Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 November 2023
382. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Education the selection criteria and prioritisation for schools to be included in the first stages of the solar panel scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53173/23]
View answerI was delighted to announce along with Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ossian Smyth, the first phase of the Schools Photovoltaic Programme on 23rd November.
It will allow up to 4,000 schools nationwide to get solar PV panels to reduce their energy bills and their carbon emissions. This ties in with the strong ethos of environmental awareness and climate sustainability among our students and the wonderful work they do in this area, most notably with the Green Flag initiative.
It will provide eligible schools with 6 kWp of roof-mounted solar PV, which equates to approximately 16 solar panels.
The scheme will assist schools in reducing their energy costs and their carbon footprint as part of the response to meeting the 2030 and 2050 Climate Action Plan targets for the schools sector.
The Schools Photovoltaic Programme will be rolled out on a phased basis, commencing with a call for applications to over 1,600 schools from 11 designated areas across the country.
Schools in the following areas are invited to participate in the first phase: Co. Clare, Co. Donegal, Dublin City Council area, Co. Galway, Co. Kerry, Co. Kilkenny, Co. Leitrim, Co. Limerick, Co. Offaly, Co. Waterford and Co. Wicklow
The intention is to include a further eight counties in phase two in Q2 2024 and the remaining eight counties in Q4 2024.
It is intended that all eligible schools across the country, including all schools situated in County Cork, will have the opportunity to apply to the scheme by the end of 2024.
The phasing of the programme will ensure a managed and steady flow of work for solar PV contractors. The data gathered during the first phase will also allow for any improvements in the design of the scheme to be implemented in the second and third phases.
Counties in the first phase were selected to obtain a good geographical spread including a balance of rural, urban, island, Gaeltacht schools in all regions of the country, as well as targeting counties that have not benefitted from other recent Department of Education climate related initiatives.
