Minister McEntee confirms 28 schools to undergo major energy and decarbonisation retrofit works this summer under the REPowerEU Programme
- Published on: 9 June 2025
- Last updated on: 9 June 2025
Minister for Education and Youth Helen McEntee has today (9 June) welcomed the confirmation that 28 schools will proceed to deep energy retrofit works this summer, reflecting an investment of circa €86 million in the department’s ambitious REPowerEU Pathfinder Programme.
This significant milestone represents a major step forward in the Department of Education and Youth’s efforts to enhance the energy efficiency of the school estate and advance Ireland’s climate action targets, while delivering long-term benefits for students, staff, and school communities.
The 28 schools proceeding to construction will be given a deep retrofit to achieve a Building Energy Rating (BER) of at least B by installing heat pumps, LED lighting and mechanical heat recovery ventilation. The fabric and airtightness of the schools will also be upgraded and electric car chargers will be installed. These upgrades will greatly enhance comfort and functionality in each school while contributing to a lower carbon footprint and reduced energy costs.
A total of 24 schools are being supported with associated electrical upgrade by ESB Networks to accommodate the new decarbonised heat pump systems.
The REPowerEU Pathfinder Programme is an ambitious, fast-tracked initiative with accelerated timelines designed to meet the EU's targets and milestones required for funding compliance.
Minister McEntee said:
“Today we celebrate the progress of 28 schools that are now set to benefit from state-of-the-art energy upgrades this summer. This is a hugely positive development for each of the schools, making them more comfortable for their students and staff. It is also a clear sign of our commitment to delivering modern, climate-conscious school environments and making real progress on national climate goals.
“With an overall investment of €86 million, this is a significant investment in schools through the REPowerEU Programme. Despite its scale and complexity, it has achieved remarkable progress in a very short timeframe. From the appointment of design teams to reaching tender stage within just six months, the pace of delivery has been exceptional.
“We are deeply grateful to all 40 schools that participated in the planning and design stages of the programme for their proactive engagement, cooperation, and support throughout this process. Their participation has been essential to the success of the programme to date and we fully acknowledge the commitment and effort shown by each school community.
“The department will continue to work closely with the schools, project teams, contractors, and all stakeholders to ensure smooth and timely delivery of the retrofit works over the coming months.”
Notes
To date, eight multi-disciplinary design teams and twelve contractors have entered into contract under the department’s REPowerEU programme marking a significant step forward in its rapid delivery.
As part of a risk management approach to ensure the achievement of Value for Money and the full utilisation of the EU funding within the tight timelines, a total of 40 schools participated in the planning and design stages of the programme on the agreed basis that not all projects would proceed to construction. This provided flexibility in managing risks such as planning delays, ESB Networks infrastructure requirements, and challenges in tendering or project delivery.
Each school underwent a detailed, staged assessment process with final decisions based on key criteria including technical feasibility, value for money, alignment with programme timelines and compatibility with the overall funding envelope. In the case of the schools that will not proceed to works at this stage, factors such as value for money, delays in securing planning permission and challenges during the tendering process influenced the outcome. The department will also be assessing opportunities for these schools to progress their climate-proofing through other programmes including through the Climate Action Summer Works Programme which is currently open for applications until 30 June.
The schools which will benefit from the retrofitting funding were selected using data obtained from the pilot phase of the Schools Energy Inventory. The pilot inventory covered schools in Kildare, Meath, Offaly, Wicklow and Wexford and was completed with support from the European Investment Bank.
The REPowerEU funding is also facilitating the nationwide expansion of the energy inventory surveys, which are currently underway across the remaining 21 counties.
A full list of the 28 schools progressing to the works stage is available below.
REPowerEU
The REPowerEU programme is funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU. REPowerEU is the EU’s plan to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels following the war in Ukraine, boost the independence and security of the Union’s energy supply and accelerate the green transition. It aims to fast forward the clean transition and joining forces to achieve a more resilient energy system and a true Energy Union. REPowerEU is financed via the National Recovery and Resilience Facility (NRRF).