Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he will take to increase provision of solar farming in otherwise unusable open space like airports and motorway verges and central reservations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2006/25]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Climate Action Plan 2024 reaffirms Ireland’s ambitious targets of 9 GW of onshore wind capacity, 8 GW of solar capacity and at least 5 GW of offshore wind capacity connected to the grid by 2030 in order to meet the requirement of 80% of electricity demand supplied by renewables.

Under the aegis of the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce (ARE Taskforce), officials from my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have been developing a renewable electricity spatial policy approach that provides for the alignment between local plans and national policy.

Regional renewable electricity targets for solar and onshore wind have been included in the draft First Revision of the National Planning Framework. This will deliver a regional balance and distribution of renewable technologies, including solar, and provide a supporting policy framework for Ireland’s electricity supply to keep pace with economic growth, protect Irish homes and businesses from volatile fossil fuel prices through the deployment of indigenous wind and solar energy across our regions.

Solar energy is a growing source of electricity and is rapidly transforming Ireland’s energy system with circa 1.5 GW of solar energy generation. Significant further development is needed to support Ireland’s economic growth through the deployment of 8 GW of solar connected to the grid by 2030.

Solar energy development guidelines are a potential future objective under the Accelerating Renewable Electricity Taskforce. It should be noted that planning matters fall within the remit of the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In addition, the Land Use Review currently underway will ensure that optimal land use options inform all relevant Government decisions. The second phase of the Land Use Review has commenced and seeks to identify the key demands on land (both public and private) to inform policies for land use across key government objectives, improving socioeconomic, climate, biodiversity, water, and air quality outcomes.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will commit to a programme of installation of solar panels on all public buildings including schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2007/25]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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There are currently a range of schemes underway to support the roll-out of solar PV in Ireland, including for public buildings. The Non-Domestic Microgen grant, as part of the wider Microgeneration Support Scheme, commenced in September 2022. The grant is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and provides financial assistance to help businesses and other organisations to install solar PV panels to generate electricity on site. An extended funding range of up to €162,600 was introduced in July 2023 to support non-domestic installation sizes up to 1,000 kWp (1 MW) capacity.

Suppliers are now obliged to offer a Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) tariff to new and existing micro-and small-scale generators so that they receive payment for excess renewable electricity that they export to the grid, reflective of the market value. Eligibility criteria and other relevant information is available from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities: . or on

The first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic (PV) Programme was launched in November 2023 to over 1,600 schools. The scheme is funded by the 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 provides eligible schools with 6 kilowatt peak of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 14 solar panels.

The first phase has seen over 1,100 schools approved for PV panels, with 1,011 installations completed so far in 11 areas across Ireland. Funding was approved in October 2024 to proceed with solar PV installations on the 2,673 remaining eligible schools in 16 counties – Carlow, Cavan, Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wexford. The latest figures indicate that over 2,100 schools in phase two have completed the Expression of Interest stage, and 546 have submitted tenders. This means that of the 4,000 schools in the country, the majority have had Solar PV installed or are currently in the application and tendering process under the scheme.