asked the Minister for Energy whether, in regard to his current promotion tour on energy conservation, he will state the proposals his Department have for a positive programme of information directed towards the general public on the various ways in which the use of fuels may be considered; and if he will indicate the funds, if any, which have been allocated for this purpose.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Conservation.
5.
I already have a very wide-ranging programme to publicise the need for energy conservation and how it can be achieved. The main elements of this are intensive advertising and publicity, the setting up of Energy Managers' Associations on a regional basis and the appointment of regional energy conservation officers, the running of competitions, the production of leaflets, posters and stickers in English and Irish and the preparation of booklets for the various sectors. In addition, more than 60 individual lectures were organised by my Department last autumn.
Technical queries from the public are answered on the Department's hotline 01-376666 and this service has answered more than 2,000 calls since it was introduced last year.
More than £200,000 was allocated to this campaign in 1980 and funds are being significantly increased in the current year when the programme will be continued and expanded.
How does the Minister intend to increase the funds for advertising and publicity in the matter of energy conservation in view of the fact that the provision under subhead C.2 of his Estimate for advertising and publicity has been cut in half?
The subhead to which the Deputy refers relates to the cost of things like statutory notices and so on. The Deputy may recall that during the petrol drivers' dispute some months ago my Department were obliged to issue a number of press advertisements. They came out of the subhead to which the Deputy refers. This will not come out of that subhead.
Could the Minister say what subhead provides the substantial sums he is talking about?
Energy conservation.