Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 November 2023
13. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications his views on the doubling of the cost recently of alternative heating materials, for example, wood pellet stoves (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52626/23]
View answerAs Minister, I have no role or function in determining the retail price of wood pellets or other solid fuels. However, my Department will continue to examine the need for policies to increase the use of wood and wood products in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
In order to reduce the carbon footprint of domestic heating, the National Heat Study, published in February 2022, found that heat pumps are the optimal decarbonisation path for domestic heating systems, with district heating also identified as a competitive option that can be widely deployed. These approaches are being prioritised by Government.
To facilitate the use of these technologies in the decarbonisation and overall energy use needs of our building stock, the Government has established a Heat and Built Environment Delivery Taskforce and will publish a new Heat Policy Statement to guide the Government’s overall response to the National Heat Study across all sectors.
