My Department was established in May 2002 and assumed functions which had previously been performed by a number of other Departments. Since then the Department has taken on responsibility for certain functions in the area of Maritime Transport and Safety, including the Irish Coast Guard. A number of functions relating to road safety have also been transferred to the newly established Road Safety Authority.
These changes in functions, together with the consequential changes in numbers and locations of departmental buildings, prevent direct comparisons in energy consumption and related costs being made between 2002 and 2006. Data relating to the quantity of energy consumed are not readily available. However, the total energy costs incurred by my Department in 2002 and 2006 were €98,450.44 and €236,290.54 respectively. My Department is currently involved with OPW in a project aimed at the reduction of energy usage in all our premises.