My Department is fully committed to and engaged with the Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy published by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment in January 2017. The group composed of my Department and the bodies under our aegis is committed to the achievement of the ambitious 33% energy savings target and we will work together to achieve the target in the most efficient manner possible.
As my Department was only established in July 2017, the Department and the bodies under our aegis will submit the first annual report for our group next year. Notwithstanding this, implementation of the strategy is well underway within our group. Energy Performance Officers are in place in my Department and in the bodies under our aegis and my Department recently facilitated an information session for the officers concerned along with representatives from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The aim of the session was to ensure there is a concerted strategy to achieve the group’s energy savings target, to share best practice examples and to better draw upon the expertise available from SEAI and others. I should also point out that my Department is also actively participating in the OPW’s “Optimising Power@Work” initiative and our shared offices in Ballina was a Regional Award Winner in this regard in 2018.
My Department will continue to work with our colleagues in the bodies under our aegis to achieve the energy savings target outlined for our group and we will collectively seek innovative approaches to deliver savings across our respective organisations.
