Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 25 September 2025, if she will provide the figures confirming the cost to date of the installation of solar panels under the solar for schools programme (schools PV programme) since the scheme was introduced in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53366/25]

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.

My Department is not releasing the exact budget or current costs for the programme at this stage, as it remains an active delivery initiative and the information is commercially sensitive. Withholding this detail helps ensure contractors provide competitive bids rather than aligning their prices to the average funding available per school. The Department of Education and Youth continues to monitor expenditure under the scheme to ensure it delivers value for money.