A nationwide network of electric car charging points capable of facilitating large-scale electric vehicle uptake over the next decade is among the first projects to be announced under the Climate Action Fund.
The project is one of seven to receive €77m in the first allocation of the €500m fund which is part of Project Ireland 2040.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the projects had the potential to make a real difference in the area of climate action and would "hit the ground running".
€20m is being invested in a District Heating System under Dublin City Council which will capture heat generated at industrial facilities and pipe it into homes and businesses in the Poolbeg, Ringsend and Docklands area of the city.
South Dublin County Council is also to benefit from a €4.5m scheme to provide sustainable heating solutions in the Tallaght area.
Minister for Climate Action Richard Bruton said the seven projects would facilitate a carbon reduction of 200,000 tonnes a year.
Mr Bruton acknowledged that most sectors are "way off target" in terms of climate change action and there would have to be a "massive step-up".
Other projects include a €15m development of a new hybrid power pack for Irish Rail intercity rail cars and a €17.5m Local Authority Public Lighting Efficiency project
Gas Networks Ireland said an €8.5m investment in a renewable gas project in Michelstown, County Cork, has the potential to supply up to 56,000 homes.
Up to €10m is being provided to the ESB eCar project to develop the new car charging network which the company says would see high powered chargers providing an extra 100 km in range in six minutes.
"It really means that we would be able to eliminate to a large degree range anxiety," Executive Director of Customer Solutions at ESB, Marguerite Sayers said.
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