Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the percentage of eligible schools that have completed or commenced work to install solar panels under the free scheme for schools; if she will consider providing funding to allow private schools to take part in this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38827/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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My question is about the free solar panel scheme for schools, how many schools are in the scheme in progress and whether it can it be extended to private schools.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister and am delighted to hear her answer. I welcome this scheme; it is a great one. Even the rate of take-up the Minister outlined is impressive and is key to meeting our climate targets. It allows schools, as much as the rest of society, to address their emissions and reduce their carbon footprint.

The Minister said fee-paying schools and private schools, and we must remember that not all private schools are fee-paying, may have access to fees that non-fee paying or non-private schools do not have. While I accept that, at the same time, if we are committed to this scheme as one that will reduce carbon emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels and allow us to get more renewable energy and, therefore, benefit the whole country, should it not be rolled out automatically to all those schools, rather than deciding that if one school takes in fees, it is ineligible or to parse the scheme in those terms? If the scheme works - and it clearly does - and it reduces emissions and our dependence on fossil fuels, then surely what is good for the goose is good for the gander and it will be good for all schools.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I agree fully with the Deputy. We should be getting to a situation where all our schools and public buildings have solar panels, insofar as is possible. This will feed into our overall reduction and climate targets but also will support our schools in reducing their costs. This is one of the biggest challenges we currently face in making sure we identify ways schools can reduce their costs.

It is heartening and welcome to see that 93% of the schools that are able to access the scheme have already expressed interest and a significant number of those are moving to tender phase. Less than 50%, which is still a high number, are at the stage where solar panels have been installed. I would like to see if we can expand the scheme further. As I said, we might look initially at fee-paying schools that cannot afford to install solar panels. That ranges from smaller to larger schools and they are not just in the Deputy's constituency but in other parts of the country as well.

I will engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, as the scheme is funded through his Department. It would be for the Minister to decide as to how it could be expanded but I am open to working with him and Deputy Ward to see if we can do that.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I am very grateful to hear the Minister is open to the expansion of this scheme. I appreciate what she has said. I believe the take-up would be strong among all schools if the eligibility criteria were extended. I understand entirely that no resource is infinite and the Government has to spend money where it is needed most. I welcome the Minister's commitment to engaging with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, on possibly expanding the scheme before its conclusion.

There is a danger we perceive private schools as being schools with lots of money. The Minister will know there are many private schools, particularly those that address a minority need, whether a religious or other need, that charge fees but are not wealthy schools. The patrons, parents and families of those schools are not necessarily wealthy. They may be fee-paying or private schools but they still have limited resources. If this scheme is to work well, it should be rolled out to all schools.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I accept what the Deputy is saying. It is not always the case that a fee-paying school has infinite resources. However, it is the case that some schools do have the ability to pay for this. It is about looking at the resources we have and ensuring everyone can benefit from the changes which will not just help support our climate objectives but also help reduce costs.

In the time I have left, I will outline what exactly is being funded under the programme to date. Schools will fund up to 6 kW of roof-mounted solar PV - approximately 14 solar panels - and all associated inverters and cabling to connect to the panels of the school's mains distribution board. Monitoring software is also provided to each school to allow review and discussion of the energy generated each day for the staff and students. As I said at the outset, this is an opportunity for the students to learn and understand what exactly is happening. Minimal enabling works required to enable completion of the installation are also funded on a case-by-case basis. Additional items such as access provisions, minor enabling works to existing electrical infrastructure and connection to the grid are also included to allow unused solar energy to feed into the grid from schools when closed, which is really important because we are coming into the summer period. Schools are closed now so it is important they can feed into it.

To the Deputy's specific point, I will work with him and engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien.