Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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105. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will clarify a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47567/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The unprecedented increase in international wholesale gas prices have continued as a result of the volatility in the international gas market driven by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the on-going war. These gas increases feed directly through to retail electricity prices as the wholesale price of electricity correlates strongly with the price of gas.

As announced in Budget 2023 the Government is making €100 million available to ensure schools are supported in dealing with the energy cost pressures they will face in the months ahead. An additional €10 million will also be provided for further and higher education.

While the Department of Education has responsibility for the maintenance and upgrades of schools, including energy related measures, my Department also funds a wide range of energy efficiency and renewable energy supports to public bodies, including schools. These supports are targeted at educating and enabling public bodies to improve their energy efficiency and decarbonise their activities.

These schemes are operated by Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and include:

- The Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme

- The Energy in Education Programme

- The Public Sector Energy Efficiency Programme

- The Communities Energy Grant Scheme

The Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) is targeting support for 380MW of installed micro-generation capacity, to contribute to the revised target of up to 5.5GW of solar renewables under the Climate Action Plan and the recent Government agreement on sectoral emissions ceilings. The MSS provides capital grants for both domestic and non-domestic applicants, such as schools, for solar PV installations up to 6.0kW primarily for self-consumption. Grant levels up to a maximum of €2,400 and are available through the SEAI. To apply, simply visit www.seai.ie.

In addition, the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff is now available from most electricity suppliers, offering the opportunity for new and existing micro-and small-scale generators, including schools, to receive payment for excess renewable electricity that they may export to the grid.

In line with the National Energy Security Framework (NESF), the Reduce Your Use energy efficiency campaign, is being delivered to public bodies by the SEAI and the OPW. This campaign is focussing on driving behavioural change and implementing a range of measures to lower energy consumption and costs in the public sector, and Government recently approved that all public sector bodies will lead by example in lowering energy consumption and costs by signing up to the campaign.