Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 June 2023
72. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Education if a school (details supplied) could be considered for inclusion in the energy retrofit pathfinder programme; if this programme will be expanded to allow access for more schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31480/23]
View answerMy Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications have developed a jointly funded school sector decarbonisation pathfinder programme. It is administered by the Planning and Building Unit in my Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland in partnership with devolved delivery support from Limerick and Clare Education Training Board.
This Pathfinder programme is paving the way for, and informing, a much larger national decarbonisation school sector programme.
The budget for the pathfinder programme of works from 2017 to 2023 is circa €110 million.
The general principles and approach to school selection includes; schools who comply with their annual reporting obligations to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) with respect to their annual energy usage under the Energy Monitoring and Reporting scheme and secondly schools that demonstrate a strong and holistic commitment to energy management practices through participation in the Energy in Education website portal and advice programme that is operated by the SEAI and my Department. This programme assists schools reduce their energy consumption. www.energyineducation.ie.
The pathfinder programme selection process also considers various school types where specific learnings may be targeted. These can typically include:
size of school buildings;
energy consumption profiles;
different types of construction;
heritage and conservation requirements.
The pathfinder programme is generally delivered in line with the above considerations and not on an application basis. Schools who wish to be considered should ensure that they are meeting their Energy Monitoring and Reporting requirements and also participating in the Energy in Education Programme.
The National Development Plan 2021-2030 published on 4th Oct 2021, provides capital funding of over €4.4bn for investment in school infrastructure during the period 2021 to 2025. There continues to be a strong Climate Action dimension to this modernisation programme.
This pathfinder is a great example of collaboration ensuring the deployment of new design approaches and technologies are introduced to the school sector on an evidence based approach. This programme continues to assist my Department to explore options and test various solutions for decarbonised energy efficiency solutions in our broad range of school building types.
It is facilitating research on a range of typical retrofit options for schools, which will be 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 school sector.
Each school undergoes a comprehensive assessment to ensure that the measures are suitable for that school and will deliver value to both the school and learnings for the national retrofit programme.
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.
This pathfinder programme has completed work to date in 48 schools across Ireland.
Work is progressing in an additional 16 schools.
A Building Energy Rating (BER) of B is the targeted energy rating for these schools.
