Skip to main content
Normal View

Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022

Wednesday, 19 January 2022

Questions (853)

Noel Grealish

Question:

853. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Education if there are grants available to schools that wish to install solar panels for energy generation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2429/22]

View answer

Written answers

I would like to inform the Deputy that my Department is at the forefront of design with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings and this performance has been recognised at both National and International level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in Design and Specification.

Schools that are designed and built in accordance with the Departments Schools technical guidance documents must achieve an A3 Building Energy Rating and have typically up to 20% higher energy and carbon performance than required by the current Building Regulations, along with 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.

All new technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments.

My Department’s Technical Guidance Documents set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency and they are based on solid energy research projects. The Departments policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty three research projects at various stages including its joint SEAI partnership energy website project www.energyineducation.ie.

Solar PV is also funded for schools that are having their electrical installations replaced under the Summer Works Scheme etc.

My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland are involved in an energy efficient retrofit pathfinder scheme for schools. The outcome of the pathfinder will be to create an accurate and scalable model for energy efficient retrofits of schools across Ireland.  A deep energy retrofit programme for schools built prior to 2008 is included in the NDP and the wider role of solar PV will be considered in that context.

Top
Share