asked the Minister for Energy in view of the fact that work in other countries has shown that a considerable investment in Ireland of as much as £1,000 million in energy conservation would be more cost effective than investment in energy supply and distribution, would create jobs and would generate savings, the inducements and incentives provided by the Government to encourage energy conservation.
Written Answers. - Energy Conservation.
654.
The allocation of funds to meet expenditure of the magnitude suggested by the Deputy on Energy conservation could not be considered either practicable or feasible. In any event, there is no evidence available to me to support the view that such investment would achieve the results claimed. Within the limits of resources available to my Department, an energy conservation programme is being carried out. The aim of the programme is to achieve cost effective savings with the greatest voluntary cooperation.
My Department offers the following free services carried out by the HRS: (i) four regional energy conservations officers; (ii) a public building advisory service; (iii) a steam plant audit service consisting of a test of steam traps, boilers and pipe insulation.
These services are aimed at the industrial, commercial and public sectors. In addition, fifteen booklets on different aspects of energy efficiency have been prepared for industry and grants of one-third the cost of fuel efficiency surveys are also available. An active forum for the exchange of information is the Energy Management Association, originally set up and funded by my Department and now semi-autonomous.
For the domestic sector, advice on energy conservation is available on telephone Numbers 01-376666 and 01-375107/8. Advice and encouragement are given by the NBST to those interested in participating in the EEC scheme of aid for energy projects with new technology or demonstrations value of ways of saving energy.