Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 September 2022
332. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education the number of new school buildings that have been constructed since 2020; the type of heating system provided in each school constructed in tabular form; if a solar panel was installed in each instance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45660/22]
View answerUnder Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.
My Department has a large pipeline of projects for delivery under the school building programme. The main elements of this pipeline currently involve in excess of 1,300 school building projects for delivery under the Department’s Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme. These projects are currently in progress across the various stages of planning, design, tender and construction. Most of which are expected to be either under construction or completed in the period up to 2025.
A list of all capital projects completed under the Large Scale and Additional Accommodation Scheme, in county order, from 2010 to date may be viewed my Department’s website at www.education.ie . This is updated on a monthly basis to reflect their progress through the various stages of capital appraisal, site acquisition, design, tender and construction.
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.
New renewable technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements under the research programme. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments through my Department’s Technical Guidance Documents, which set the benchmark for sustainable design in school buildings with a clear focus on energy efficiency. The Department’s policy is supported by a strong research programme with fifty three research projects at various stages including the energy website www.energyineducation.ie . which is a joint partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
Schools designed and built in accordance with the Department’s schools technical guidance documents have been achieving A3 Building Energy Ratings since 2009 with schools typically achieving up to 20% higher performance and 25% better carbon performance than required by the 2019 Building Regulations, along with 10% of primary energy provided via photovoltaics and infrastructure provision for electric vehicle charging.
The Department have been using test schools to evaluate the suitability of renewable energy options for schools over the past twenty plus years. Nearly 60 % of the research programme features renewable aspects. These renewables include wind generation, solar hot water heating, photovoltaics, rain water recovery, geothermal heat pumps, air source heat pumps and biomass heating systems. Results have varied with respect to their applicability in a school environment. Research continues in many areas.
My 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.
The longer-term outcome of the pathfinder will be to create an accurate and scalable model for energy efficient retrofits of schools across Ireland.
The pathfinder programme builds on significant investment by the Department of Education in energy efficiency through the 2009/10 Cavity and Attic Insulation/Water Conservation Scheme and ongoing Summer Works and refurbishment projects.
The upgrades target a Building Energy Rating of B, 50% energy efficiency improvement and 51% emissions reduction. The works typically involves upgrades to the building fabric including wall and roof insulation, doors and windows, air tightness improvements, LED lighting and heating upgrades as well as renewable technologies.
The Department’s current approach to heating systems provides for direct modulating high efficiency gas boiler systems. This approach takes into account future proofing to ensure school buildings are renewable compatible and are able to take advantage of developing technologies as they become viable, thus enabling a Just Transition for school management, teachers, pupils and parents.
The Climate Action Plan 2021 Annex of Actions published earlier this year actions the Department to confirm its decarbonisation pathway trajectory to meet 2030 and 2050 targets for the schools sector by end of 2022.
Work is ongoing on decarbonisation options for schools with a focus on the standard of required design criteria and specification to achieve a net zero energy school building and establishing the trajectory for the integration of suitable solutions on a phased basis in a risk controlled manner providing a credible cost effective transition to zero carbon school buildings while ensuring no delays to school accommodation delivery.
The attached list shows the list of New School Buildings Completed since 2020.
|
List of New School Buildings completed 2020 to date |
|||||
|
County |
Roll No. |
School |
School Type |
Year |
Building Type |
|
Cavan |
19439B |
Holy Family Ss, Cootehill |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Cork |
19993E |
Gaelscoil An Ghort Alainn, Aibinne Murmont, Gort Alainn |
Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Cork |
19881Q |
Gaelscoil Charraig Uí Leighin |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Cork |
20162O |
Sonas Special Junior School |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Cork |
76273O |
Gaelcholáiste Charrraig Uí Leighin |
Post Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Cork |
14052V |
Kanturk BNS & SN an Chlochair, Kanturk. |
Primary |
2022 |
New School Building |
|
Cork |
17087J |
S N AN CHLOCHAIR |
Primary |
2022 |
New School Building |
|
Donegal |
19927O |
Scoil Mhuire B & C, Stranorlar |
Primary |
2022 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
19032R |
Stewarts Hospital Special School, Palmerstown, D20 |
Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
20486R |
Gracepark Etns, (All Hallows), D9 |
Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
76475D |
Swords Community College |
Post Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
17914S |
St Oliver Plunkett, Malahide |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
76213T |
Lusk Community College - Phase Ii |
Post Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
19727G |
St Mary's Donnybrook |
Primary |
2022 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
20400E |
Ballinteer ET, D16 |
Primary |
2022 |
New School Building |
|
Dublin |
68308L |
Malahide & Portmarnock ETSS |
Post Primary |
2022 |
New School Building |
|
Galway |
71270G |
Clarin College (Gairmscoil Mhuire), Athenry |
Post Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Galway |
20330J |
St Oliver'S Special School, Tuam |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Kildare |
70700A |
Maynooth Post Primary School |
Post Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Kildare |
76193Q |
Maynooth Community College |
Post Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Kildare |
16706G |
St Joseph'S Ns, Kilcock |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Kildare |
20292E |
Maynooth Etns |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Kildare |
76194S |
Naas Community College |
Primary |
2022 |
New School Building |
|
Laois |
19337Q |
St. Francis Special School, Portlaoise |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Limerick |
71840V |
Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom |
Post Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Meath |
19671F |
St Paul'S Ns, Abbeylands, Navan |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Roscommon |
68325L |
Colaiste Chiarain, Summerhill Athlone |
Post Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Westmeath |
17327D |
Curraghmore Ns |
Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Wexford |
19240B |
St Patrick'S Special School, Enniscorthy |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
|
Wicklow |
20045K |
Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain, An Casadh Meidhreach, Ráth Naoi |
Primary |
2020 |
New School Building |
|
Wicklow |
20473I |
Community National School Greystones |
Primary |
2021 |
New School Building |
