Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2016
788. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the reason for the delay in replacing existing local authority public lighting sodium lamps with high efficiency light emitting diode, LED, units to reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5757/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has committed to improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020 as part of our EU climate change obligations. The public sector has been set an even more challenging target of 33%. The strategic importance of public lighting for reaching this target was highlighted in the White Paper on Energy Policy, which I published in December last. Local Authorities are among the largest energy users in the public sector, and public lighting accounts for the largest part of their electricity use. Therefore, the upgrading of public lighting by Local Authorities, using proven energy efficient technologies, will be an important project in the forthcoming Public Sector Energy Efficiency Action Plan.
A National Public Lighting Steering Group was established in 2014 to provide strategic direction for the upgrading of public lighting in Ireland. The Group is chaired by the City & County Managers Association (CCMA) and includes representatives from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and my Department.
The Group’s work programme includes completion of an inventory of public lighting assets, working with ESB Networks to ensure the timely implementation of the necessary supporting technical requirements, and the procurement of new, energy efficient, public lighting. This tender process is scheduled for quarter one of 2017.
