Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to the roll out and installation of solar panels in schools, if there are plans to work the ESB in relation to prioritising schools for installation or adjusting the payment rate for schools without smart metres to sell electricity back into the grid (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40201/25]

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A little over a year ago, as the Minister knows, the Government started to roll out a scheme of supplying free solar panels to schools. This is a very worthwhile initiative. However, there is a problem. Many schools do not have smart meters, which means they cannot sell excess electricity back to the grid. This installation is taking way too long. I know of a school that will not get a smart meter until 2028. Many schools are now only getting 25% of the electricity generated as a credit, whereas they should be earning much more. Can the Government work to improve the time for installation by the ESB?

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy. The schools PV programme is funded by the Government’s climate action fund in line with our recognition that taking action on climate change is central to our social and economic development. It is assisting schools in reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 climate action plan targets for the schools' sector.

The schools PV programme, as the Deputy said, 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 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 meter replacement programme is being delivered by ESB Networks in co-operation with the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, and all electricity supply companies.

Schools can apply online to the ESB for a smart meter, which may see the ESB prioritise them for early 2028 installation. Currently, the type of meter in the school referred to by the Deputy is not being replaced until 2028 under the phasing of the ESB smart meter programme. In the meantime, the school will receive an estimated or calculated rebate from their supplier without a smart meter. This estimated export is calculated by ESB Networks. The estimate is based on the size of a school's solar panel system, how much energy it typically produces and how much of that energy is likely sent to the grid. All this information is then used to calculate a fair estimate of how much electricity the school exports.

Taking into account what the Deputy said about the timeline, while there is a system in place to try to mitigate the gap until the meters will be installed, I have asked my Department to engage with the ESB to see if there are opportunities to prioritise smart meter installations in schools so we can try to move this timeline forward. I am very happy to engage with the Deputy and the ESB to see if we can do things faster and move things along. Schools can also access competitive electricity and fuel rates through the Office of Government Procurement, OGP, frameworks. Currently, the electricity supplier offers a microgeneration export rate of 21 cent per kilowatt-hour for electricity exported to the grid.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. The schools are currently given a 25% credit at, say, 18 cent per kilowatt hour. The schools are closed most of the year. Their generation during this time is huge, and more so since they are closed during much of the peak solar times in the summer. The other issue is that the 10 kW roll out is too small for many schools. They require a much greater coverage of solar panels. I am not saying that larger systems should be fully funded, but they should be supported to some degree, for example, to 50% or 75% of the cost. This will save schools large amounts of money. A small 10 kW system is not appropriate for a large school. We should have a programme appropriately sized for the schools. The one-size-fits-all model is not the best way.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This is something that has been brought to my attention before in some of the schools I visited, especially in larger schools, where I have been asked whether they could get more solar panels for all the reasons the Deputy outlined, including to help to reduce costs and ensure the system is appropriate to the scale and size of the school. The scheme's structure was put in place some time ago. I have been informed that the 6 kW peak was specifically chosen so the grid connection process is covered under ESB Networks process, which is the NC6 inform-and-fit notification process, unlike the others called the NC7 and NC8 mini and small-scale generator connection processes. There are no additional costs for schools under this process and there are no grid restrictions limiting export. These were the reasons I was given as to why this was set out, but again, I am happy to engage with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien. Looking at the scheme, it has been rolled out very well and many schools have applied for it but, at the same time, there is still a year and a half to go until the scheme is finalised. It would be a welcome opportunity to sit down with the Minister and look at how it is being rolled out, how effective it is and if there are changes that could potentially be made along the lines the Deputy suggested.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On a related matter, this programme can help with the running costs of primary schools. Schools have severe financial difficulties. Many schools are in deficit. I have seen how the ancillary grant, for example, does not cover the cost of caretaking. Could this be increased to match the cost? Additionally, I believe we need to look at increasing the capitation grant further from the new rate of €224 per child. The Parliamentary Budget Office has said it would cost approximately €40 million per annum to increase the amount to €299 per child.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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There are two objectives to the installation of the solar panels. The first is to help us to achieve our targets and ensure the schools and the Department of education play their roles in helping to achieve our 2030 and 2050 targets. Second, this is also a real opportunity for us to help to reduce costs for the schools. Many of the schools have just installed solar panels, the 44% that are already there, so it is too early to tell how much of a benefit it will be for them, or what reduction will be seen, but it is certainly estimated that around €5.5 million will be saved across the schools' estate once all the solar panels are installed. Obviously, the more we can provide and the further we can reduce the costs for schools, the better and this is certainly an objective in terms of the capitation and the ancillary supports. It is obviously my objective, and that of the Government, to ensure we continue to increase our supports for schools where they are needed and to look at other ways in which we can reduce costs, with solar panels being one of them. I mentioned before that we need to look at the issue of insurance and how much schools are paying for it and if there is a way we can work to reduce that cost too, so we are not just giving extra money but reducing costs at the same time.