Minister O’Donovan announces funding of €60 million to drive energy efficiency and decarbonisation across the FET sector
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Ó: An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
- Foilsithe: 7 Eanáir 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 12 Aibreán 2025
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan and Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications Ossian Smyth today announced funding of €60 million to drive energy efficiency and decarbonisation in Further Education and Training (FET) buildings.
For the first time in the FET sector, the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme will seek to reduce carbon emissions, enhance energy performance and build capacity to ensure they lead by example in the transition to a sustainable future.
Speaking today, Minister O’Donovan said:
“Today marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a sustainable future for lifelong learning.
“The €60 million Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Capital Investment Programme for Further Education and Training centres is not just an investment in our infrastructure, but an investment in our people and our planet.
“By upgrading our FET centres with the latest green technologies we are creating a better learning environment for our apprentices and learners while advancing our commitment to achieving climate targets.
“This initiative underscores our commitment to reducing carbon emissions and fostering innovation, ultimately securing a more sustainable and prosperous future for all."
Co-funded under Project Ireland 2040 by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), this initiative is part of Ireland’s Climate Action Plan.
Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications with special responsibility for the Circular Economy Ossian Smyth said:
“For the first time the Further Education Training sector will have its own dedicated pathfinder programme for energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
“The programme is designed to successfully deliver significant energy savings and emissions reductions in the Further Education and Training centres, taking an exemplary lead role in energy efficiency, climate action and investment in developing our people.
“However, it goes further than that, because while this programme aims to develop a foundation for sustainable practices across the FET sector itself, it is also another example of the public sector leading by example, helping to encourage and inspire those who may use these centres and the wider public to also take climate action.”
Avril Behan, Director FET College of the Future in SOLAS, said:
“SOLAS is delighted that a dedicated Pathfinder Programme for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector is now available.
“This is an important step forward as it will ensure that some of our key FET campuses are compliant with climate action targets. This funding will support ETBs to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and expand their leadership role within their communities.
“The Pathfinder programme is part of a holistic package of supports being provided to the FET Sector that also includes over €24 million in Green Devolved Capital Grants over the next 3 years.
“As an organisation we are committed to sustainability, economic resilience, and a future for our learners. The Pathfinder and Green Devolved funding supports ensure that FET will play an important part in contributing to a greener, more sustainable world."
Declan Meally, Director of Business, Public Sector and Transport at SEAI, said:
“SEAI is delighted to support the expansion of the Pathfinder programme to the FET Sector and to be able to build on the collaborative work that the teams in SEAI, DECC and DFHERIS have been developing and delivering successfully for many years.”
The initiative is modelled on the lessons learned from the successful Pathfinder Programme in Higher Education, the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (EEDPP) for Higher Education Institutions, of March 2020.
Notes
The Climate Action (Amendment) Act 2021 commits Ireland to a legally binding path to net-zero emissions no later than 2050, and to a 51% reduction in emissions by the end of this decade. Following on from this, the Climate Action Plan lists the actions needed to deliver on these ambitious targets and sets indicative ranges of emissions reductions for each sector of the economy. It also calls on the public sector to lead by example, inspiring the necessary climate action in wider society.
In this regard, SOLAS, in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) has established an Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (EEDPP) for the Further Education (FE) sector. This programme is modelled on the lessons learned from the successful pathfinder programme in higher education. The first round of the Energy Efficiency and Decarbonisation Pathfinder Programme (EEDPP) for Higher Education Institutions was announced in March 2020.
This is the first time that the FET sector will have a dedicated programme.
SEAI and DFHERIS will co-fund the programme on a matching 50/50 basis – with €30 million to be contributed by DFHERIS, and €30 million to be contributed by the SEAI over the three-year period.
Following this announcement, SOLAS will release the programme's terms and conditions and invite Education and Training Boards to apply. After evaluating the Preliminary Business Case of the projects, a further announcement will issue outlining details the successful projects.
Programme objectives
The ambitious 2030 targets outlined in the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and Climate Action Plan 2023 requires the development of a large-scale decarbonisation programme in the FET estate.
The funding will directly contribute to the implementation of energy retrofit works and decarbonisation measures that would not otherwise be undertaken.
The high-level objectives of the programme are as follows:
- providing support in developing pathways towards achieving Climate Action Plan emissions and energy efficiency targets
- testing a range of decarbonisation and retrofit approaches across a diverse range of buildings typical of the sector
- developing capacity and scale to achieve energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets. Consolidating all learnings, including operational impact of delivery and co -occurring issues to inform an evidenced based strategy and scalable model for decarbonisation pathways
- increasing the deployment of renewable technologies in the sector by 2030
- supporting the sector to develop Building Stock Plans as required by the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate including planning and identifying clear pathways to achieving targets
- disseminating learnings from this programme to the wider Public Sector