Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)

I did my thesis on the Tallaght district heating system and the feasibility of waste heat utilisation. I am well aware of it and I agree with Ms Donnelly that hospitals or public buildings should be used. When we talk about data centres being integrated into the district heating system, we should bear in mind that we do not have a district heating system in Dublin other than that one. I think there are plans for a few others. The reason data centre waste heat utilisation is done so well in the Nordic countries is that they already have an established district heating system. Utilising waste heat from data centres is not always a good idea when you look at the whole life cycle and the carbon emissions of installing district heating systems. That is why what Ms Donnelly said about using it for hospitals or locations that already have built-in systems is very important. I agree with her 100%. On the issue with data centres, when will we have the CRU before the committee to scrutinise what it is coming out with? It is completely against the programme for Government.