Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
2199. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the policy developments related to district heating projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32064/19]
View answerThe All-of-Government Climate Action Plan which I launched last month sets out a range of actions to address the issue of climate disruption, including a commitment to develop a policy framework for the development of district heating in Ireland.
An inter-Department and inter-agency Working Group, chaired by my Department, has been established in order to develop this framework. It is intended to publish a draft policy framework for public consultation later this year.
There are also a number of supports in place for district heating.
The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat supports the adoption of renewable heating systems by district heating operators.
The Climate Action Fund can provide support for the investment cost of district heating networks. Two of the successful projects from the first call under the Climate Action Fund are district heating projects – Dublin City Council’s District Heating System and South Dublin County Council’s Tallaght District Heating Scheme.
Up to €20 million is being invested in the Dublin District Heating System, which will capture waste heat generated at industrial facilities, in particular the Dublin Waste to Energy Plant in Ringsend, and piping it into homes and businesses in the Poolbeg, Ringsend and Docklands areas of Dublin city.
Up to €4.5m is being provided to establish the South Dublin County Council Tallaght District Heating Scheme, a sustainable district heating solution in the Tallaght area to provide low-carbon heat to public sector, residential and commercial customers.
