I am aware of the findings contained in the Cuts that Don’t Hurt report by the Dublin Friends of the Earth published in May this year, which is a welcome contribution to the debate. I acknowledge there is a considerable amount of money being spent by the public sector each year on energy but whether a saving of €100m in two years is achievable as the report suggests, in light of the challenging economic environment, remains to be seen. There are a number of plans and support schemes already in place but there is more that could be done. Reduction in spend over the longer term requires sustained cross-Departmental action and procurement is one of the best levers at our disposal to achieve significant savings in the short to medium term.
The current National Energy Efficiency Action Plan was published in May 2009, and outlined the framework for delivering Ireland's energy efficiency targets by 2020. The second Action Plan, which I will be bringing to Government shortly, provides a progress report on delivery of the national energy savings targets implemented under current EU requirements as well as energy efficiency policy priorities between now and 2020. The Action Plan will show that Ireland is on track to deliver the 20% energy saving target.
The public sector is estimated to spend more than €500 million per annum on energy. Achieving our 33% savings target for the public sector would save €150 million each year in expenditure. This Government remains firmly committed to meeting this target. This year the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) has targeted the top 135 public bodies, which account for over 95% of public sector energy consumption. These organisations will submit detailed energy and activity data to SEAI. From this data detailed progress scorecards will be produced for each organisation. From 2013 on, an SEAI online energy data system will facilitate all public bodies, including schools and healthcare facilities, to report detailed energy data and allow SEAI to prepare detailed scorecards for all public bodies.
My Department and the SEAI have also established a comprehensive monitoring and reporting system whereby all energy usage in the Public Sector will be accounted for and progress will be systematically recorded. Last month I wrote to the head of each of the public bodies, reminding them of their obligation to report annually their energy usage to SEAI. Enclosed with each letter was the SEAI report: 'Energy Use in the Public Sector', which outlines savings achieved to date across the public sector to end-2010 amount to 650 GWh.
Finally, the recently adopted Energy Efficiency Directive will translate elements of the European Efficiency Plan into binding measures on Member States, including an annual rate of renovation for central Government buildings of 3%; an inventory of central Government buildings with a total useful floor area over certain thresholds; and an obligation on public bodies to procure products, services and buildings with high energy efficient performance. The 3% renovation target for central Government buildings represents a challenge for the Office of Public Works (OPW), however the energy savings will greatly outweigh the costs of renovation. We will work closely with the OPW over the coming months to prepare a plan for the realisation of this target.
