Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 February 2025
84. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the measures the legislation to accelerate the roll-out of district heating systems; the measures this will contain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2925/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra100. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current status of the drafting and approval process for the heat Bill, including the expected timeline for its introduction to the Government; and the steps taken to amend legislation to extend CRU’s regulatory role to all district and communal heating systems, including existing gas-fired schemes, in order to ensure full consumer protection. [3518/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 100 together.
A District Heating Steering Group Report www.gov.ie/en/publication/3f132-district-heating-steering-group/) was published in 2023 and it contains a suite of recommendations for the development of district heating in Ireland.
The General Scheme of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024, drafted to give effect to the recommendations of the Steering Group, was approved by Government on 30 October 2024. The Bill will seek to introduce a regulatory system for district heating that ensures consumer protection and facilitates the development of a vibrant district heating sector. The legislation has been designed to provide, inter alia, a legislative underpinning for the district heating sector, regulatory certainty for district heating project sponsors, safeguards for the State in terms of district heating network ownership and price protections for consumers. Officials in my Department have engaged with the CRU in this regard, and will continue to do so as the legislation is further developed and finalised.
The Programme for Government commits to enacting legislation in 2025 to accelerate the roll out of district heating systems.
