Offaly schools to green-up with energy retrofits

Seven schools in Offaly are to undergo retrofitting works. Geashill NS, The Sacred Heart School, Mercy Primary, Shinrone Mixed NS, Scoil Bhride, St Cynocs and Edenderry Boys National School are among 28 schools nationally which will proceed to deep energy retrofit works this summer.

The 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 are aimed at enhancing comfort and functionality in each school while contributing to a lower carbon footprint and reduced energy costs.

Making the announcement Minister Helen 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.''

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.''

A statement from Deputy Carol Nolan, said, ''the minister’s department clarified that each of the seven schools 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.''

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''We all know the enormous burden that energy costs represent for so many schools who struggle to find the financial resources to keep classrooms heated, especially during the winter months, so anything that assists in reducing those costs in the future is to be welcomed.''

''Ultimately however, the Government must continue to work to reduce overall electricity costs for all of our schools, especially those that do not have adequate levels of insulation,'' concluded Deputy Nolan.