Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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272. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which have applied and been approved for the solar for schools programme since its inception; the cost to the Exchequer involved to date; if new school building designs now incorporate solar panels by default; the average wait time experienced by applicants from the installation of panels to connection to the grid, by year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51074/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 Schools PV Programme is funded by the Government’s 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. It is assisting schools in reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the schools’ sector.

The overall programme will see up to 24 megawatts of installed renewable energy provision across 4,000 schools.

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.

Since the launch of the programme in November 2023, 3,073 schools have applied Since the programme’s launch in November 2023, 3,073 schools have applied for funding to install solar panels. Of these, 3,035 have been approved for funding, and 1,998 schools have so far confirmed completion of their installations.

Connection to the grid is also included in the scheme, to allow excess generated renewable solar energy to be exported to the grid when schools are closed. There is no wait time for connection to the grid. 6 kWp (kilowatt peak) was specifically chosen such that the grid connection process is covered under the ESB Networks ‘NC6 inform and fit’ notification process. Unlike the NC7 and NC8 mini and small-scale generator connection processes (which covers installations greater than 6 kWp), there are no additional costs for schools under the NC6 process and there are no grid restrictions limiting export.

Schools will be able to choose an energy supply company offering the best value tariffs for both the import and export of electricity, with the opportunity to maximise their remuneration during the summer months and other times when the school is not occupied, under the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme.

All new school buildings designed since 2018 will typically include for the provision of solar panels.

As this is an ongoing active delivery programme, financial information is not available for release at this time.