Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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808. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on providing a new building for a school (details supplied); and if a reply has been received in relation to the queries raised in response to the Tender Report. [18937/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The large scale capital project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of Architectural Planning Stage 3 - Tender Action and Award.

Department officials are working with the Design Team and the school authority to resolve the remaining issues in response to the Tender Report.

The large scale capital project remains a priority for delivery and my department officials will be in contact with the school authority on completion of the review.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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809. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on providing a new building for a school (details supplied); if the promised meeting of all stakeholders, to discuss and agree a preferred option which can be further developed and prepared to be submitted for planning permission; and if not, when such a meeting will be scheduled. [18938/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This joint school building project for the projects referred to by the Deputy will deliver a new extension and refurbishment of some existing accommodation to provide a 24 classroom primary school with classrooms for children with special educational needs, at both schools.

The schedule of accommodation was recently increased to include SEN accommodation and the design options submitted by the Design Team are currently being evaluated by my Department, which also involves proposing a meeting with all stakeholders. This meeting is anticipated to be held in the near future, to discuss and agree a preferred option which can be further developed and prepared for the submittal of a planning permission application.

My Department and the Design Team continue to keep the school updated on the project.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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810. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the interim measures that will be taken to improve the energy rating and heat retention of a school building (details supplied), pending completion of the school building. [18939/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department is leading an ambitious sustainability agenda and has progressed a wide array of measures to improve the overall sustainability of our school buildings as part of our work towards 2030 and 2050 climate targets. This performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design, specification and delivery. My departments policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty-six research programmes at various stages.

It is a priority for Government to deliver on Ireland’s ambitious climate agenda and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in line with the department’s School Sector Technical Climate Action Roadmap which was published in 2023 and updated in 2024.

A key initiative of my department is to establish a national energy profile of all schools. Phase 1 of the energy inventory profile (which comprised all schools across five counties) is complete and the Department has been approved funding for the final phase from REPowerEU. This phase is underway and involves energy assessors gathering focused information on energy use, building types, age, and size along with an overview of general fabric and energy aspects of electrical and mechanical systems in approximately 3,300 schools. This energy inventory profile of the full school estate will facilitate strategic decision-making by the department on priorities for future capital investment in schools. The school to which the Deputy refers will be included in this survey over the course of the next few months.

My department has also developed the Schools PV Programme. The Schools PV Programme provides eligible schools with up to 6 kilowatts peak of roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) installations on their roofs, which equates to approximately 14 solar panels.

The installation of solar PV panels schools directly assists schools to reduce their carbon emissions and energy costs, while also educating pupils and the wider school community about the benefits of solar technology. The school to which the Deputy refers has been invited to apply for this scheme.

I have also recently announced details of a new multi-annual Climate Action Summer Works Scheme for schools, which will open for applications in early May and the school to which the Deputy refers Previously named the Summer Works Scheme, it now has a strong climate dimension and enables schools to undertake small and medium scale maintenance and improvement works such as insulation, LED lighting, the provision of EV chargers and bike racks, as well as the traditional maintenance work associated with this scheme. The climate action element of the Scheme will enable schools to continue to select their works category based on their local needs and improve their energy efficiency and reduce their running costs.

Full details on the Climate Action Summer works scheme can be found on my Departments website at .