Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 October 2023
29. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures that are being taken to increase climate literacy in his Department, to implement green public procurement and to retrofit his Department's buildings as noted in the Climate Action Plan and in his Department's Climate Action Roadmap September 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44288/23]
View answerThe Climate Action Plan sets out a Public Service Mandate under which public bodies are required to adhere to and report on under four headings; our targets, our people, our way of working and our buildings & vehicles.
In accordance with the Public Service Mandate my Department published its Climate Action Roadmap 2023 in September 2023. The Roadmap sets out how the Department is delivering the Mandate and reaffirms our commitment to reducing emissions and meeting our decarbonisation and sustainability targets. It has been prepared in line with CAP 23 parameters and will be reviewed annually.
My Department has a proven track record in climate action. Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) data shows the Department reduced C02 emissions by 11% in 2022. We have improved our energy efficiency by 65% since the baseline year (2009). We have a long standing internal green team which over the past four years has facilitated the delivery of many significant decarbonisation initiatives, several in collaboration with partners in the Office of Public Works (OPW) and SEAI.
My Department is committed to raising awareness amongst staff of the importance of transforming how we think about, generate and use energy. My Department encourages employee participation and behavioural change in energy conservation and emissions reduction initiatives. Last week we ran a Climate Action and Sustainability week which focused on climate related matters including transport, energy, waste management and climate change. The Department’s Learning and Career Development Unit is actively considering the provision of relevant climate action leadership training as part of its overall career development strategy. The Department’s Energy Performance Officer and Energy Coordinator partake in appropriate modules of SEAI Energy Management Workshops and participate in relevant SEAI webinars.
Green Public Procurement considerations are set out in my Department’s Corporate Procurement Plan. My Department reports on progress in relation to Green Public Procurement by priority sector in our Annual Report. In 2022 the total value of contracts signed by my Department which included GPP considerations (with a value in excess of €25,000) by priority sector was €1,748,400. Through the Department’s central Procurement Co-ordination Unit Department colleagues are also encouraged to consult with Unit during their RFT compilation stage regarding the incorporation of, and appropriate use of Green Procurement considerations in their specifications and/or award criteria.
My Department is committed to complying with applicable energy efficiency and environmental legal and other requirements that apply to our activities. The approach is to adapt our behaviour, improve our processes and have more efficient usage. The Department has maintained an overall improving trajectory against baseline figures with a reduction in overall energy consumption. This can primarily be attributed to three factors; reduced staff numbers onsite due to Covid-19 remote working, adjustment of TUFA figures due to relocation of staff and Offices to reduced floor area overall, and improvement in efficiencies due to LED lighting projects and increased monitoring of Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning systems.
The Department is currently working with the OPW to install 49 solar panels on the roof of 23 Kildare Street. It is estimated that the solar panels could generate in the region of 5-10% of the energy needed to support the operations of both Departments in the building.
Over the last decade, the Department has also significantly downsized its real estate footprint across Dublin most notably by decanting from Davitt House, Adelaide Road, Dublin 2. While retrofitting of the Department’s buildings is dependent on assistance from, and in certain instances the approval of the OPW, my Department is working with OPW in this regard. In pursuit of our emissions targets, my Department will also continue to work with SEAI and OPW input, on climate action upgrades and projects to minimise the impact of our activities.
