Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party)
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28. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to provide supports for district heating schemes to move to more cost-effective sources of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55395/22]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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60. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has examined the use of legislation to regulate heating costs for district heating customers who pay for domestic energy at a commercial rate. [55382/22]

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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61. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the short-term and long-term solutions for communities whose homes are heated through communal/district heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55002/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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62. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will ensure that district and communal heating systems can be regulated by the CRU to ensure fair pricing for those who have these systems and to ensure that these customers are also able to switch to another provider; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55022/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 60 to 62, inclusive, together.

My Department established the District Heating Steering Group this year to consider the development of district heating in Ireland and the regulatory framework required to protect consumers. This Steering Group has met ten times since its establishment and has been examining issues around the structures necessary for the development of the sector. The Group is working to have its initial report prepared by year end, with recommendations on steps necessary to support a structured, nationally consistent approach to the development of district heating.

The Steering Group, in its deliberations, has considered the economic regulation and consumer protection needs of the district heating sector, and smaller scale group heating schemes have been part of these considerations.

Group heating schemes are apartment blocks or housing developments which are supplied with heat, rather than fuel, and in such cases it is the heat supplier that is the purchaser of the fuel used. Therefore, where gas is being used, a commercial tariff is applied due to scale of purchase. Gas and electricity retail markets in Ireland operate within a European regulatory regime wherein those markets are commercial, liberalised, and competitive.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland has initiated a programme of pilot feasibility studies in relation to the technical potential of moving group heating schemes fuelled by natural gas to a renewable energy source. It is anticipated that the results of the first of these studies will be available in the New Year, and they will be of use to inform decisions of operators of schemes throughout the country.

Furthermore, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities has been appointed as Regulator of District Heat Networks and will be responsible for development of appropriate regulation of the sector.