Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

265. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the ESD to 2030 funding call for schools 2025, for which applications closed in October; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67715/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that schools have all been informed of the outcome of the ESD to 2030 funding call for 2025 and the department is in the process of making the payments to the schools.

This year, over €850,000 has been delivered to 390 primary and post-primary schools across the country for ESD projects. These projects include school gardens and outdoor classrooms, forest schools, biodigesters and food waste management systems, composting systems, fast fashion projects, recycling initiatives and systems, irrigation and rainwater collection systems, energy education initiatives, student led sustainability projects, teacher CPD and a range of sustainability themed workshops.

Accelerating Local Level Action is one of the priority areas set out in ESD to 2030 and applications for funding from schools were required to include local level action.

Schools in receipt of ESD to 2030 funding have committed to publishing their Sustainability Policy Statement if they haven’t already done so in line with the School Sector Public Service Mandate. The department is in the process of mapping these published statements.

A list of all schools awarded ESD to 2030 funding in 2025 will be published on the ESD to 2030 webpage shortly.

€466k in ESD to 2030 funding was delivered to 20 organisations in summer 2025 to further support implementation of ESD to 2030 in our schools through a range of programmes and resources. A list of all organisations granted ESD to 2030 funding is available on the webpage.

Also in summer 2025, almost €500k was delivered to 10 youth led climate justice projects happening across the country.

The Youth Climate Justice Fund helps young people aged 8 to 25 take part in projects that raise awareness and take action on climate issues. This year’s projects include:

- A hydrogen education programme providing an inclusive, hands-on approach to renewable energy learning for 100 young people

- A programme educating young people about the causes and consequences of water scarcity and pollution using workshops, member participation and outdoor projects

- A climate justice debate series involving university societies and youth-led groups

- Development of an innovative, games-based curriculum designed to educate and inspire youth aged 13-25 about climate change adaptation, empowering young people to design and implement local climate adaptation projects.

The programme includes climate education, community events, awareness campaigns, and hands-on environmental activities. www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/national-strategy-on-education-for-sustainable-development-in-ireland/.