Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when schools in County Cork will be eligible to apply for the solar for schools programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52691/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I was delighted to launch, together with the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, the first phase of the SchoolsPhotovoltaic Programme on 23rd November.

It will allow up to 4,000 schools nationwide to get solar PV panels to reduce their energy bills and their carbon emissions. This ties in with the strong ethos of environmental awareness and climate sustainability among our students and the wonderful work they do in this area, most notably with the Green Flag initiative

It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWpof roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.

The scheme will be funded from 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.

The scheme will assist schools in reducing their energy costs and their carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the schools sector.

The SchoolsPhotovoltaic Programme will be rolled out on a phased basis, commencing with a call for applications to over 1,600 schools from 11 designated areas across the country.

Schools in the following areas are invited to participate in the first phase: Co. Clare, Co. Donegal, Dublin City Council area, Co. Galway, Co. Kerry, Co. Kilkenny, Co. Leitrim, Co. Limerick, Co. Offaly, Co. Waterford and Co. Wicklow

The intention is to include all remaining counties in Q4 2024.

It is intended that all eligible schools across the country, including all schools situated in County Cork, will have the opportunity to apply to the scheme by the end of 2024.

The phasing of the programme will ensure a managed and steady flow of work for solar PV contractors. The data gathered during the first phase will also allow for any improvements in the design of the scheme to be implemented in the second and third phases.

Counties in the first phase were selected to obtain a good geographical spread including a balance of rural, urban, island, Gaeltacht schools in all regions of the country, as well as targeting counties that have not benefitted from other recent Department of Education climate related initiatives.