Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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120. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the schools' energy retrofit pathfinder programme; the number of schools supported to date under this programme; the proposed number to be funded in 2023 and 2024, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4083/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.

The Department's policy is supported by a strong research programme with 53 research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie. This is a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

In the interest of sustainability, it is critical that renewable applications are properly suited to the schools needs so as to reduce energy costs and carbon and not just applied for the sake of having renewables. It is also critical that we minimise the demand for energy before we invest in renewable energy applications. This has been assisted in previous years with the wall and attic insulation programme and the water conservation programme.

Schools designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents, have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009, with current schools typically achieving up to 20% higher energy performance and 25% better carbon performance than required by the current Building Regulations. In addition, 10% of primary energy is provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.

The National Development Plan 2021-2030 published on 4th Oct 2021, provides capital funding of over €4.4bn for investment in school infrastructure during the period 2021 to 2025. There continues to be a strong Climate Action dimension to this additional and modernisation programme.

The Department of Education and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme, which is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Planning and Building Unit in my Department. Support is also provided from Limerick Clare ETB. The programme is being used to evaluate and demonstrate the approach to energy retrofit and carbon reduction in the schools’ sector. This government-funded energy retrofit pathfinder programme will target energy use and CO2 emission reduction by 51%, testing deep retrofit and low carbon heating solutions.

The pathfinder programme has already been completed in schools across Ireland, with further works underway in additional schools.

The pathfinder is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger schools national programme for decarbonisation and retrofit and will play a key part in meeting delivery of the Climate Action Plan.

As part of commitments under the Government’s Climate Action Plan, my Department will complete its decarbonisation pathway roadmap to meet 2030 and 2050 targets for the schools sector by end of this year.

To date 48 school projects across Ireland have been completed with an additional 16 schools currently at various stages of progress undergoing decarbonisation upgrades to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B with renewable heating systems.

The 2023/24 Pathfinder with 10 schools is jointly funded with a targeted budget of €40m.

This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.

This programme continues to assist the Department to explore options and test various solutions for decarbonised energy efficiency solutions in our broad range of school building types.

It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector. 

Each school undergoes a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures are suitable for that school and will deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme.

The works typically involves upgrades to the building fabric including wall and roof insulation, doors and windows, air tightness improvements, LED lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.

The List the 2023 Energy Retrofit Pathfinder programme schools is:

Leixlip Community School, Kildare

Catherine McCauley Special School, Limerick

Carnadonagh Community School, Donegal

St Joseph’s National School, Kingcourt,

Presentation Girls Primary School, Maynooth

Holy Rosary School, Wicklow

Hazelwood College, Limerick

St Colmcille’s Community School, Dublin

Scoil Thomas Primary School, Castleknock, Dublin

St Nessan’s National School, Limerick