Energy Efficiency

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 November 2018

Thursday, 15 November 2018

Ceisteanna (240)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

240. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if her Department is part of the public sector energy reporting programme; if so, the percentage of improvement in energy efficiency to date that has been achieved; the way in which this was achieved; if her Department noted a decrease in energy efficiency in view of the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for energy efficiency targets; if targets will be met by the 2020 deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47587/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

I am advised that my Department is a participant of the Public Sector Energy Reporting Programme and provides energy consumption data to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) which manages the reporting process on behalf of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment.

The management of properties occupied by staff of my Department and the bodies under its aegis is primarily a matter for the Office of Public Works. As a consequence, an energy management company has been engaged by OPW to liaise with officials in my Department for the purposes of identifying better building energy management systems. This also includes consideration of proposals for building and facility upgrades, disseminating information to effect behavioural changes and other measures which contribute to improvement in overall energy efficiently performance levels.

In the SEAI's latest annual report published in 2017, the Department and its agencies recorded 28% energy savings as against baseline levels recorded in 2009, which represents significant progress towards the 33% savings target for 2020.