Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

23. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if specific funding will be provided this year for the development of communal and district heating schemes; how that funding will be made available; the amount of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17988/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

District heating can play a key role in improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Government policy is supportive of the expansion of district heating to contribute to diversification of fuel supply for heat and to decarbonise the heat sector. The establishment of the District Heating Steering Group was a critical step on our journey towards developing district heating in Ireland. The District Heating Steering Group Report, which was approved by Government in July 2023, contains a range of recommendations setting the future policy direction for development of the sector.

One such recommendation is to review supports for renewable heat production, such as the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH), and redesign such supports, where appropriate, to facilitate suppliers connecting to a district heating scheme. The SSRH is a funding mechanism for renewable heating that currently includes funding for smaller district and communal heating systems. The funding is targeted at switching from fossil fuel to renewable heat technologies. My Department and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) are continuing to progress enhancements to the scheme to ensure it is suitably adapted to also support large scale, efficient district heating projects.

The Government has financially supported the development of district heating networks in Ireland through the Climate Action Fund (CAF). There is a large-scale scheme operational in Tallaght, which was developed by South Dublin County Council, and supported through €4.48 million funding from the CAF. In addition, Dublin City Council is working to develop a large project that will use waste heat from the Dublin Waste to Energy facility in Poolbeg to heat public sector, commercial and residential buildings in the adjacent area. Dublin City Council have been allocated (pending business case approval) €50 million through the CAF to support this project. Local Authorities can also now avail of Pathfinder funding for feasibility studies for district heating projects. In 2024 five projects were assisted in this way, and the plan is to assist further projects in 2025.

My Department, along with the SEAI District Heating Centre of Excellence, are currently preparing a business case seeking to establish future State funding (2026-2030) to support efficient district heating projects. If funding is allocated, developing this initial core infrastructure by 2030 will reduce heat emissions from connected buildings this decade. It will also enable many more citizens, businesses and public bodies to decarbonise their homes and buildings throughout the 2030s and beyond.

The District Heat Centre of Excellence, established within the SEAI, working with other State Bodies, will also examine additional financing options to support the growth of Ireland’s district heating sector, such as funding from the European Union. The Centre of Excellence is supporting the development of a pipeline of potential district heating projects, including projects outside of Dublin.

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

24. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the position regarding the private wires policy framework, in line with the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18019/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Having received Government approval, on 4 July last year, my Department published a set of guiding principles for the development of a policy on private wires. Alongside the guiding principles, a summary report of the Private Wires Public Consultation and an appendix setting out all responses received was also published.

The principles, while not making immediate changes, are to guide any changes which are to come and provide guidance to the public and industry as to the direction of travel in respect of this key area, while reiterating the central role the national electricity grid will continue to play in the electricity system.The Private Wires Policy will aim to unlock private sector resources to build new electricity infrastructure by expanding the rights of private undertakings to connect supply directly with demand. The intention is that by allowing “private wires”, an accelerated investment in new electricity infrastructure to include renewable generation and storage will be seen, which will ultimately benefit the whole electricity system.

Developing a private wires policy is of importance to this Government and an action was included in the Programme for Government to expedite the delivery of this policy. This is a complicated area with lots of potential options. Work on the policy is ongoing within my Department. I anticipate that initial policy proposals will be published in the coming months.