Irish District Energy Association (Irish District Energy Association)

Lobbying Organisation Irish District Energy Association

Date published 23 May, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 Jan, 2025 to 30 Apr, 2025

Specific Details Stakeholder meetings and emails in relation to the Heat Bill and SSRH and other grant funding.

Intended results Policy and grant supports for District Heating in Ireland, in order to support hitting the government emissions reduction targets for heat

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Pauline O'Reilly

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) Yes

Current or Former Designated Public Official(s)

Pauline O'Reilly (Former DPO) Senator (Seanad)

Pauline O'Reilly (Former DPO) Councillor (Galway City Council)

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (1)

Leinster House, 9th April 2025 Meeting with Assistant Secretary Brian Carroll to introduce new CEO and discuss the Heat Bill, stakeholder reflections on the bill and upcoming funding under the ICNF and NDP Discussed the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH and INCF funding for District Energy.

Email (1)

11.04.2025 Sent a stakeholder document with reflections on the Heat Bill to Brian Carroll

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Aine Doyle April 23rd 2025 Meeting with Special Advisor to Minister Darragh O'Brien to introduce new CEO and discuss the Heat Bill, stakeholder reflections on the bill and upcoming funding under the ICNF and NDP Discussed the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH and INCF funding for District Energy.

Meeting (1)

Meeting with Senator Mark Duffy 15th April 2025 Discussed the Heat Bill and funding for district heating and the opportunities for district heating in Mayo.

Email (1)

Email to Directly Elected Mayor of Limerick, John Moran 2nd April 2025 Sent an email introduction regarding the potential for district heating in Limerick and seeking a meeting

Meeting (6-10)

Had a series of meetings in Leinster House 9th April 2025 - Sean Kyne, Catherine Ardagh, Erin McGreehan, Ollie Crowe, Roderic O'Gorman, Barry Ward, Albert Dolan Discussed the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH and INCF funding for District Energy.

Meeting (1)

Met with Deputy Pa Daly 11th February 2025 Discussed the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH and INCF funding for District Energy.

Meeting (1)

Had a meeting with Deputy Ciaran Ahern 10th March 2025 Discussed the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH and INCF funding for District Energy.

Meeting (1)

Meeting in Galway with Deputy John Connolly 11th April 2025 Discussed the potential for district heating for Galway, the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH and INCF funding for District Energy

Phone call (1)

Had a phone call with Minister Hildegarde Naughton 8th May 2025 Discussed the potential for district heating for Galway, the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH and INCF funding for District Energy.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Brian Carroll Assistant Secretary (Department of Environment, Climate and Communications)

Siobhan Russell Adviser to Minister (Department of Transport)

Aine Doyle Special Adviser (Department of Transport)

Mark Duffy Senator (Seanad)

Seán Kyne Senator (Seanad)

Hildegarde Naughton Government Chief Whip and Minister (Department of the Taoiseach)

John Connolly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Erin McGreehan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Catherine Ardagh TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Albert Dolan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Ollie Crowe Senator (Seanad)

Ciarán Ahern TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Pa Daly TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Roderic O'Gorman TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Barry Ward TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

John Moran Mayor of Limerick (Limerick City and County Council)