asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he is now in a position to request either the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards, the National Board of Science and Technology or his own technical officials to make an assessment of the energy implications of the proposed draft revision to the development plan of local authorities and if he will be, in conjuction with the Department of the Environment, indicating energy conservation guidelines to local authorities.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Conservation.
29.
Present practice is that development plans, and revisions, forwarded to me by local authorities, are brought to the notice of the power companies concerned with the area in question, and their comments are invited in so far as the plan has energy implications from their viewpoint. Action on these comments would depend on the nature of the comments. The issue of guidelines to local authorities is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, but consultations are proceeding with that Department on this issue. Representatives of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards who have now been given a leading role in energy conservation will be involved in the future discussions.
Could consideration be given when local authority houses are being designed to ensuring that there will be maximum energy conservation in them?
As the Deputy is aware, new regulations in this regard will come into effect in July. The development plans for these houses would be involved basically with structure and layout.
Has the Minister considered possible reductions in the amount of traffic and petrol consumption?
The format used in the Energy Division is that when plans come before us they are circulated to the various authorities concerned.
Does the Minister expect any material changes as a result of these activities and, if so, what type of changes?
It is difficult to specify exact changes but the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards are assuming an active role in the whole conservation question. They have been given new instructions by the Minister—
Is anything happening in this field, or is it just more paper?
30.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the amount expended by his Department, or by any body financed by his Department, on advertising to promote energy conservation in the years 1976, 1977 and 1978; and up to 15 March in the year 1979.
Expenditure on advertising to promote energy conservation by Department of Transport and Power and subsequently Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy has been as follows for the years in question:— 1976, £70,645; 1977, £42,077; 1978, £18,816; 1979 to date, £150.
No body financed by my Department has expended money on such advertising.
Why has there been a reduction in the amount allocated for this year?
It is intended that the sum for this year will be greater than last year.
If £150 has been spent in the first three months of the year in the midst of an oil crisis it does not auger very well for the rest of the year.
The Deputy will be aware that it is not just a question of advertising but that there are other matters involved as well.
Would the Minister not agree that if he is cutting the amount allocated to advertising in the middle of an oil crisis it indicates that the Minister and his Government are not very serious?
(Interruptions.)
Before we move on I would like to point out to Deputy Bruton that it is not in order to argue across the floor ignoring the Chair. The Chair has been overly tolerant but there are limits.
In reply to Deputy Bruton's question, I would make the point that a more relevant figure should be the total expenditure on conservation during the years in question and I can relate them to the Deputy. In 1976 the total expenditure on conservation was £98,000; in 1977 the amount was £160,000; in 1978 the amount was £115,000 and in 1979 it is estimated there will be an expenditure of £422,000. That should give an indication of the importance being given to conservation.
But the Minister has still only spent £150 this year—a princely sum.
(Cavan-Monaghan): Might I ask the Minister if I heard him correctly when he said that the amount in round figures spent on advertising was £70,000 in 1976; £42,000 in 1977; £18,000 in 1978 and £150 to date in this year? If that is so would the Minister not agree that it would appear that so far as encouraging people to conserve energy is concerned, the Minister's Department has simply ceased to operate.
The Deputy heard me correctly with regard to the figures I gave but, so far as the importance being given to conservation by the Department is concerned, the relevant figures are the figures that I just gave to Deputy Bruton. In 1976 £98,000 was spent on conservation; in 1977 £160,000 was spent; in 1978 £115,000 was spent and in 1979, to underline the importance being given to this whole question by the Government, it is estimated that £422,000 will be spent.
The Minister calls it energy conservation money but we do not know where it is actually going.
(Interruptions.)
That is not eliciting information; it is just arguing. I am calling the next question.
(Interruption.)
(Cavan-Monaghan): Would the Minister not agree that, even on the overall figures he has given, there seems to be a drastic drop between 1977 and 1978? It has fallen from £160,000 to £115,000. Is that not an indication that the Minister and his Department are doing nothing about it?
A more important figure would be the figure for 1976 when the Deputies' Government were in power. The figure was £98,000 as distinct from £422,000 to be spent this year.
(Cavan-Monaghan): It has not been spent yet.
31.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if the reduction in energy consumption mentioned after the Paris Summit and referred to by the Taoiseach in his statement to the Dáil on 15 March, is a reduction in the amount of energy use forecast or a reduction in the amount currently being used.
32.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if, in view of the latest OPEC increase in oil prices, the position as outlined by the Taoiseach in his Dáil statement of 15 March referring to the recent Paris Summit on the need to reduce requirements of fuel and energy is changed; and if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 32 together.
The reduction in energy consumption referred to by the Taoiseach in his Dáil statement on 15 March refers, in so far as this country is concerned, to this year's energy consumption as forecast for the year.
The latest OPEC measures referred to by the Deputy presumably relate to the decision to increase the official OPEC selling price as from 1 April. This decision should not affect the available supply of oil but certainly gives added emphasis to the need for energy conservation.
in what area of energy consumption does the Minister expect the reduction mentioned by the Taoiseach to take place?
What is being done at the moment by the Minister and his Department, in conjunction with other Departments, not necessarily to reduce our energy requirements but to try to meet them? What is being done about the bogs? Is anything being done for the ordinary domestic consumer who could and would provide his own fuel from our bogs except that there are no roads into them? It is a significant factor.
It is remotely related but it is a separate question.
It is the remoteness of the bogs that is in question.
In reply to Deputy Bruton's question we now come to the whole question of conservation and the importance of conservation in the light of the situation that is prevalent in the world's crude supplies at the moment and the problems that arose in the Middle East which have resulted in an international shortfall of roughly 5 per cent. The whole question of conservation has to be taken into account right across the board. Particular problems arose this winter as a result of difficult climatic conditions. Consequently there were extra demands on supplies. The Government have taken action and have set down a list of priorities for the oil companies and on the domestic side this would remove supplies on an immediate basis to the domestic users of diesel for central heating.
Is that what the Taoiseach had in mind when he made his statement or had he other things in mind?
It is irrelevant to ask one Minister what another Minister had in mind.
Can the Minister give a breakdown of the steps intended to be taken?
33.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if it is proposed to take any initiative to reduce the level of energy consumption in home heating and in transportation as a result of recent developments which indicate that the costs of energy will increase this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
34.
asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy if he will give details of the initiatives which he proposes for intensifying efforts to ensure conservation of energy.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together.
On 27 March last I announced certain initiatives in the area of energy conservation. Briefly they included measures to ensure that new industry be energy efficient before being granted aid and the extension and rationalisation of current grant schemes aimed at energy saving in industry.
I announced at the same time that the IIRS would take on a leading and active role in all aspects of energy conservation.
The IIRS, whose new role will extend beyond the industrial sector and into the domestic, commercial and transport sectors, will be drawing up lines of action for these other sectors in conjunction with the appropriate organisations and Government Departments.
Measures to improve the thermal performance standards for buildings are due to come into operation on 1 July next. I hope to announce, in the near future, proposals for the further encouragement of energy conservation in areas such as home heating and transportation.
Can any part of the Government's conservation policy explain the non-delivery by one particular petroleum company over four weeks in Donegal of any type of fuel whatsoever?
That is irrelevant.
What type of measures does the Minister have in mind in the transportation area?
We will be drawing up lines of action for these other sectors. They have not been drawn up yet.
Will the Minister say if it has something to do with the horsepower of cars?
I have no idea.
I am in an awkward situation with regard to Question No. 35. Deputy Kelly asked that it be postponed. It was my intention, with the permission of the Chair, to answer Questions Nos. 35, 36 and 37 together. I have made attempts to contact Deputy Kelly but he is not available.
The Chair will have to permit the answer to be given.