Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
1. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the provision of up to 6kW photovoltaic panels on all schools; when the scheme will be open for applications; and what the provisions of the scheme are. [45120/23]
View answerThe scheme for the provision of up to 6 kW of photovoltaic, PV, panels for schools was announced as part of budget 2023. We are now approaching the end of 2023 and we are still none the wiser as to the details of this scheme. Can the Minister please update the House on same?
At the outset, I want to confirm that my Department has a very strong record with respect to sustainable energy in school buildings. This performance has been recognised at both national and, indeed, international level with sustainable energy awards for excellence in design and specification.
The Department’s approach to the decarbonisation of the school sector is predicated on establishing a credible phased pathway to zero emissions and meeting 2030 public sector targets. This will be achieved through an evidence-based approach, informed by the Department’s energy research programme, which has been in place from 1997 with 54 different research strands.
The Department’s primary goal under the school building programme is to build a modern and sustainable school infrastructure that provides a learning place in a safe and inspiring physical environment for all students, now and into the future.
Under Project Ireland 2040, in excess of €5 billion will be invested in school infrastructure during the period 2021 to 2025. As part of our overall approach to sustainability in the school estate, it is intended that 6 kW solar PV panels will be provided to schools. This is funded from the climate action fund, which is under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. This is really positive for our schools and will assist with their energy needs and costs, along with supporting the decarbonisation of our school buildings.
The Department has been engaging regularly with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications over the last year to prepare for the roll-out of the programme. This has involved engagement around issues such as the scope of the scheme, the detail of what is included in the PV installation package and compliance with the climate action fund.
The Department of Education has also been working to develop the strategic and operational management approach to ensure the scheme can be rolled out smoothly to primary and post-primary schools. This has included review of implementation strategies, procurement options and costings.
The scheme will fund 6 kW of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels. Connection to the grid will be included to allow unused solar energy to feed to the grid when schools are closed. This will enable schools to be compensated for renewable exports to the grid.
Monitoring software will also be provided to each school, to allow review and discussion of the energy generated each day for staff and students. It is intended that the scheme will be implemented using the Department’s geographic information system, GIS, to support efficient roll-out. This will provide a user-friendly online mechanism for schools interacting with the Department on this solar scheme. This will be the first capital delivery programme of its kind to be implemented using GIS as the interface between schools and the Department. As a result, considerable work has been ongoing in my Department in developing the GIS platform and interface.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
It has been agreed in principle between the two Departments that the solar photovoltaic programme will be rolled out to schools in phases.
I am pleased to advise that we remain on track to launch the first phase of the scheme this quarter and we expect all schools to have the opportunity to apply on a phased basis between quarter four 2023 and the end of 2024. Officials from my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications are currently working to finalise all details of the scheme.
I look forward to being in a position to make a more detailed announcement in conjunction with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and Minister of State, Deputy Ossian Smyth, in the coming weeks.
I thank the Minister for the update. It is becoming somewhat rare that everybody in the House agrees on something when it is a good idea. I think everybody in this House agrees that PV solar panels on schools are an exceptionally good idea, particularly given the level of increase that we have seen in electricity costs and the financial pressures that has placed on schools over the past 12 to 18 months. While preparatory work is important, one must question the inordinate time that it has taken to get to this point. If the preparatory work on how many schools currently have solar panels has taken this long, I would concur with schools when they express concerns to me about how long it will be before those solar panels are physically on their roof, reducing their electricity bills and facilitating them to sell any excess energy back into the grid, much to their benefit and to the benefit of the State's carbon footprint.
When will this scheme be open for schools to apply? Will it be before Christmas? Will it be in the first quarter of 2024? I know that will be greatly appreciated by the schools that have expressed genuine willingness and desire for this to happen for their schools.
I agree with the Deputy. There is widespread agreement that this is an innovative, positive and proactive step forward on climate sustainability. I acknowledge that it has been agreed between the Departments that the solar PV programme will be rolled out to schools in phases. I am pleased to advise that we remain on track to launch the first phase of the scheme this quarter. We expect all schools to have the opportunity to apply on a phased basis between the quarter 4 of 2023 and the end of 2023. Officials from my Department and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications are currently working on finalising the scheme and its details. It will be launched on a phased basis in quarter 4 of 2023.
I acknowledge that this particularly innovative scheme will be the first time that capital infrastructure of this nature will be rolled out via the GIS, which will make it much more streamlined for schools and easier for them to become involved. In fairness, there has been significant development work. It was announced in budget 2023 for implementation in the 2023-24 school year. I am pleased to confirm that the first phase of that will be rolled out before Christmas.
When the Minister refers to the utilisation of GIS, anything that can streamline projects that are of real benefit to our schools is always going to be welcomed, and I welcome that. Will she provide the House with more detail on how schools are being prioritised in that area? She mentioned the modern nature of new school builds. She is correct to do that. Any new build is more modern and will be more energy-efficient than something that has been in existence for 40 or 50 years, but the vast majority of schools throughout the country are schools of a particular age. Some will also have limited roof space. They may actually be taller than they are wide. Has that been factored into consideration of this? I have spoken to schools and they want this to happen as soon as possible. Will the Minister outline priorities for areas where it will happen? That would be appreciated.
I appreciate there is unanimity from schools as well as from the House on moving this as quickly as possible. The GIS is an innovative move by the Department. It means that the uploading of quotes and streaming of applications will be done much faster. That will accelerate the delivery of the programme.
On the finer detail, there is agreement that it will be done on a phased basis. The fuller detail is not entirely within the gift of my Department. We are working with the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. It has been funded by the climate action fund. Further detail will be announced in the coming weeks. As I said, in quarter 4 of 2023, it will initially open, and then for all schools by 2024. I acknowledge two other aspects that are significant. There will be monitoring software as part of the system so that each school will be in a position to review and discuss their energy consumption each day, which will be a positive learning experience for both staff and students.
