Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 November 2023
454. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education when the solar panel programme for schools will be rolled out; if she can give an indication to a timeline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47450/23]
View answerBudget 2023 provided for the provision of funding from the Climate Action Fund, which is under the remit of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, in relation to the provision of Photovoltaic Panels in schools up to 6KW output.
The Department has been engaging regularly with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to prepare for the roll-out of this 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 requirements of the Climate Action Fund.
The scheme will fund 6 kilowatts 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 my Department’s geographic information system (GIS) to support efficient rollout. This will provide a user-friendly online mechanism for schools interacting with the Department on this 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.
It has been agreed in principle between the two 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 and we expect all schools to have the opportunity to apply on a phased basis between Q4 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.
