Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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597. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in emission reduction targets in areas that are the responsibility of his Department; which measures are particularly successful and which measures are underperforming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67050/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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According to the latest available Tertiary sector emissions have reduced by 13% from the 2016-2018 baseline.

The Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (EEDPP) in Higher Education, first introduced in 2020 and co-funded with the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment (DCEE) and administered through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and Higher Education Authority (HEA), has seen funding of €100m being ring-fenced.

• A primary aim is to develop a 'lessons learned' body of knowledge, in relation to renewables, energy efficiency improvements and carbon reduction measures.
• Initial results demonstrate that targeted retrofitting and decarbonisation measures across the sector are delivering meaningful reductions, with operational carbon reductions of 33–59% observed after one or two years of operation.