Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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326. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide funding for energy-efficiency upgrades in older school buildings, including many small rural schools where energy costs are disproportionately high; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67145/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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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 School Sector Technical Climate Action Roadmap () which was first published in 2023 and is updated annually.

Funding has been provided for the roll-out of 6 kW Photovoltaic Panels in all schools, funded under the Climate Action Fund. This is providing renewable electricity to these schools for use on site during school opening times and also income for the electricity they export to the grid via the clean export guarantee tariff. This tariff provides an opportunity for micro-and small-scale generators in Ireland to receive payment from their electricity supplier for all excess renewable electricity they export to the grid.

In addition to the above the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (which was previously named the Summer Works Scheme) places a strong emphasis on sustainability. This multi annual programme enable Schools to identify and undertake measures such as insulation upgrades, LED lighting installation, EV charger provision, bike rack facilities to support active travel and other climate-focused works alongside traditional maintenance. The Minister recently announced a €90 million investment package for the 2026 Climate Action Summer Works Scheme.