Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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110. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to work on possible grant schemes or changes to the Resource Health & Safety Services to facilitate district and communal heating schemes or move them from gas-fed systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47685/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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District heating is a proven technology that can decarbonise the built environment, diversify fuel sources for heat and improve quality of life. Government policy recognises the contribution that district heating can make to Ireland’s energy and climate goals. This is underpinned by the findings of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) 2022 National Heat Study which concluded that a substantial portion of heat demand in Ireland could be met by district heating.

Government policy is supportive of the expansion of district heating to contribute to the diversification of fuel supply to decarbonise the heat sector. To date, the Government has financially supported the development of district heat networks in Ireland through the Climate Action Fund (CAF). In addition, €5 million has been allocated from the CAF to support the pre-construction development costs of efficient district heating projects in Ireland. My Department with the assistance of the SEAI's District Heating Centre of Excellence are in the process of operationalising this funding.

In line with the District Heating Steering Group Report recommendation to provide financial support for district heating, I am also seeking to put in place a multi-annual financial allocation to support the construction of efficient district heating projects in suitable locations over the period 2026 to 2030. Investing now in the early phase infrastructure will deliver key backbone elements for district heating networks that will decarbonise heat for larger anchor customers within this decade, and can be further leveraged, through future investment, to target smaller heat loads.

In this regard, officials from my Department are working with the SEAI in reviewing the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat, while also assessing alternative funding mechanisms, to determine the optimal approach to deliver supports for large-scale, efficient district heating projects once funding has been secured.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government for an update on the working group on district and communal heating schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47686/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The District Heating Working Group was established in 2023 to support the work of the Heat and Built Environment (HBE) Taskforce.

The Working Group is continuing to support the implementation and delivery of the recommendations from the 2023 District Heating Steering Group Report www.gov.ie/en/department-of-climate-energy-and-the-environment/publications/district-heating-steering-group/, including providing support for the drafting and enactment of a Heat Bill.

The Working Group also continues to assist with progressing relevant district heating related actions arising from successive Climate Action Plans, and delivering on relevant actions in the HBE Task Force Implementation Plan.