Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 September 2021
145. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education the status of the schools energy retrofit pathfinder programme including the planned measures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45673/21]
View answerMy Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications established a jointly funded pathfinder programme with the SEAI, testing and demonstrating energy efficiency and decarbonisation retrofit approaches. This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the educational environment on an evidence based approach.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national schools’ programme for the energy retrofit of schools built prior to 2008 as included in the National Development Plan. It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options, which will have been tried and tested. It is providing valuable development information for a solution driven delivery strategy which will be founded on a solid evidence base that has proven the robustness and scalability of renewable solutions within the schools’ sector.
Now in its fifth year, the pilot programme has completed retrofits in 39 schools across Ireland to date. This year sees six schools undergoing deep retrofit to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B with renewable heating systems. Each school underwent a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures were suitable for that school and would deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme. The schools for the 2021 programme include:
- Coláiste Iósaef Community College, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
- Cornafulla National School, Athlone, Co. Roscommon
- St. Laserian’s Special School, Carlow, Co. Carlow
- St. Mary’s Boys National School, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan
- St. Columba’s Comprehensive School, Glenties, Co. Donegal
- Maryfield College, Grace Park, Dublin 9
- The upgrades target a Building Energy Rating of B, 50% energy efficiency improvement and 50% emission reduction. The works will involve upgrades to doors and windows, insulation, lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan will outline how energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions targets are to be achieved and is due to be published this year.
