asked the Minister for Transport and Power if the Government within the framework of the United Nations will examine closely the rational utilisation of energy and devise means other than taxation to enlighten energy consumers concerning schemes to avoid wasteful consumption and take steps to penalise products. production processes and types of services that involve undue energy consumption.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Energy Utilisation.
67.
The UN Economic Commission for Europe have set up various committees in the energy sector and Ireland participates in the activity of these committees where appropriate. However, the main international activity in the field of rational use of energy with which we are concerned is proceeding within the EEC and the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The EEC Council of Ministers at their meeting in Brussels on 17th December, 1974, adopted a resolution for the reduction of the energy growth rate in the Community with the objective of cutting energy consumption by 1985 to a level 15 per cent below earlier estimates. Arising from that decision, a Steering and Co-ordinating Committee on the Rational Utilisation of Energy, on which this country will be represented, is expected to have its first meeting on 6th February, 1975. This committee will, with the aid of specialist panels, consider the measures to be adopted in the domestic, transport, industry and energy industry sectors. The Commission will submit proposals to the Council and will report on the situation in member states and on progress towards the Community's 1985 objective.
The recently established International Energy Agency, which operates under the aegis of the OECD, is at present examining existing conservation programmes in member countries in order to assess the feasibility of setting targets for a reduction in consumption growth rates as related to a reduction in dependence on imported oil.
In Ireland, we already have in operation a continuing energy conservation programme to promote the rational and economic use of energy in all areas and to eliminate waste of energy. This programme is co-ordinated by an Advisory Committee on Energy Conservation which I established some months ago. The programme covers a wide area of activities and, while I have already given some details of these in the Dáil on previous occasions, I will mention a number of the principal measures.
My Department operate a grant scheme under which grants of up to 50 per cent are available to industrial enterprises and hotels towards the cost of engaging consultants to carry out fuel efficiency surveys. This scheme has been in question for some years but I have recently extended it to cover surveys for boiler instrumentation.
The Industrial Development Authority provide re-equipment grants for manufacturing industries towards approved expenditure on machinery, equipment, instrumentation and building modifications which will reduce energy usage in production, processing and space heating in factories. The grants are 25 per cent of approved capital expenditure in non-designated areas and 35 per cent in designated areas. The IDA also provide grants towards research and development projects by manufacturing firms involving a significant technical input aimed at conserving energy in the firm's own process or at the development of products that could be used to conserve energy in industry.
Bord Fáilte have a scheme of grants for existing hotels and guesthouses to assist them with repairs and renewals, improvements, and so on. Machinery, equipment, instrumentation and building modifications aimed at achieving economies in the usage of energy in space-heating, water-heating, lighting and cooking will be eligible for such grants, which can cover up to 50 per cent of the cost involved.
The services of the Institute for Industrial Research and Standards have been extended to meet the growing needs of industry in the sphere of energy conservation. The advisory, information and technical consultancy services have been considerably developed. Seminars have been organised for industry, as well as courses for boiler men and powerhouse operatives.
As the Deputy will be aware, I recently launched a publicity campaign designed to secure savings in the use of energy in the home. It is hoped to achieve these savings by conveying the message of conservation to all householders and by giving practical information on the means of achieving worthwhile savings. The campaign involves advertising on television, radio, newspapers and magazines, as well as posters, bus advertising, and so on. Brochures are also being distributed throughout the country containing information and advice on simple ways of eliminating waste and cutting the cost of energy in the home.
These are some of the measures already being pursued. The energy conservation programme is a continuing one and is intended to cover all areas involving significant energy use. For that purpose, my Department in consultation with other interests concerned will be keeping the whole position under review, not only in the industrial and domestic sectors, but also in the commercial and services areas, in transport, agriculture, horticulture and so on. The measures we have already adopted, even before the achievement of agreement in EEC and IEA, are fully consistent with the programmes now being developed by those international bodies and we will of course continue to participate fully in international activity in this field.
After a lengthy answer like that it seems to me that my question and the Minister's answer are out of date. In spite of the long statement the Minister has just read out, is it not true that the Government have resorted to taxation, which I referred to in my question to deal with this problem, and all of what the Minister has stated is of no avail?
No. Taxation is one of the means, but it is not the only or most important means. There is no one thing which will bring about the reduction in the use of energy which we want. It is a number of different measures in different sectors at different times and different approaches. For instance, in industry the approach is to take industries one by one and have consultants in to instruct them how to save energy and encourage them to do this by the grants which the IDA are giving. In hotels and guesthouses the approach is the same. In the homes the approach must be different, must be of longer term and have a different emphasis. This is done by advertising on television and radio and by giving practical hints that ordinary householders can follow and can implement in an inexpensive manner.
Is it not true as a result of increased taxation a number of private motorists, especially those who might like to take their cars into the country at the weekend to enjoy the environment, are being driven off the road? Would this be a device used to subsidise CIE?
No.
Is there co-operation between the EEC and the United States in regard to their approach to the handling of this question?
The United States are members of the IEA, the International Energy Agency, which is being operated, as I said in my reply, under the aegis of the EEC. Eight of the existing EEC countries are also signatories to the International Energy Agency. In that sense eight of the nine members, as well as the United States, are members of a common body concerned with energy conservation. The other member country, France, is not, but cooperates within the EEC in energy conservation matters, some of which I have also listed.
Could this be extended to the entire membership of the OECD?
It could, I suppose, in any country which decided to join the International Energy Agency. Of the 16 countries who are members, there are the existing eight of the EEC and another five European countries. Other countries of the OECD could also be eligible for membership if they wished to join, but that is a matter for themselves.
68.
asked the Minister for Transport and Power if he has any proposals whereby the use of renewable sources of energy may be promoted and to intensify Government efforts to develop at commercial levels those technologies for energy production that make energy available from additional sources, or that can produce energy more efficiently from existing sources, while ensuring that such technology does not cause serious damage to the quality of the environment.
The Electricity Supply Board are carrying out studies into the possibilities of district heating and of developing technologies for the production of energy from wind power, refuse incineration and small additional hydro schemes. The Institute for Industrial Research and Standards have recently published the results of a study of the possibilities of wind power in Ireland. As a member of the European Communities, this country has access to proposals formulated by the Commission for Research and Development into new technologies for the production of energy from alternative sources. The National Science Council is actively considering the feasibility of these proposals so far as this country is concerned.
If I repeat this question in six months will I be able to get an answer?
I am sure the Deputy will.