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Dail Éireann · 2024-05-14

Energy Conservation

GP Ossian Smyth · Dún Laoghaire · Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications

Party shown is the one held on 2024-05-14, frozen at parse time — not the speaker's party today.

Summary of this debate

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I am asking for an update on any progress made in the installation and promotion of communal and district heating systems in the State, any targets for the number that could be installed and if the Minister of State will make a statement on the matter. I will correspond with the Deputy and I am happy to give him a full answer. In fairness, I welcome that the feasibility study was carried out by SEAI with regard to geothermal and heat pump technology to replace what is in the gas-fed system.

I met the SEAI and am very happy it is willing to facilitate the possibilities. It is the almost the Achilles heel of district heating systems, which we all welcome. We need to look at one of these types of solutions or, in a perfect world, a district heating solution that would be perfect.

Built by scoring every sentence in the debate on how distinctive its language is, then quoting the highest-scoring ones back word for word and in the order spoken. Nothing is paraphrased or invented — if a sentence appears here, it was said in the chamber. Drawn from 201 words across 9 contributions by 3 speakers.

Most used terms in this debate

How often each word appears across the whole debate, ranked by how distinctive it is to this debate rather than common to all parliamentary language.

seai 3
governmental 2
district 3
heating 3
correspond 2
third-party 2
possibilities 2
hand----- 1
happy 4
think 5
answer 4
reasonably 2

The full debate

All 9 contributions, start to finish, in the order they were made. The one you came here for is highlighted.

SF Ruairí Ó Murchú

I am asking for an update on any progress made in the installation and promotion of communal and district heating systems in the State, any targets for the number that could be installed and if the Minister of State will make a statement on the matter. I do not think he will be shocked I may raise the issue of Carlinn Hall in my supplementary answer. I have met SEAI about possible solutions. I think there is a long journey to go and I hope there will be governmental support for the residents.

GP Ossian Smyth

I am not sure I have the answer to the question at hand. My apologies.

SF Ruairí Ó Murchú

I can just give the Minister of State a number of requests and he could say "Yes". I would be reasonably happy with that.

GP Ossian Smyth this contribution

I would like to give the Deputy a proper answer.

CC Seán Ó Fearghaíl

If the Minister of State does not have that question response to hand-----

GP Ossian Smyth

I do not think I do.

CC Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Can I take it that the Minister of State and the Deputy will correspond and that he will give the Deputy a written response?

GP Ossian Smyth

I will correspond with the Deputy and I am happy to give him a full answer. Does Deputy Ó Murchú want to make a point on the general issue?

SF Ruairí Ó Murchú

I appreciate that. In fairness, I welcome that the feasibility study was carried out by SEAI with regard to geothermal and heat pump technology to replace what is in the gas-fed system. We all know the issue that 50% was lost. It used to take two units of gas to provide one unit of heat and that there was a loss in the system. I met the SEAI and am very happy it is willing to facilitate the possibilities. We are now looking at third-party companies from a point of view of putting a proposal together. There will be a need for a greater level of analysis to be carried out. It is just making sure that if necessary, with regard to any governmental pieces, I think we are looking at a grant scheme similar to what would be offered to biomass. I do not think it is as straightforward but it can be done because we know this is not good from an environmental point of view. It is the almost the Achilles heel of district heating systems, which we all welcome. We need to look at one of these types of solutions or, in a perfect world, a district heating solution that would be perfect. There are possibilities here. My intention is that between the management company, others, some of this third-party expertise and myself that we can put a proposal together. If the residents are reasonably happy with it, it can be put together with all the funding schemes and all of those necessary parts that could improve the system.