Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 May 2001

Vol. 537 No. 2

Written Answers. - Energy Costs.

David Stanton

Ceist:

189 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the energy costs incurred by his Department each year for the past three years in each of the energy sectors respectively; the use made of renewable energy; his further plans regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15855/01]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The energy costs incurred by my Department each year for the past three years are as follows; the breakdown between sectors is not to hand.

Year	Total energy cost
1998	£140,585.79
1999	£108,659.21
2000	£227,968.52

The Government is committed to the use of renewable energy resources and encourages alternative energy sources through, for example, incentives and price support measures. Renewable energy, of course, already forms a significant proportion of the electricity supply purchased from the ESB. The Government will continue to be proactive in providing a leadership role in the use of renewable energy resources.

The deregulation of the utility markets will present opportunities to the Government to use its position as a major property occupier to ensure that energy conservation and competitive pricing will be central features of energy management and procurement policies. Significant advances have already been made in relation to the deregulation of the electricity market. The Office of Public Works and the Department of Finance are currently examining the opportunities already available, or in train, to allow for the competitive procurement of electricity supplies.