Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the roll out of solar panels for schools; the proportion that have been fitted with solar panels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59704/25]

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 – known as 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.

Since the launch of the programme late last year, there has been a really positive response in terms of applications for solar panels from schools and we are seeing the impacts today as PV panels are being installed on school roofs around the country.

Since the launch of the programme in November 2023,

• 91% of schools (3,300 schools) who expressed interest in the scheme have progressed to tender stage,
• with 92% of those (3,034 schools) so far approved for funding.
• To date, 71% of schools approved for funding (2,160 schools) have confirmed their installations as complete.