Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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529. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider supporting and promoting a nationwide ‘Power Hour’ campaign, encouraging schools across Ireland to turn off all classroom lights for one hour each day at 12 pm with the aim of reducing electricity usage, cutting carbon emissions, and raising awareness of energy conservation and sustainability among students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61641/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that , Ireland’s 2nd National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development aims to ensure that all learners have the knowledge and skills required to promote sustainable development (SDG target 4.7).

ESD to 2030 has five priority areas for action in line with the UNESCO Roadmap for ESD: Advancing Policy; Transforming Learning Environments; Building Capacity of Educators; Empowering and Mobilising Young People and Accelerating Local Level Action.

My department is happy to support and promote campaigns in schools that deliver on the aims and priorities of our ESD to 2030 strategy.

A second progress report on ESD to 2030 was recently published setting out some of the key achievements including:

- Publication of a new primary curriculum: Social and Environmental Education

- Roll out of a new Leaving Certificate subject: Climate Action and Sustainable Development in 42 network schools

- Delivery of almost €500,000 in ESD funding in June 2025 to organisations supporting ESD in schools and funding for schools for ESD projects which is currently being finalised. Almost €460,000 was delivered to 190 schools in 2024.

- Delivery of almost €500,000 in funding for youth led climate justice projects in July 2025

- Publication of a Sustainability Toolkit for Schools and mapping of school Sustainability Policy Statements

- Publication of a quarterly ESD Newsletter to all schools and to almost 2,000 subscribers

- Hosting an annual National ESD Stakeholder Forum

- Adoption of ESD to 2030 by UNESCO as Ireland’s Country Initiative for ESD and spotlighting “How Ireland promotes youth engagement in education for sustainable development”.

The Energy in Education programme in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offers energy saving support and guidance to schools countrywide and is regularly promoted in our ESD Newsletter.

Under the School Sector Climate Action Mandate, a Sustainability Toolkit was developed in collaboration with the ESD Advisory Group for Schools to support schools in developing their own School Sustainability Policy Statement and the department has started to map these Sustainability Policies. Schools in receipt of ESD Funding commit to publishing their Sustainability Policy Statement.

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 department’s 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 (www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=) which was published in 2023 and updated in 2024.

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.

As well as the obvious financial and climate benefits, the visibility of the solar panels on schools is also delivering the added benefit of encouraging discussion and uptake of the technology in the wider community. The installation of solar PV panels in 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, more than 3,300 schools have been progressed to tender stage with more than 2,203 installations confirmed as completed so far.

My department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications have also developed a jointly funded school sector decarbonisation pathfinder programme. It is administered by the Planning and Building Unit in my department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in partnership with devolved delivery support from Limerick and Clare Education Training Board, and Longford and Westmeath Education Training Board.

The pathfinder is paving the way for, and informing a larger schools national programme for the energy retrofit of schools and will play a key part of meeting delivery of the Climate Action Plan.

My department has also recently launched a Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS). The CASWS will operate on a multi-annual basis with the first tranche of projects being announced in Q4 2025, subject to funding, for commencement in summer 2026.

The Government is committed to supporting schools to ensure that they can meet day-to-day running costs.

The department is aware that costs can pose a problem for schools, and is constantly working to address this matter, and to enhance the financial and other supports available to schools. The last three budgets have resulted in an increase in the level of capitation grant rates of 49.7% (€91) paid to primary schools and 28.5% (€90) paid to post-primary schools, to support them with their day to day running costs. .

OGP frameworks are available to schools for a number of categories including facilities management, managed services, professional services, and utilities. Schools should ensure that they are availing of these OGP procurement frameworks in order to get the best value for money for all school expenditure. The benefits arising from these frameworks include cash savings, administrative savings from reduced duplication of tendering, greater purchasing expertise, improved consistency, enhanced service levels and legal certainty.