Dundalk estate's heating scheme raised in Dail

Taoiseach Simon Harris is to ask his ministers to look at better ways of providing a financial support scheme for renewable energy after Dundalk TD Ruairí Ó Murchú highlighted the heating scheme at Carlinn Hall.

Deputy Ó Murchú said the communal/district heating scheme at the Mullaharlin Road estate is currently operated off gas, which is “not a particularly good system” and in order for it to be operated by geothermal, the support scheme for renewable heating needs to be looked at and updated.

He said: “With regard to delivering on district heating, I am told by experts in the field that there is a need to look at the support scheme for renewable heat, SSRH, and to update it, so that we can actually deliver what we want, which is a more perfect district heating system using waste heating, whether from pharmaceutical companies, distilleries or other industrial operations - making use of waste heat to deliver a solution for communities and residents.

“Hopefully, with the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and a number of other stakeholders, we can get a solution for Carlinn Hall.

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Flexibility around carers' payments and better provision of respite is needed, Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú told the Dáil.

“I would like to think the Government would be involved and would be able to facilitate this into the future. We need to look at the SSRH.”

In response, Taoiseach Simon Harris said: “This is a matter he has raised before in the context of how we need to have a better support scheme for renewable energy and district heating and, ideally, for the optimal use of waste heat.

“I will speak directly to the Ministers involved in this regard and ask them to consider what the Deputy said.”