Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein)
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On district heating, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, did its heat map study, and a key thing it identified was district heating. The potential for its use is more widespread than it first considered. What sort of resources do the local authorities need? The SEAI is saying it will not just be our cities but that villages and towns will also be able to avail of district heating. What would the local authorities need to bring that district heating on stream as quickly as possible? That would allow us not to have to focus as much on heat pumps. It is a much quicker way of bringing down emissions.

Planning guidelines have to be changed to ensure the most efficient design of data centre is being used in terms of energy and water use. Irish Water made the point to me. Are local authorities making those observations when the planning applications come in? Irish Water has made those observations repeatedly because it is not actually stipulated in the planning guidelines that the most efficient design must be used.