Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I have a lot of sympathy for the last point made by Deputy Creed.

Climate change is a global issue but we have national and international responsibilities. As well as being a matter to be addressed in its own right, it intertwines with key issues such as the price and security of food, water and energy supplies. Actions that address one problem, while having a deleterious impact on another, are best pursued with moderation, the obvious example being crops grown for fuel which, if pursued too aggressively, could have negative consequences for feeding the world's population.

It is fair to say the direct impact of climate change on Ireland has been relatively small to date. The most obvious change in the past 60 years has been our milder winters. Mean temperatures may have risen slightly but we have not experienced extremes of either heat or cold for a long time. Even a fortnight without rain — an Irish drought — is a rare phenomenon. The incidence of flooding has thus far not increased. However, climate change is more perceptible elsewhere. The atrium of the Office of Public Works is hosting a European Environment Agency exhibition on Greenland, where a considerable impact has been registered. The exhibition makes the point that global warming may have benefits for the native Inuit community and the region in that it allows easier access to the Arctic's resources, potentially increases tourism and could help to keep hunting traditions alive. Against this, however, it may threaten species such as polar bears and change ocean circulation and weather patterns. Given the rain outside which is only just stopping, many might welcome a little climate change.

Some years ago I acquired an umbrella at Stratford-upon-Avon with Shakespearian quotations such as "the rain it raineth everyday", continuity seems greater than change. There is a great deal we do not know, however, and the safest approach to adopt is the precautionary principle. Applied sensibly, it will also help us to conserve resources and cut costs. Ireland must play its part, with its European and international partners, in mitigating the effects and spread of climate change by working through the Kyoto agreement and the national climate change strategy and other commitments.

I will now speak about areas within the responsibility of the Office of Public Works, namely, flood risk management and energy management in public buildings in OPW ownership. The role of the OPW, as the Government's lead agency in the management of flood risk, is to take on board advice and the current range of estimates coming from climate scientists in developing and implementing policies and procedures for managing the potential change and, most importantly, the uncertainty associated with these predictions. Our biggest challenge is the uncertainty associated with the climate change scenarios being developed by climate scientists. If we knew with confidence what was going to happen, it would be easier to make the economic and other decisions related to investment in flood protection and risk management works, development planning, etc. Uncertainty requires the implementation of policies based on emerging scientific data and general assumptions about the impacts.

Adaptability is another key challenge which is intimately linked to uncertainty. We have to carry out the design of flood defences based on current estimates of flows. It is necessary to make provision for anticipated climate change impacts on the design parameters, provided this approach is acceptable when measured against the costs of environmental assessment criteria, in other words, the precautionary approach. We must also ensure the construction works we carry out are, as far as possible, adaptable at a future date to cater for anticipated changes. The degree, cost and acceptability of this adaptability are now criteria against which the OPW assesses flood relief scheme options. The challenge is how to apply and assess the economic viability of defence schemes in face of the uncertainty.

The issue of design standards is related to the issue of uncertainty. For example, the recently completed Kilkenny flood relief scheme was designed to provide protection against the 1% flood. We do not know, however, what level of protection the scheme will provide in 50 years time, which works need to be planned and financed in order to maintain the design standard, or how economically viable it will be to maintain this standard. This topic is tied into the concept of risk management, as opposed to protection measures, and adaptability. As we move to a risk management approach in which the risk is most economically reduced and a strong emphasis is placed on adaptability of the constructed scheme to meet future changes as they emerge, the concepts of fixed design standards are outmoded in many cases. The adoption by the Government of the report of the flood policy review group provides the framework for the OPW to fundamentally change how we approach the issue of flood protection works.

With regard to building design and management, the Government has set a target of 33% energy savings across the public sector for the period 2007-12. As part of this commitment, the OPW is engaged in a three-pronged strategy to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and the State's dependence on fossil fuels. It is embarking on a programme to convert the heating systems in approximately 20 large State buildings from their existing fossil fuel burners to biomass burners. The biomass fuel will be in the form of wood pellets. The estimated result is an equivalent reduction of 500,000 litres of oil per annum. Apart from the obvious benefits of biomass, the conversion programme is intended to stimulate the native production of these fuels. The tender process is already under way and the programme is due for completion in September. The use of biomass in new buildings is also considered in the design process and where appropriate is being used as the energy source.

Highly motivated and energy conscientious staff offer the single largest opportunity for zero cost energy savings across the whole building stock. The ethos of switching off equipment when not in use, when applied across a large number of people, will lead to substantial energy savings. Published research shows that up to 20% energy savings can be achieved from good energy housekeeping.

At the central core of any energy conservation campaign is the ability to benchmark performance. It is necessary to establish exactly where we are now and how this compares to other similar buildings. It is then necessary to set a target for energy saving, for example, a 15% reduction in overall energy consumption or CO2 emissions and, finally, to monitor performance against the target.

During the last three years, the OPW has installed a web-based energy monitoring system linked to all large State buildings, of which there are approximately 200 in the OPW portfolio, which monitor and record electrical and heating fuel consumption every 15 minutes. The data can be accessed via a dedicated website. The target is to reduce carbon emissions in each building by 15% through local energy conservation campaigns, energy workshops and close monitoring of the performance of heating and air-conditioning equipment. Staff will be able to monitor the energy reductions in their building via the Internet site. Two firms have been appointed for the provision of services for this campaign that started in early in 2008. It is planned to complete the programme within two years by which time it is expected that good practice will prevail in the buildings leading to ongoing savings into the future.

The scope for improving energy efficiency in new buildings is very significant. At design stage there are key factors which can considerably improve the energy efficiency of the building over its entire lifetime with little or no additional construction costs. With the advances in computer simulation of buildings during the past ten years, it is now possible to model accurately the energy and environmental performance of a building at the design stage. This is achieved by modelling the effects of using different construction materials, orientations, the amount of glazing used, the insulation levels and the type of fuel used for heating and so on.

The OPW has a policy of designing naturally ventilated buildings whenever possible. Properly designed naturally ventilated buildings can use up to 66% less energy than equivalent fully air-conditioned types. The use of computer modelling also facilitates the proper design of naturally ventilated buildings by accurately predicting airflows, internal temperatures and internal comfort conditions. This technology is being used by the OPW to optimise energy performance in all new large building projects, including in the decentralisation programme.

I would like to say a brief word about coastal erosion and flooding which may shortly revert to the responsibility of my office. Coastal erosion and flooding can be seen to be disruptive of coastal communities and typically occur when the gravitational pull of sun and moon coincide with spring tides and storms. We must also take account of the slow rise in sea level. Actions include planning controls in vulnerable areas, coastal defence works, better warning systems allowing temporary emergency measures to be put in place and data collection, research and design guidance.

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