Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
553. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the next round of funding under the education for sustainable development scheme for primary and secondary schools will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9267/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that the 2026 call for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD to 2030) funding for primary and post primary schools is expected to open in September 2026. This will be for school projects taking place in the 2026/27 school year.
For the 2025/26 school year, €860,000 was delivered to 390 schools nationwide for a wide variety of ESD related projects. ESD projects this year include a "local and community level action", giving the students the opportunity to partner with local organisations and take action for sustainable development in their local area.
A further €466,000 in ESD to 2030 funding was delivered to 21 organisations in summer 2025 for projects, resources, workshops and teacher professional learning. This included funding of €25,000 to the Irish Second Level Students Union for student led projects such as their "Debate your Decision Makers" event, in line with one of the priority aims of ESD to 2030 to "Empower and Mobilise Young People to take Action for Sustainable Development".
All schools in receipt of ESD to 2030 funding are committed to developing a Sustainability Policy Statement in accordance with the School Sector Climate Action Mandate. The department published a Sustainability Toolkit to assist schools with this work and Schools Sustainability Policy Statements, where published by the school, are being mapped by the department to help inform other schools of this work.
The 2026 ESD funding call for organisations and for schools will be announced in our quarterly ESD newsletter which issues to all schools.
Further information on all of the above including a list of organisation and school grantees and projects awarded funding in 2025 is available on the ESD to 2030 webpage here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/national-strategy-on-education-for-sustainable-development-in-ireland/.
