Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 March 2022
182. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the number of schools that have applied to the Pathfinder programme; the number of schools that have been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11640/22]
View answerSince 2017, the SEAI's Public Sector Schools Pathfinder Programme, co-funded with the Department of Education, has provided capital supports to improve energy efficiency and decarbonise school buildings. The 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. My Department's contribution to the 2022 schools initiative is over €11 million, which will see 6 schools benefiting from a selection of energy efficiency works. The general principles and approach to school selection for the Programme include schools meeting; Energy Monitoring and Reporting requirements; and demonstrating a strong and holistic commitment to energy management practices through participation in the SEAI and the Department of Education partnership initiative, Energy in Education Programme. The programme selection also seeks to enable various cross sections of school types and sizes, energy consumption profiles, different elements of construction type and different heritage/conservation requirements, where specific learnings are being targeted. The selection of schools is not, therefore, done on an invitational or application basis, and their selection is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.
Since 2017, a total of 53 schools were selected for energy retrofits under the Schools programme. Further information for schools is available on the SEAI website: www.seai.ie/community-energy/schools/save-energy-at-school/
