Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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91. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is scope in the recently announced new technical and financial advisory support, to help Ireland develop district heating systems, by the European Investment Bank to update and correct the system at a development (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60419/25]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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A number of Deputies whose questions we passed over were at committee meetings but they have just joined us. I will come back to Deputy Ó Murchú's question. If the Deputy could be brief, we will try to get other Deputies in as well.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat. I ask the Minister if there is scope in the recently announced new technical and financial advisory support to help to develop a district heating system utilising the European Investment Bank, EIB. The Minister will not be shocked that I am wondering whether we can find a solution in relation to Carlinn Hall. I have spoken to him before about how stakeholders are trying to put together a solution. There are an awful lot of steps to go, but it is about ensuring we look after people in Carlinn Hall.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy. Government policy is supportive of the expansion of district heating to contribute to the diversification of fuel supply to decarbonise the heat sector. We have massive opportunities there. We have not done well in Ireland. We have one district heating scheme in place in Tallaght, but we have a number of others that we can deliver in the near term. To this end, the district heating steering group report was approved by the Government the year before last. The report contains a suite of recommendations, but we really need to move on this.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI, has engaged with the EIB on foot of a recommendation in the steering group report to explore financing options for the establishment of a viable district heating sector in Ireland, including supports available from the EIB. I met with officials from the EIB, and we signed an agreement the week before last. My Department is now engaged, through the SEAI, in undertaking a comprehensive advisory project, which will draw on best practice across Europe to help to inform the long-term strategy for developing district heating systems in Ireland. I am speaking at the district heating Ireland conference next week, and I expect to have expressions of interest in other schemes on that.

In tandem, we are looking at the heat (networks and miscellaneous provisions) Bill, which will introduce a regulatory framework on district heating. The general scheme of the Bill has been approved by the Government. It has been drafted with the intention of appointing the Commission for the Regulation of Utilities, CRU, as the regulator for all heat networks, including district and communal heating, which Carlinn Hall falls under. The general scheme sets out proposed functions for the regulator, so there is work ongoing.

The Deputy has raised Carlinn Hall on a number of occasions in this Chamber. It is a private scheme. It is not a district heating scheme. The SEAI has provided - I have asked them to provide - advisory assistance to residents. I believe that is under way. There are some solutions there. We are a long way from the EIB being able to assist Carlinn Hall residents, but if we can continue to provide advisory support to residents, I will continue to ensure that happens. Some bespoke solutions have been put forward to residents in that development and it is something they will need to advance, but if we can provide support in an advisory way, we will.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I asked about facilitation.