I can inform the Deputy that my Department adopts a range of practical common sense measures to reduce energy use and encourages staff to avail of all opportunities to reduce wastage within its offices.
I can also inform the Deputy that my Department is participating in the recently launched Office of Public Works programme entitled ‘Optimising Power @ Work, Staff Energy Awareness Campaign'. This project aims to conserve energy in State Buildings and has as its objective a 15% reduction of CO2 emissions per annum in all of the targeted State Buildings. A number of my Department's main buildings are included in this project and, with the assistance of OPW and external advisors, energy usage in these buildings will be monitored by energy officers and energy teams in each location. It is intended that regular reports will be circulated to all staff to update them on the latest initiatives under the plan and on energy use and savings achieved during the preceding period.
In advance of this central initiative, the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services (INIS) Division of my Department, whose offices are in Burgh Quay, Dublin 2, have already introduced a voluntary energy saving initiative which began in July 2007. The initiative has achieved substantial energy savings and has in fact been identified by Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) as an example of organisation which has made unique energy savings.
