Minutes of the Climate Action, Biodiversity, Environment Strategic Policy Committee Meeting held on 26th November 2025 which had been circulated were considered.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor D. Healy and seconded by Councillor J. Newman: “The minutes of the meeting Climate Action, Biodiversity, Environment Strategic Policy Committee held on Wednesday the 26th of November 2025 be ADOPTED.”

Minutes of the Climate Action, Biodiversity, Environment Strategic Policy Committee Meeting held on 24th March 2026 which had been circulated were considered.

It was PROPOSED by Councillor D. Healy and seconded by Councillor J. Newman: “The minutes of the meeting Climate Action, Biodiversity, Environment Strategic Policy Committee held on Tuesday the 24th of March 2026 be ADOPTED.”

It was AGREED to vary the order of business and take item 3 first.

The Motion in the name of Councillor JK. Onwumereh, was proposedby Councillor JK. Onwumereh and secondedby Councillor D. Healy

“That the Chief Executive provides an update on the Priority Actions on the Fingal Biodiversity Plans for 2025 and to confirm how successful the plan was.”

Report:

52 actions were originally planned for implementation in 2025 as set out in the implementation plan developed by the Biodiversity forum. The implementation of 38 actions is either ongoing or completed and 14  actions were not progressed implemented for various reasons.

It was AGREED to take this item with Agenda Item No. 4, Motion by Councillor D. Healy on District Heating Projects.

John Daly, Senior Engineer, gave a presentation on District Heating Projects which was followed by questions/answers from the Members/staff.

The presentation was NOTED.

The motion in the name of Councillor D. Healy, was proposedby Councillor D. Healy and secondedby Councillor J. Newman

“That the Council, working with Codema, Dublin CARO and other appropriate

bodies, produce or commission a report on the potential for additional District

Heating projects in Fingal including projects which would:

a) use existing or planned sewage treatment plants and networks as a heat

source;

b) use seawater as a heat source;

c) use Metrolink tunnels/stations

as a heat source and supply heat to:

a) facilities and businesses with high year-round hot water/heat demand such as

restaurants, cafés, manufacturing,

b) hard to retrofit historic towns such as Howth, Malahide, Skerries, Balbriggan

including liaising with relevant partners with a view to putting in place a pipeline

of projects; ensuring that current infrastructural projects are designed with

appropriate heat extraction or delivery elements or with the ability to retrofit

them easily and cost-effectively.”

Report:

The SEAI published in May a “Comprehensive Assessment of the Potential for

Efficient Heating and Cooling in Ireland”. which is a requirement of the Energy

Efficiency Directive. The Scope of the assessment includes district heating. The

assessment includes a map at Small Area Statistic of heating and cooling demand

and a map of larger waste heat sources (power stations, data centres, industrial

sites, wastewater treatment sites & waste to energy facilities. The report identifies

financially feasible district heating potential of 4.5 TWh/yr of heat.

To go beyond the detail in the SEAI report to assess the feasibility at a local level

would be a significant undertaking requiring outline design, consultation with

potential waste heat suppliers, detailed costing and financial analysis.

Currently the Council is progressing a district heating scheme in the North

Blanchardstown Area using data centre heat. To date the Council has spent euro

129k (not including internal staff resources) from its own resources and is awaiting

decisions on funding for the next stage of planning, tender design and

procurement. It will then have to submit an application for capital funding (max

50%) and secure the balance from its own resources or enter a joint venture with

a private sector operator. Given the cost, current focus on the Blanchardstown

Scheme, uncertainty regarding central government funding it is not

recommended that the study proposed progress now.

Source of Report:

John Daly, Senior Engineer, ECAATS 

The motion was AGREED.