Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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664.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a list of schools that have availed of solar panel installations under the solar for schools programme, which commenced in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31721/24]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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885.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the Solar for Schools Programme; the number of counties that are eligible to apply currently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33765/24]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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888.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the schools that have applied for the Solar for Schools Programme, by county ; the schools whose solar installation has been completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33768/24]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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889.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the length of time between a school applying for the Solar for Schools Programme and the completion of the installation, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33769/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 664, 885, 888 and 889 together.

The first phase of Schools PV Programme was launched on 23^rdNovember 2023.

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

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.

Since the launch of the first phase of the Schools PV Programme late last year, funding approval has been provided to more than 1,100 schools and we are seeing the impacts today as PV panels are being installed on school roofs around the country.

There has been a really positive response in terms of applications for solar panels from schools. It offers an opportunity for schools to reduce their carbon emissions and to reduce their energy costs.

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.

Each school which has been approved for funding under the programme is required to inform the Department when its installation has been complete. 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. This number will continue to rise as installations are confirmed.

A list of schools that have availed of solar panel installations under the programme is being collated in tabular form as requested by the Deputy and will be forwarded in due course.

For those applications which have been approved by the Department and installation confirmation already received, I can confirm that the timeframe between receipt of the original application and confirmation by the school that the installation is complete has typically ranged from three to four months for the programme counties.