Vol. 427 No. 3
14 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications if his Department has carried out any survey or investigation on energy waste in the country; the steps, if any he proposes to take to reduce this wastage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
54 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his policy in relation to encouraging energy conservation; if he will give details on these policies; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
57 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications the steps, if any, he is taking to put in place a national programme of energy conservation; and the likely timetable of such a programme.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 54 and 57 together.
A number of studies on energy efficiency in various sectors of the economy have been undertaken over the past few years on behalf of my Department. These have confirmed the potential for savings through improved management and the use of better technology.
My policy is to promote such energy conservation to achieve financial savings, to protect the environment and to avoid waste of scarce resources.
A wide range of measures are being used to achieve these aims. These include, for example in the domestic sector, a pilot project on energy certification of houses; appliance labelling; and the provision of an energy phone for inquiries from the general public. In the industrial sector seminars are being organised and specific advice offered to companies. Looking to the future generations, an education pack is being developed for secondary schools which will emphasise the importance of energy and environmental issues.
Such a programme cannot be static however and I have asked that an overall analysis be carried out to identify where future initiatives can have the greatest impact on consumption and the pattern of energy supply. Nor can such a programme have finite timescale. While initial savings may be relatively easily secured, continued effort will be required to ensure these are not lost and that the momentum is maintained.
I gather that the Department has a good information programme on how to conserve energy. Has the Department any plans to introduce any incentive to encourage people towards energy conservation? How much energy does the Department devote towards researching new energy technology? Has the Minister any plans to expand on those?
My Department constantly monitor the use of energy and tries to promote an energy conscious and effective use by the general consumer both on the domestic side and on the industrial side. In co-operation with the semi-State bodies there is a major effort being made, particularly by the ESB, to promote efficiency in electricity use. If we were to provide monetary incentives we would be spending scarce resources. The Department believe we must educate the public in the proper use of energy and make sure that the savings they make are positively in their favour by educating people on how those savings can be made. It is up to the Department to constantly inform the public about the importance of proper energy use.
In the light of what the Minister says, in particular about the ESB, how does he square their efforts to promote energy conservation and good energy use with their constant advertising encouraging people generally to use more electricity? In particular they advertise uses of electricity which are not in most efficient means of achieving what one would want to achieve. For example, gas is clearly a far more efficient way of cooking. Why, therefore, should the ESB be encouraged or allowed to advocate the use of electricity for cooking?
Deputy O'Malley is a man of great experience in various Departments and would be the first to recognise that the ESB is a commercial company. It has to operate on commercial criteria and compete with other organisations who are providing energy options. It obviously has to advertise to ensure that people are aware of the advantages of using electricity. The ESB are promoting the use of more efficient lighting, water heating and insulation in Irish homes. Deputy O'Malley would agree that, even though the ESB do promote more use of electricity, they also advocate more efficient use of electricity. They are also encouraging energy efficiency in the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors through promotional literature, seminars and workshops, visits to premises and various other promotional measures. We have to recognise that they are making a very major contribution both in managing our electricity utility and in ensuring that we have an efficient use of it.
Does the Minister agree that there is a huge financial incentive in the investment in roads as a result of Government policy which encourages people to use cars which guzzle petrol while at the same time we see the public transport system falling apart? It is the responsibility of the Minister when looking at infrastructural developments to identify where Government and EC moneys are spent on projects that are wasteful of energy and on projects that conserve energy. At the moment we have a public transport system that is being run down and is non-existent in many rural areas and the only way that people can travel is by car. That in itself is providing an incentive for people to waste energy, people who would much prefer to be able to avail of the public transport system.
I appreciate what Deputy McManus has said, but I think she would agree that with the affluence that arose over the past 30 years consumers chose to acquire their own cars and use the roads and to move away from public transport. The public transport sector has suffered as a result of that. There is now a new attitude. The programme for Government clearly shows that there will be equal investment and equal opportunities in all types of infrastructure and all types of transport. This will help to bring about a balance and hopefully ensure that we are more energy efficient and more energy conscious.
I was very disappointed by the Minister's statement that he did not consider it worthwhile to provide incentives to people to conserve energy in view of the fact that we use 25 per cent more energy to £1 of output than any other country. It has been estimated that if we could reduce our energy use by 25 per cent it would mean a saving of £700 million to the Department of Energy and that could sustain almost 20,000 jobs. Would the Minister not therefore review his statement? Perhaps some of those programme managers might advise the Minister on this very important issue. I would like to hear from him then as to his views on the value of providing incentives for energy conservation.
The Minister of State has not appointed his programme manager.
I am not fortunate enough to qualify for one. However, the Department is so busy that the excellent programme manager will be very busy and we could do with a second one. I would never refuse good quality support at any level.
The Minister needs it on this one.
I agree that energy efficiency reduces capital costs and makes the whole operation of any project that demands energy use much more efficient. If we balance that against the cost of administering a grant incentive system or anything like that, it would not just be to the net benefit of the taxpayers of this country. Our duty as a Government, and our particular duty as a Department, is to ensure that people are informed about the proper use of energy and about energy efficiency so that they themselves see the merit in such efficiency which will lead in turn to them, and ultimately the State, saving money.
