Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the deep energy retrofit programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67538/25]

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 departments 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 which was published in 2023 and updated in 2024.

My Department, in collaboration with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, has developed a jointly funded School Sector Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme. The programme is administered by the Planning and Building Unit in my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), with devolved delivery support from Education and Training Boards (ETBs).

To date, the programme has funded deep retrofit works in 68 schools, with a further 9 projects currently in progress. These comprehensive upgrades typically include improvements to the building fabric - such as wall and roof insulation, new doors and windows, enhanced air tightness, LED lighting, and heating system upgrades, alongside the installation of renewable energy technologies. Each project incorporates renewable heating systems designed to meet at least 90% of annual space heating demand and deliver carbon savings exceeding 50%. The target outcome for all participating schools is a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B or better.

Funding was also secured through REPowerEU to support an expanded school pathfinder decarbonisation and retrofit programme in 2025. Under this initiative, 28 schools progressed to full retrofit works in summer 2025, with all schools transitioning to renewable heating systems as part of the project.

The Pathfinder 2025 Programme is now underway and involves heating decarbonisation projects across approximately 77 schools. Under this phase, schools will transition to renewable heat sources, including air-source heat pumps and biomass heating systems. This decarbonisation glide path delivery approach will include commencing the move from high carbon fossil fuel heating provision in existing schools by phasing out as part of the transition to zero carbon all existing high carbon fossil fuel (oil) boilers in schools towards renewable heating, supported where necessary by a high efficiency LPG / Biogas gas boiler. The scale of programme is expected to be maintained through 2026 and 2027.

Earlier this year, my Department also launched the Climate Action Summer Works Scheme (CASWS). This multi-annual programme will support schools in implementing sustainable energy measures, with the first tranche of projects to be announced shortly and set to commence in summer 2026. The scheme provides funding opportunities for schools to install heat pump renewable heating systems, as well as cavity wall insulation, LED lighting, and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.