Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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17. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Environment if initiatives such as the Tallaght district heating scheme that reuse heat from an existing data centre could be replicated across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17743/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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Government policy recognises the contribution that district heating can make to Ireland’s climate and energy goals, and has financially supported the development of district heating networks in Ireland, including the Tallaght Scheme, through the Climate Action Fund.

In 2023, my Department published a District Heating Steering Group Report, containing a suite of recommendations for the development of district heating in Ireland. It is recognised that the use of waste heat from data centres within district heating networks has the potential to be an effective tool in decarbonising Ireland's heat sector, and this is also strongly encouraged by European legislation such as the Energy Efficiency Directive.

My Department is aware of a potential pipeline of district heating projects, both within Dublin and around the country, including involving private developers working in partnership with Local Authorities and State Agencies. These include a project in Blanchardstown which is being actively progressed by Fingal County Council, and a project which Laois County Council is currently investigating and which would make use of waste heat from a local industry.