Vol. 496 No. 3
38 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Public Enterprise if her Department has carried out or commissioned a study on the economic and employment benefits to be derived from conducting a campaign to progressively improve energy conservation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17670/98]
My Department has not carried out or commissioned any study of the kind referred to in the Deputy's question.
However, in 1996, the Energy Advisory Board, which is chaired by a principal officer in my Department, commissioned a study on the relationship between energy efficiency and employment in Ireland. The study found that there are direct employment effects arising from the installation of energy efficiency technology. There are also non-direct employment effects, such as manufacturing and supplying the goods and services used in the energy efficiency installations.
The overall conclusion of the study was that the benefits from energy efficiency are very high in Ireland. The report states that a net employment potential of 10,000 is possible, based on an overall reduction of final enegy consumption on 15 per cent over a ten year period.
In addition, I understand that two Irish organisations are currently involved in an in-depth multinational project for the European Commissioner under the SAVE II programme into employment effects of energy conservation across Europe. Dutch, Greek and UK agencies are also involved in the project.
