Planning application received: (RED III) the installation of a heat pump and a 2000l LPG tank as part of school decarbonisation project under a Renewab

Offaly County Council received a planning application on 2 June 2026 from St Ciarans Mixed National School in Boher, Ballycumber, for the installation of a heat pump and a 2000‑litre LPG tank. The proposal is part of a school decarbonisation project carried out under a Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III) development scheme. The council has not yet issued a decision; the application is pending with a decision deadline set for 29 June 2026, and no decision code has been assigned.

The school, situated in the rural parish of Boher within County Offaly, will use the new heat pump to provide efficient heating for its classrooms and communal areas. The LPG tank, sized at 2000 litres, is intended as a supplementary fuel source to support the heat pump system during periods when renewable generation may be insufficient or during maintenance outages. The project aligns with the national push toward reducing carbon emissions from educational facilities.

This application follows a series of similar decisions in County Offaly that have been recorded by the council’s planning department. For example, a recent decision approved the installation of two heat pumps and a 2000‑litre LPG tank at Naomh Brighde Buach National School in Kilcruttin, Tullamore, under a RED III development. Other approvals include construction projects for new dwellings, domestic garages, and waste water treatment facilities across the county.

The council’s planning records indicate that the decision on St Ciarans Mixed NS will be made within 27 days of receipt, in line with standard processing times for RED III applications. Stakeholders awaiting the outcome are monitoring the council’s website for updates. The application reflects a growing trend among schools in Offaly to adopt renewable heating solutions as part of broader environmental commitments.

The council’s planning department will assess the application against local development plans and environmental guidelines before making a recommendation. Once approved, the school will receive formal notice detailing any conditions attached to the installation.

For more information see Offaly County Council planning records.

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