Dear Joe
Thank you for meeting my colleagues and myself on Friday, 30 April, and for the presentation by Paul Hogan and Eddie Conroy regarding Dublin South County Council’s strategy on achieving a low carbon future. I think it is a model of its kind, especially in its holistic approach towards the achievement of carbon reductions across all the relevant policy areas. In that context, I’d be delighted to take up your invitation to visit Adamstown as SEAI has a particular interest in Sustainable Development Zones and yours seems to be one of the most advanced in the country. The visit would be very beneficial from my perspective and I look forward to agreeing a mutually acceptable date for the visit.
During the course of our meeting the issue of the Newcastle geothermal project was raised, with particular reference to my letter of 19th February which was addressed to you on the matter and in which I expressed support for the development of geothermal energy in the South Dublin County Council area. As I stated at our meeting, my support is for exploration which is intended to prove the scale and potential of the geothermal resource and is not intended to extend to the funding of the Pilot Project primarily through the linked Planning Gain of additional development on currently unzoned lands. My clear understanding is that the development of this resource must be carried out within a holistic framework contributing to the Council’s overall sustainability programme. In that regard, I welcome the Council’s support for geothermal energy and would encourage you to continue your collaboration with SEAI to support the delivery of this renewable resource. For our part, we will encourage the development of a national policy on Geothermal Energy in conjunction with our parent Department and our Minister.
May I conclude by thanking you and your colleagues for all the cooperation we have received in advancing the sustainability agenda and by expressing the hope that it will continue to intensify to the benefit of the communities we serve.
Yours sincerely
Brendan Halligan
Chairman
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland