Irish District Energy Association (Irish District Energy Association)

Lobbying Organisation Irish District Energy Association

Date published 31 Dec, 2025

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Energy and Natural Resources

Period 1 Sep, 2025 to 31 Dec, 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)

3rd September 2025 Brian Carroll Discussed the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and SSRH

Email (1)

5th September 2025 Brian Carroll Discussed the opportunities for district heating in Louth

Email (1)

Email and texts Erin McGreehan Discussed the NDP and the funding potential for climate and energy.

Phone call (1)

3rd September 2025 Marie Sherlock Discussed the current status of the Heat (Networks and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024 (Heat Bill) and ICNF

Meeting (1)

25th September 2025 Meeting with Roderic O'Gorman to update him on the current status of policy in district heating

Meeting (1)

30th September 2025 Meeting with Áine Doyle. Sought update on district heating policy

Meeting (1)

8th October 2025 Meeting with Darragh O'Brien (joined by Director David Connolly and Acting Director John O'Shea)

Meeting (1)

1st October 2025 Met Erin McGreehan to discuss district heating in Louth

Informal communication (1)

21st October 2025 Met Ruari O Murchu while visiting Leinster House. Gave update on District Heating policy Gave update on

Meeting (1)

22nd October 2025 Met Áine Doyle to receive an update on Heat Bill

Event / Reception (1)

13th November 2025 Minister Darragh O'Brien and Margie McCarthy attended and spoke at annual conference of IrDEA. Had informal conversations and received updates

Event / Reception (1)

21st November 2025 Spoke to Minister Timmy Dooley at the Data Centres Ireland Conference about the opportunities for heat recovery from data centres for use in district heating

Meeting (1)

5th November 2025 Met MEP Maria Walsh in the European Parliament. Gave her an update on district heating in Ireland

Informal communication (1)

6th November 2025 Met MEP Michael McNamara in the European Parliament. Gave him an update on district heating in Ireland

Informal communication (1)

27th November 2025 Met Margie McCarthy and William Walsh - SEAI Discussed district heating and the work underway in SEAI

Event / Reception (1)

11th December 2025 Met Jack Chambers at stakeholder event re the Accelerating Infrastructure Plan and had an engagement about the importance of designing in district heating while infrastructure is being built

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.

Aine Doyle Special Adviser (Department of Transport)

Erin McGreehan TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Timmy Dooley Minister of State (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)

Darragh O'Brien Minister (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment)

Marie Sherlock TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

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

Margie McCarthy Director (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

William Walsh Chief Executive Officer (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)