John Clendennen (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a rural school (details supplied) will be prioritised for the pathway to renovate scheme to upgrade and renovate the school building rather than relying on constant emergency works applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6198/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted one Emergency Works (EWS) application in the last number of years, which was received last month and is currently under review.

The Department of Education was successful in 2024 with an application for inclusion in the REPowerEU Energy Programme to develop and complete a Schools Energy Retrofit Pathfinder programme his EU programme has very strict programme delivery funding timelines which must be met to enable funding drawdown. All selected school projects must proceed to construction phase in summer 2025, thus has a range of variables must be taken into account including but not limited to, design team maintaining programme, a positive market response, availability of sufficient electrical supply for the new heat pump system, value for money and compliance with funding approval and availability.

This programme is focusing on deep retrofit with renewable heat pumps for all or a section of the selected school buildings to achieve a Building Energy Rating (BER) of at least B. The retrofit Pathfinder programme has targeted schools of a scale that will typically ensure compatibility to completing the works over a single school term/ summer holiday period.

The school to which the Deputy refers was provisionally included in this programme in 2024 and is currently at Stage 2 design. As advised to all schools at the outset of this programme, inclusion in the programme is contingent on each school being assessed at each stage and if suitable moving to the next stage. Findings, project and programme delivery and compatibility with the overall programme delivery timelines and funding envelope will determine project progression to the next stage. To date, the school in question has successfully progressed to the detailed design stage.

My Department will continue to engage with the school on the progress of both the EWS application and status of the REPowerEU programme.