Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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459. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when schools that underwent a REPowerEU Energy Inventory Profile Survey as part of the second phase of the REPowerEU Pathfinder Programme will be notified as to whether they will be included in the programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34501/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My Department was successful in securing €81m from REPowerEU to fund an expanded schools energy decarbonisation programme and the completion of the schools energy inventory survey.

The survey of all primary and post-primary schools marks a key step on the School Sector Technical Climate Action Roadmap, as the Department of Education works to contribute towards reaching 2030 and 2050 climate targets.

A pilot phase of the Schools Energy Inventory project was completed with support from the European Investment Bank Advisory Hub programme. This was completed in December 2022 and included 562 schools across five Counties, Kildare, Meath, Offaly, Wexford and Wicklow.

The REPowerEU funding is facilitating the completion of the energy survey of all schools in the 21 remaining counties.

The survey process 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. It will support in endeavours to make Ireland’s school sector carbon-free and more energy efficient.

In developing the Schools Energy Inventory, each school is surveyed by an experienced construction professional using a survey tool developed by the Department of Education. Up to 130 pieces of data are collected at each school, including high level building areas and types of different fabric elements and information about lighting, heating and domestic hot water.

This data is entered on a tablet computer onsite, imported into the department’s Geographical Information System (GIS), then processed into a relational database which performs numerous calculations to determine a School Energy and Carbon Estimated Rating (SEACER).

By completing this energy inventory profile, nearly 4,000 schools will be supported to establish the energy base line of their school estate and identify and assist with future prioritisation of decarbonisation and investments in the school estate, enabling identification and targeted development of future school sector energy and decarbonisation programmes that will reduce overall reliance on fossil fuels and accelerate the deployment of renewable energy.

The 28 schools which will benefit from the retrofitting funding as part of the one-off REPowerEU funding were part of the pilot phase of the Schools Energy Inventory project. The full list of these 28 schools is available through my recent press release which can be found here (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/press-releases/minister-mcentee-confirms-28-schools-to-undergo-major-energy-and-decarbonisation-retrofit-works-this-summer-under-the-repowereu-programme/#:~:text=Minister%20for%20Education%20and%20Youth%20Helen%20McEntee%20has,million%20in%20the%20department%E2%80%99s%20ambitious%20REPowerEU%20Pathfinder%20Programme).

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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460. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 442 of 17 June 2025, to examine the response from the school (details supplied) to her reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34524/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have advised my department that they do not intend to sanction a new special class at the school referred to by the Deputy at this time as there is sufficient provision available in other new special classes opening.

As previously outlined the main focus this year by the NCSE was on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class to open a new special class for the 2025/26 school year. This ensures that classes can open quickly as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner but also that new provision is established in as many schools as possible. This provides parents more options when deciding which schools to apply to and ensures that provision continues to grow in a diverse number of schools across regions. This should also help in reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place. This focus will remain for the 2026/27 school year as there remains a number of medium to larger primary schools with none or just 1 special class.

The NCSE actively encourage expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest. However, it is not possible to open a special class in every school that expresses an interest.

The NCSE have sanctioned 16 new special classes across schools in Co Waterford for the coming school year and this will bring the number of new special classes available to 86.

The NCSE acknowledge that circumstances may change and schools not sanctioned this year, such as the school referred to by the Deputy will remain as a potential option for future classes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available toassistand adviseparents of children with special educational needs.