Mary Harney
Question:20 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to initiate energy reducing programmes during 1993; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Energy Reduction.
Primary responsibility at Government level for energy conservation and efficiency measures rests with the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications. However, my Department will later this year undertake jointly with the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications a public awareness campaign relating to climate change. The campaign will be coordinated with existing energy conservation programmes and will focus on how individual action in relation to energy consumption can help to mitigate global climate change.
Public lighting offers opportunities for energy conservation. Since 1991, my Department has had a programme in place to replace street/road lights on national roads with modern, energy efficient SOx lanterns. Local authorities are carrying out corresponding light replacement programmes on non-national roads from their own resources.
In March 1992, my Department, wrote to local authorities about the environmental and financial benefits to be gained by replacing inefficient lighting and by identifying, in conjunction with the ESB, other electrical energy saving opportunities in their premises and plant.
I am considering provisions to give effect to the measures in the Programme for a Partnership Government on improved energy efficiency in local authority buildings and housing and, in conjunction with the Department of Transport, Energy and Communications, the introduction of requirements for thermal efficiency audits. The application of new environmentally-friendly technologies to deal with waste disposal, while also providing useful energy for heating, is also under examination.