Michael Healy-Rae
Question:239. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive solar panels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50779/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 November 2023
Questions (239)
Written answers
Dear Deputy,
It is great to see the school to which you refer has such interest in climate action.
Budget 2023 provided for the provision of funding from the Climate Action Fund (CAF), 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.
This is really positive news 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 to prepare for the roll-out of this programme.
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.
The department is pleased to advise that it remains on track to launch the first phase of the scheme later this year. Officials from the Department of Education and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications are currently working to finalise all details of the scheme and hope to be in a position to make a more detailed announcement in the coming weeks.