Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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640.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in Limerick that have completed solar panel projects under the free school solar scheme. [31410/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The first phase of the Schools PV Programme was launched on 23 November 2023.

It provides eligible schools with up to 6 kilowatts peak of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels and offers an opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon emissions and their energy costs.

Each school which has been approved for funding under the programme is required to inform the Department when its installation has been completed. There has been a really positive response for solar panels from schools. To date, of the 1,100 schools which have been approved for funding, more than 500 have informed the Department that their installation is complete, 48 of these are in County Limerick. This number will continue to rise as installations are confirmed.

The scheme is funded from the Climate Action Fund managed by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. As well as the obvious financial and climate benefits, it is expected that the visibility of the solar panels on schools will also deliver the added benefit of encouraging discussion and uptake of the technology in the wider community.