Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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157. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way that his Department is assisting communities to develop community-owned renewable energy projects; the number of projects currently receiving assistance from his Department; the annual budget for helping develop community owned renewables; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12990/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) is one of the major Government policies to help deliver on the ambition in the Climate Action Plan 2021 of up to 80% renewable electricity by 2030.The RESS supports communities in a variety of ways including through a separate category for community projects and a mandatory community benefit fund for every project supported in the scheme. The Climate Action Plan includes a target for at least 500MW of renewable electricity to be supplied by local community-based projects; to reach this target it is estimated that at least 100 community projects will be needed. In order to ensure such a pipeline of community projects I have allocated €2 million in capital funding in Budget 2022 to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

This funding will enable SEAI to deploy a range of capacity-building supports including toolkit guides to assist communities in developing renewable projects. The first four of these, covering grid connection, Solar PV, the planning process and onshore wind, are available on the SEAI website, with more to be developed in the coming months. A trusted intermediary service is also now in place to assist community projects. A trusted advisory service, for expert financial, grid and planning advice, and financial enabling grant supports are to be delivered in quarter two of 2022.

To date seven community projects, comprising five solar and two wind projects, from the first RESS auction are progressing through a number of milestones for delivery under the RESS scheme.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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158. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of a communal heating system at a location in County Louth (details supplied); his engagements on the matter; the possible short-term solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13002/22]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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159. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if consideration has been given to capping the gas rates on group heating schemes considering the issues in relation to same at a location in County Louth (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13003/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 159 together.

Under the House of Tomorrow programme, the first phase of homes in the development were supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.  When launched in 2007, these homes were approximately 40% more efficient than they would have been if built in accordance with building standards in place at the time. The communal heating network was supplied by a central boiler originally fuelled by biomass, which significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the homes. I understand that the fuel source has since been changed to a gas boiler.

However, gas prices are not capped in Ireland, and the position of successive Governments, for almost 20 years, has been that competitive energy markets result in greater choice for consumers and businesses. Given recent international developments, however, the importance of moving away from our reliance on imported gas has been underpinned and, instead, we are accelerating the development of renewable energy generation across the country. 

This Government recognises the potential to make use of renewable and waste energy to heat homes and businesses as part of a range of measures to reduce carbon emissions. The Climate Action Plan 2021 contains actions that will provide a solid basis for the appropriate expansion of district heating in Ireland, including the establishment of a Steering Group to oversee the rollout of district heating and ensure that a robust governance framework is put in place. These actions will also ensure consumer protection, in accordance with legislation.