Vol. 419 No. 1
48 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Energy if he will consider the expansion of an energy conservation section in his Department in view of the serious failure of existing structures to implement or spearhead a national energy conservation programme.
It is not correct to state that my Department has failed to implement a national energy conservation programme. My Department has had for a number of years an ongoing energy conservation programme, which is adapted and updated in the light of prevailing circumstances.
Much of this programme is carried out, on behalf of my Department, by the Energy Services Section of Eolas, the Irish Science and Technology Agency. The programme includes such elements as: a fuel efficiency grant scheme; a grant to the charitable organisation "Energy Action"; my Department's Group on the End-Use Efficiency of Electricity; a new Guide to Fuel Efficiency in New Cars, issued in January; the advice and assistance available to industry and other sectors from the Eolas regional energy officers; the free advice available to the residential sector through the Eolas energy phoneline; work carried out by Eolas in the industrial, commercial, health and education sectors; participation in and promotion of EC programmes such as THERMIE, JOULE and SAVE.
