have an additional source of income which is often not available to schools in the free education scheme. The scheme is funded by the Government’s Climate Action Fund which comes within the ambit of the Department of Climate, Environment and Energy. I am open to exploring, with my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, the possibility of recognised fee-charging schools that are perhaps unable to afford solar panels from their own resources coming within the scope of the schools PV programme, which is due to finish in 2026. There is time to engage with the Minister to see if there is a way it could be extended to the schools I mentioned.

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