Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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195. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide a retrofitting programme for education facilities, including primary, secondary, and third-level to ensure that they become more energy efficient and sustainable. [39379/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are currently involved in an energy efficiency retrofit pilot scheme for schools.  Now in its third year, the aim of the pilot is to create a scalable model for energy efficiency retrofitting of schools.

This is taking place in advance of the major programme of retrofits scheduled to commence in 2022, as outlined in Project Ireland 2040. It is intended to expand the intake of schools in the pilot programme in the lead up to 2022. However, it is too early at this stage to say how many schools will be involved with this programme.

This pilot commenced in 2017 when ten schools received energy retrofits.  In 2018 six schools received retrofits and seventeen schools are set to benefit from this scheme in 2019.

As part of the higher education capital programme, an upgrade and refurbishment programme is being advanced for the sector.  This includes investments that will deliver significant benefits in terms of energy efficiency.  Major projects approved under this programme to date include an upgrade of the North and South Blocks in Dundalk Institute of Technology and upgrade of Blocks K & L in IT Sligo.