Written Answers Nos. 191-214
191. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the total estimated cost to the Exchequer associated with the recent renaming and rebranding of his Department including but not limited to cost categories (details supplied); the breakdown of the incurred or projected costs; and if a cost-benefit analysis or any assessment of public value was carried out prior to approving these changes. [31360/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe name of my Department formally changed to the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment on 2 June, 2025. This adjustment ensures that the title of the Department fully represents the scope of our work following the transfer of the communications function to the new Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and the transfer of cyber security to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
My Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that this transition is as efficient and cost-effective as possible. The rebranding of the Department is predominantly cost neutral; new Department logos, website and digital updates and social media updates have all been managed in-house.
As my Department was still in the process of finalising signage in our new building, there are no replacement costs for existing signage. Other costs associated with physical signage or branded materials have not yet been fully estimated, as any new assets required will be evaluated on a future needs basis. Much of our public branding carries the Government of Ireland logo, eliminating the need to replace Department-specific branding. In our efforts to reduce paper and card, we do not hold supplies of branded stationery (headed paper, envelopes, business cards etc), and items such as folders carry the Government of Ireland brand in order to minimise redundancy and waste. Any administrative work on the part of staff to support Departmental rebranding is part of their normal day-to-day duties.
My Department has committed a modest expenditure on social media to amplify the message to stakeholders that our name and social media handles have changed. In addition, we have a comprehensive suite of internal templates (Reports, PowerPoint presentations, etc.,) that we have engaged a design agency to update. This is part of a wider project to upgrade Departmental templates to ensure that they are fully accessible under the forthcoming Digital Accessibility Act.
These costs are itemised below.
Digital advertising cost – stakeholder communications: €225
Template upgrading for full web accessibility standards: €4,200.
192. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a list of all dispatchable electricity generators currently operating within the single electricity market (SEM) (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31397/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CRU, ESB Networks and EirGrid have dedicated contact email address for Deputies should they wish to raise matters of concern or seek updates on investments in the national electricity grid: oireachtas@cru.ie or oireachtas@esb.ie or oireachtas@eirgrid.ie .
The 2025 All-Island Resource Adequacy Assessment, published by EirGrid in March 2025, contains a detailed overview of registered capacity of dispatchable generation and interconnectors in Ireland in 2025, including name, fuel type, generator type, and MW capacity. This information can be found in Appendix 3 of the assessment, which can be downloaded at www.eirgrid.ie/news/new-eirgrid-analysis-examines-balance-between-electricity-demand-and-supply-ireland-over-10. The map of Ireland’s transmission system and generation assets can be found here: www.eirgrid.ie/grid/how-grid-works/irelands-grid/.
The Government has set a target of having at least 2GW of new flexible gas-fired generation by 2030 in our Climate Action Plans to ensure secure generation of electricity at times of low renewable output and/or high demand. The CRU, EirGrid and my Department are supporting the ongoing delivery of 2GW of new flexible generation capacity procured through capacity market auctions. The operation of the capacity market auctions is undertaken by the Single Electricity Market Operator (SEMO) under the oversight of the Single Electricity Market Committee (SEMC). The CRU is part of the Single Electricity Market Committee (SEMC) which decides on the volumes to be procured in the capacity market, in what regions of the grid, and the resulting costs.
Temporary Emergency Generation (TEG) capacity has now been delivered in four locations, namely, North Wall and Huntstown in Dublin, Shannonbridge, County Offaly, and Tarbert, County Kerry. Additionally, Moneypoint power station is converting from coal to heavy fuel oil and has been contracted to remain open until 2029 as an “out of market” unit to provide power only when required by the system operator for electricity security.
Power operators are legally mandated to hold secondary fuel, typically oil, as a back-up on site for the purposes of fuel switching where necessary. This mandate amounts to a supply of either 3 days or 5 days (site dependent). Currently the units are tested on secondary fuel (operated at full output for 1hr on secondary fuel).
193. Deputy Brian Brennan asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to examine the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31409/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Warmer Homes Scheme aims to improve the energy efficiency and warmth of homes owned by people in energy poverty by providing fully-funded retrofits. The scheme is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department and is funded through the carbon tax receipts and the European Regional Development Fund.
Last year saw a record spend of almost €230 million under the scheme. This resulted in 7,743 upgrades being provided to low-income households, a 31% increase on 2023. This year’s budget includes an allocation of €280 million for the Warmer Homes Scheme. This represents an 11-fold increase on the 2020 expenditure figure.
There are a number of home energy improvements offered as part of the scheme. The upgrades recommended for a particular property depend on many factors, including age, size, type and the condition of the property. For each eligible home, the SEAI’s technical surveyor determines which upgrades can be installed and funded.
Until 31 December 2024, a new gas or oil heating system could be recommended for installation and funded under the Warmer Homes Scheme. This was done in order to comply with Building Regulations requirements where a major renovation was taking place under the scheme.
However, under the revised EU Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD), Member States cannot provide financial incentives for the installation of stand-alone boilers powered by fossil fuels from 1 January 2025. Therefore, since then, the SEAI cannot recommend the installation of new stand-alone oil or gas boilers as an upgrade measure when surveying homes under this scheme.
Instead, where a heating system upgrade is required as part of a major renovation, the SEAI will assess the suitability of the home for a heat pump, or other renewable heating technologies, which are compliant with the EPBD. Therefore, where a homeowner does not wish to have their heating system replaced with an EPBD-compliant system as part of a major renovation, the SEAI cannot carry out the other insulation works.
Homes that had applied to the scheme prior to 1 January, but which were not surveyed prior to 1 January, are affected by this change and the approach outlined above will apply.
As Minister, I have no function in relation to individual applications. Applicants can contact the SEAI at any time to get further information on the status of their application either by email to warmerhomes@seai.ie or by phone to 1800 250 204. Oireachtas members can make queries on behalf of applicants by contacting the dedicated email address oireachtas@seai.ie.
194. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of the 16 settlements reported by the EPA to be discharging raw sewage in 2024 that are still discharging raw sewerage; the anticipated date by which the discharge of raw sewerage is expected to cease in respect of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31423/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of settlements that are known by his Department to have wastewater treatment facilities that fail to meet EU standards set to protect the environment, including the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31424/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the number of the 547 unsewered settlements in Ireland, many of which are coastal summer holiday destinations, that have an average weekly loading in excess of 2,000 PE during some months of the summer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31425/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra197. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment who he and his Department considers responsible for the assessment of sub-threshold agglomerations, particularly in coastal locations where the population equivalent varies disproportionately during the summer season, given that the statutory body responsible for wastewater treatment and networks, Uisce Éireann, does not assess locations which do not have existing sewerage network or treatment facility, but is instead focussed on upgrading existing sewerage networks and treatment facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31426/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 194, 195, 196 and 197 together.
I wish to advise that I have no function in relation to the provision of wastewater treatment systems or the inadequacy of existing wastewater treatment system. This falls under the remit of Uisce Éireann which is a body under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
It should be noted, however, that, since 1 January 2014, Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation at national, regional and local levels under section 7 of the Water Services (No. 2) Act 2013 and I am advised that the Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has no function in relation to same.
In addition the Environmental Protection Agency, as the Environmental Regulator, is the key statutory body for investigating complaints of pollution and for the enforcement, both directly and through oversight of Uisce Éireann and local authorities, of environmental legislation in Ireland, including compliance in relation to licensed urban waste water discharges.
If Deputies have any queries on specific issues in relation to water services, Uisce Éireann has established a dedicated team to deal with representations and queries from public representatives. The team can be contacted via email to oireachtasmembers@water.ie or by telephone on a dedicated number, 0818 578 578. Deputies can also contact the EPA at oireachtasqueries@epa.ie.
198. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment the number of meetings he has had with Bord na Mona on the sale of Bord Na Mona recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31453/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra199. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment to publish all documentation relating to his consideration of Ministerial consent of Bord Na Mona recycling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31454/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra200. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Climate; Energy and the Environment the actions he will take to protect workers’ pay and conditions at Bord na Mona recycling and ensure that Bord na Móna recycling will establish a registered employment agreement on pay and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31455/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 198, 199 and 200 together.
Bord na Móna (BnM) is a commercial State body under the aegis of my Department, established under the Turf Development Act 1998. BnM is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department. The Board and management of BnM are accountable for the strategic direction and management of the organisation. My Department is responsible for the corporate governance oversight of BnM, including the provision of consent relating to certain activities.
In relation to BnM Recycling, the Department was made aware in 2024 that BnM was undertaking a strategic review of this business. BnM informed my Department on 7 February 2025 that after conducting this strategic review, it proposes to sell its shares in BnM Recycling Limited to Irish recycling provider KWD Recycling, a waste collection, recycling and recovery operator in the southwest of Ireland. Any proposal to sell part of BnM’s business is subject to regulatory approval, including Ministerial consent and Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) clearance. My Department understands that the CCPC has now issued its decision in relation to this proposal. On receipt of a formal consent request from BnM, this proposal will be carefully considered by my Department.
Bord na Móna has informed my Department that it has taken steps via its extensive interaction with the buyer and the union with the support of the Work Place Relations Commission, to provide all staff members, including union members and those who choose not to be union members, with the assurances required that their terms and conditions will be protected. My Department continues to engage in dialogue on all governance related matters with Bord na Móna.
201. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a schedule of the amount expended by his Department, and bodies under his aegis, on external training, simulations and advice in advance relating to appearances as witnesses at Oireachtas committees, from 2021 to date in 2025; if the supplier of services will also be provided, with a brief outline of services provided, indicating for which Oireachtas committee the services were utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31489/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that between 2021 and 2025, 18 staff members have completed external training relevant to this Question at a total cost of €3,650. The training was provided through One Learning and delivered by the Communications Clinic and also by DHR Communications.
There are 12 State bodies under the aegis of my Department. The information sought in the Question is an operational matter for each of the State bodies concerned and, as such, it is not information held by my Department. It is suggested that the Deputy contact the Bodies directly in relation to this matter. Contact details for each body is set out in the attached document.
202. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if a consumer pays the €1.50 recycling charge when they purchase a new motorcycle tyre, if they are exempt from paying the same charge when they attend the recycling centre to dispose of the tyre when it has worn out. [31548/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017, Ireland introduced an Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for tyres which is operated by Circol ELT.
A consumer may return a used tyre which was subject to a visible Environmental Management Cost (vEMC) to the retailer where they bought the tyre, and the retailer is obliged to take the tyre back free of charge. There is no obligation to buy a replacement tyre.
203. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31558/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable Scheme is a targeted pilot scheme for installing solar photovoltaic (PV) panels for customers/households registered on the life support category of the Priority Services Register. These homes have a dependence on electrically powered equipment, including medical equipment, life protecting devices and assistive technologies for example dialysis machines, respirators, etc. As such, these households may have a higher energy demand than the average user and this scheme is designed to go some way towards helping to reduce those energy costs.
The Solar PV for the Medically Vulnerable scheme was designed in 2022 and is operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) in conjunction with Energy Suppliers. Each Energy Supplier is responsible for contacting their own eligible customers directly, in line with the specific work plans for their Solar PV Installers.
The scheme is currently in a pilot phase, with budget approval based on a fixed number of households who were on the Priority Register in November 2022. Eligibility for this phase of the scheme is purely based on the cohort of approximately 4,000 medically vulnerable households registered at that time. It is intended that lessons learned from the pilot phase will be incorporated into a wider SPV Medically vulnerable Scheme proposal, for consideration and budget allocation.
I am advised that when switching suppliers as part of the standard procedures it falls to the previous supplier to inform the new supplier that the client is on the Priority Register. Customers are registered on the industry (ESB Networks) Vulnerable Customers Registers (Priority Services Register & Special Services Register) by their supplier. Through the CRU Suppliers' Handbook (section 7.2.3) suppliers are required to establish and maintain their own vulnerable customer registers and to also ensure vulnerable customer data is forwarded to ESB Networks for inclusion on the industry register. Suppliers are also required by the CRU to take reasonable steps to identify customers at sign-up who are eligible to register as vulnerable customers (section 7.3.4).
204. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the revenue that would have been earned if the market revenue cap (details supplied) had remained in place, by year. [31604/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra210. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the revenue that was not collected under the market revenue cap (details supplied) because it could be demonstrated that it was being used to impact prices charged for electricity; and the proportion of the eligible revenue that was not collected as it could be demonstrated that it was being used to prices charged for electricity. [31620/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 210 together.
The Energy (Windfall Gains in the Energy Sector) (Cap on Market Revenues) Act 2023 was enacted in November 2023 and was commenced on 4 December 2023. This Act implemented a cap on market revenues of licensed producers of electricity with a capacity greater than one megawatt, authorised intermediaries of such producers and persons authorised to sell electricity on behalf of producers, as required in Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 of 6 October 2022 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices.
The Act provides for the collection agent to establish, administer, and maintain a fund to be known as the Market Cap Fund, into which the proceeds from the cap on market revenues will be retained. Under the Act, the proceeds from the cap on market revenues have been retained by EirGrid on behalf of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) and are to be used to support final electricity consumers in measures in line with Article 10 of the Regulation.
Section 13 of the Act provides that if it could be demonstrated that the adjusted surplus revenue of an entity subject to the market cap had already been passed directly to final consumers, that portion of the revenue would not need to be paid to the collection agent.
The Act designates the CRU as the competent authority. As such, my Department does not have a role in reviewing returns issued by the impacted entities and I am not in a position to say how much revenue was not collected under section 13 or to provide a breakdown thereof.
Regarding the Deputy’s query on the revenue that would be raised if the market cap had remained in place, I note that the Act was designed to avoid creating negative investment signals or a country-specific risk. Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 calls for “exceptional, targeted and time-limited measures” to mitigate high energy prices. Accordingly, the Act applied for the period beginning on 1 December 2022 and ending on 30 June 2023. There are no plans to renew this temporary measure and as such, the revenue raised by a more permanent cap on market revenues has not been modelled.
205. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the funding allocated to addressing illegal dumping in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [31613/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 66 of 28 May 2025. The position remains unchanged.
206. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the funding provided to the solar PV scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [31615/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Microgeneration Support Scheme (MSS) was approved by Government on 21 December 2021, to support Ireland’s ambitious targets for micro-generation installations, under the Climate Action Plan. The MSS provides supports to both domestic and non-domestic applicants, in the form of grants for Solar PV installations, up to a maximum of €1,800 in 2025 for household installations. These grants are available through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
The SEAI maintains data regarding the financing and functioning of the Domestic Solar PV scheme and the previous pilot scheme it replaced in 2022 and has provided the information in response to your Question. Past allocations of capital and current funding to the SEAI in respect of the Domestic Solar PV scheme are as follows:
|
- |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Capital |
€6,500,000 |
€11,000,000 |
€14,000,000 |
€28,770,000 |
€54,000,000 |
€69,000,000 |
Due to the success of this scheme and resultant high grant uptake levels, the initial capital allocations in 2022, 2023 and 2024 were exceeded, requiring the provision of additional funds, bringing the total grant supports provided to:
|
- |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Capital |
€ 25,200,000 |
€ 52,900,000 |
€ 64,196,245.88 |
207. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the funding provided to the one-stop-shop scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [31616/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) operates the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme (NHEUS) on behalf of my Department. This scheme was launched by the Government in February 2022 as part of an enhanced package of measures to support the uptake of home energy upgrades.
The scheme supports homeowners wishing to undertake a whole home energy upgrade to achieve a BER of at least B2 through SEAI registered One-Stop-Shops (OSSs). OSSs provide an end-to-end service for homeowners, which includes surveying; designing the upgrades; managing the grant process; helping with access to finance; engaging contractors; and quality assurance.
For 2025, capital funding of €51.161 million has been allocated to the NHEUS. The figures below set out the capital expenditure on the scheme (including pilots) in the period 2020-2024:
|
2020 |
2021 (OSS Development Pilot) |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
N/A |
€9.72m |
€11.81m |
€26.88m |
€32.39m |
208. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the funding provided to the community energy grants scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [31617/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Parliamentary Question No. Dáil ref: 76 of 28 May 2025. The position remains unchanged.
209. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide a breakdown of the funding provided to his Department’s retrofitting scheme in each of the years 2020 to 2025, in tabular form. [31618/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) manage a number of residential and community energy upgrade grant support schemes on behalf of my Department. These include the Better Energy Homes Scheme; Warmer Homes Scheme; the Community Energy Grant Scheme; the National Home Energy Upgrade Scheme through One Stop Shops; and the Solar PV Scheme.
Between 2020 and the end of May 2025, over 184,000 home energy upgrades were supported by the SEAI. The capital budget for the SEAI's residential and community energy efficiency upgrade schemes is a record €558.7 million in 2025.
The table below sets out the annual capital expenditure amounts on the SEAI's residential and community energy efficiency upgrade schemes for the period 2020-2024.
|
Year |
Capital Expenditure €m |
|
2020 |
78.8 |
|
2021 |
101.39 |
|
2022 |
192.8 |
|
2023 |
324.53 |
|
2024 |
421.13 |
211. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the breakdown of the funding provided to the Irish environmental network in each of the years 2020 to 2025 broken down by year (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31622/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe funding for the IEN has been increased year on year since 2020, to facilitate the important work of their membership organisations on a broad range of environmental issues, including wildlife conservation, biodiversity, and climate change. These increases in funding have been approved in light of the need to expand this work, as well as to offset the increased operating and administration costs of member activities.
The below table illustrates the total amount provided in funding to the IEN over the specified time period:
|
2020 |
€1,606,000 |
|
2021 |
€1,764,000 |
|
2022 |
€2,100,000 |
|
2023 |
€2,550,000 |
|
2024 |
€3,127,000 |
|
2025 |
€3,127,000 |
Funding for the IEN is provided via the Circular Economy Fund.
212. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the actions he will take to future-proof Ireland's energy grid for extreme weather events, considering the EPA's National Climate Change Risk Assessment report identified a lack of storm resistance in the grid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30749/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish electricity grid is resilient but, as seen with Storm Éowyn, the impact of storms and climate change cannot be underestimated. Responsibility for operating and developing a fit for purpose electricity system rests with EirGrid, for transmission, and ESB Networks, for distribution, both of which are overseen by the independent regulator, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), which in turn is accountable to a Committee of the Oireachtas and not to me as Minister.
Investment in the electricity grid is overseen and approved by the Commission for Regulation of Utilities in 5 year cycles called Price Reviews. Price Review 6 will see the CRU approve the level of investment in the electricity grid between 2026-2030. As part of the PR6 process ESB Networks, as the owner of both the Transmission and Distribution systems, has requested of the CRU a base line investment of €10.1 billion, with the potential to grow to €13.4 billion over the PR6 cycle.
The large-scale investment sought as part of PR6 will assist Ireland in maintaining a reliable and resilient electricity network to meet the needs of customers and society. This investment will deliver additional network capacity at all voltage levels, as well as allowing for significant investment in asset maintenance and replacement, and measures to improve continuity of supply. To deal with the disruptive events of storms and long-term impacts of climate change, as part of PR6, ESB Networks are planning to implement a strategic approach to asset management to ensure that the investments are futureproofed and resilient.
To ensure resilience, ESB Networks have, post Storm Éowyn, published and are implementing an enhanced Winter 2025 Grid Resilience Plan. Furthermore, I am advised that they have reviewed their PR6 submission considering recent storms to determine if further additional projects and investments are required.
213. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment to provide an update on the State's plans for waste disposal given the country's operational landfill sites are almost at maximum capacity; to outline the Department's longer-term plans for waste disposal, including if any waste incineration plants are being planned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30750/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy (WAPCE) sets out an overall policy and regulatory approach to support the development of adequate and appropriate treatment capacity at indigenous facilities to ensure that the full circularity and resource potential of materials is captured in Ireland. This framework is intended to create the market conditions required to support indigenous waste treatment capacity by ensuring that the right material ends up in the right bin, and in a suitable condition, thus making it available for separate collection and subsequent recycling, reuse, or repair and minimising the material which eventually goes for disposal to landfill or incineration at waste-to-energy facilities.
Incentivised pricing systems backed by strong and consistent enforcement also play a key role. The measures outline in the WAPCE provide a significant incentive to drive segregation, increasing the value of the contents of recycling bins and brown bins and thereby creating the necessary conditions to support the viability of indigenous recycling capacity as well as composting and digestate facilities. The Regional Waste Management Planning Offices launched a new National Waste Management Plan in 2024 which sets out the required actions at local and regional levels to deliver on the WAPCE and support Ireland's circular economy transition including several specific actions to address domestic waste treatment infrastructure challenges.
The Department has also commissioned a study to explore the feasibility, potential benefits and risks associated with transitioning our waste collection system from its current model of side-by-side market competition to a franchise tendering system for local authority areas or regions. The recommendations from this study will inform the next iteration of the WAPCE, while the publication of Ireland’s second Circular Economy Strategy later this year will stimulate investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, by focusing on measures that enhance our capacity to transform waste into secondary materials.
214. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment the funding allocated to district heating in each of the years 2020 to 2025, by year, in tabular form. [31687/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDistrict 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 the heat sector and to decarbonise it. 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 including with respect to providing financial support for district heating infrastructure.
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. Initially, Dublin City Council were allocated €20 million from the CAF to support this project. In 2023, this CAF allocation was increased from €20 million to €50 million (pending business case approval).
Since 2024, Local Authorities can now avail of Pathfinder funding for feasibility studies for district heating projects. In 2024, five projects (approximately €500,000) were assisted in this way. The plan is to assist further projects in 2025, with approximately €1 million available.
Funding allocated to district heating in tabular form:
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Funding |
Up to €4.48m |
N/A |
N/A |
Up to €50m |
Up to €0.5m |
Up to €1m |
In line with the District Heating Steering Group Report recommendation to provide financial support for district heating, I am seeking a multi-annual financial allocation for efficient district heating projects 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 the medium-to-longer term.
As part of this process, and in line with the Infrastructure Guidelines, my Department, in partnership with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland's (SEAI) District Heating Centre of Excellence, are preparing a business case seeking to establish future State funding (2026-2030) to support efficient district heating projects in suitable locations, usually urban areas with high heat density.
The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH), administered by the SEAI, has been identified as a potential delivery vehicle for financial supports to district heating projects. Funding for district heating projects is available through the SSRH, which was developed to financially support and stimulate the adoption of renewable heating systems. My Department and the SEAI have developed proposals for the SSRH to expand operational aid supports to larger heat users, in order to better support funding for district heating projects.
