'Very welcome investment': Nine Clare schools set for upgrades under new government scheme

Nine Clare schools are set to benefit from the Climate Action Summer Works scheme, Cathal Crowe TD has confirmed.

This funds infrastructural developments and upgrades in schools, with a strong focus on sustainability. The scheme allows schools to undertake measures such as insulation upgrades, LED lighting installation, EV charger provision, active travel measures and other climate-focused works alongside traditional maintenance.

The schools who will be in receipt of the scheme in the summer of 2026 include:

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• The Holy Family Junior School, Ennis (Climate action and curricular requirements)
• Miltown Malbay NS (External environment projects)
• New Quay NS (External environment projects)
• Convent of Mercy NS, Kilrush (Climate action and roof works)
• Kilmurry McMahon NS (Climate action and windows projects)
• Coláiste Mhuire, Ennis (Climate action and roof works)
• St Joseph’s Secondary School, Miltown Malbay (Climate action and mechanical works)
• Scariff Community College (Climate action and science labs)
• St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe (Climate action and science labs)

According to Deputy Crowe: “This is very welcome investment in these nine schools and has long been called for. I have worked closely with a number of these schools in getting their application for works across the line and I thank Minister for Education, Helen McEntee, for approving these projects today.

“These works, which are typically carried out during the summer holidays, will have a very real impact in a number of ways. It will allow the expansion of teaching and learning for those who will have new science equipment and learning spaces, and it will be of huge benefit to the school communities who will now have warmer classrooms due to new and more energy efficient roofs, windows and other energy preserving measures," he added. 

Deputy Crowe also noted how the investment in science laboratory refurbishments, to which €30 million has been allocated nationwide, supports the roll-out of the new leaving certificate curriculum. This aims to ensure that students are equipped with the skills and competencies they need to thrive after finishing school. 

This is the first tranche of project approvals made under this Government, to which the TD confirmed that he will be pushing "very hard" for a number of different projects in other schools around Clare to be top priority for the next round of allocations.