David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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7. To ask the Minister for Defence his plans to implement measures to conserve energy in his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he has appointed or intends to appoint a person or persons to oversee energy conservation. [5627/14]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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27. To ask the Minister for Defence the policy and practices in place to promote energy conservation in his Department's offices and all the facilities under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5626/14]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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As the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces are large users of energy, I am curious to know what efforts are being made to conserve energy and reduce energy costs. I realise that a great deal of work has been done. I want to give the Minister an opportunity to tell us about that. Are there plans to make further reductions?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 27 together.

The Defence organisation has a strong record in the area of energy conservation. As the Deputy will be aware, the European Communities (Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services) Regulations 2009 oblige all public sector bodies to report annually on their energy usage and the actions undertaken by those bodies to reduce consumption. My Department is taking a proactive approach to make progress with energy-efficient initiatives. An energy team, which was established in 2010 and reports to the human resources manager, is responsible for identifying, driving and monitoring the effectiveness of energy-efficient initiatives throughout the Department in consultation with the OPW. The team is an active participant in the OPW's ongoing Optimising Power at Work campaign. Energy-saving initiatives which have been implemented in recent times include the introduction of a smart-lighting system, the installation of timers on water heaters and boilers and the shutting down of PCs outside office hours. The Department's new building in Newbridge has also contributed to an increased focus on energy conservation as it has advanced energy-efficient lighting controls and automated air conditioning systems and uses wood pellets as the main heat source. Since 2010, the Department has achieved an overall reduction in energy consumption of 32%. The figures for 2013 are being compiled.

The Defence Forces have established a robust energy management structure, which is active at all levels of the organisation. A senior energy executive committee, chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff, is responsible for all energy matters, including energy conservation. In addition, energy management teams are established in each Defence Forces installation. The Defence Forces are proactive in pursuing initiatives to reduce energy consumption. Recent successes include the installation of a natural gas pipeline in Custume Barracks using a higher calorific value natural gas, the automatic shutting-off of boilers when the hangar doors are opened at Casement Aerodrome, the rescheduling of heating times in various barracks and the installation of new energy-efficient smart lighting systems.

The Defence Forces have set an annual energy savings target of 3% and reported a 7.1% saving in building energy use in 2011. Their overall energy use has been reduced by 12.3% since 2007. I am pleased to say that both the Department and the Defence Forces have received recognition for their efforts in reducing energy consumption. In 2012, the Defence Forces became one of the first militaries in the world to be certified to an internationally recognised energy management standard, ISO 50001. In 2013, the Department’s Renmore office won the best energy team category at OPW’s regional energy awards.

All feasible options to conserve energy across the defence organisation will continue to be explored. To this end, I am advised that as part of the construction plans for the new prison in Cork, a preliminary discussion has recently taken place between officials from this Department, the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice and Equality to discuss the possibility of a shared energy generation system for the new prison and the adjacent Collins Barracks. Energy conservation is a key priority for me and for this Government and has a pivotal role to play in creating the conditions for a return to economic growth and job creation. As part of our commitments in this regard, we have set a challenging target to reduce public sector energy consumption by 33% in 2020. I am fully confident that the defence organisation will more than play its role in helping us meet this target.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for that comprehensive response. Much progress is being made. Has any research or thought been given to introducing combined heat and power plants in the various barracks and military installations across the country? I am told that significant efficiencies can be gained there, that they are 25% more efficient and the carbon footprint can be reduced. Would the Minister ask his officials in the Department and the Defence Forces to examine this and report to him and back to the House with any possibilities in this area?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am very happy to ask my officials to explore further these matters. It is very important in the context of energy conservation that we achieve the maximum efficiencies and synergies between different parts of Government, such as the Defence Forces, other Government agencies of the Department of Justice and Equality or other Departments. I am very enthusiastic to advance the implementation of systems that make economic sense and will bring about energy conservation over a period of time, that are both environmentally sound and will ultimately save resources. I am very happy to raise further the issues the Deputy mentioned.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister. He referenced the Cork prison and the adjacent Collins Barracks. Regarding the systems that will be installed there, have they considered combined heat and power? Have they engaged with companies that would be in a position possibly to share the savings into the future? Major savings could be made in the wider brief of the prisons, which is a separate area.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Stanton has a very great and personal interest in the new Cork prison and Collins Barracks adjacent to it. Discussions are taking place. I cannot predict the outcome of those discussions but we are examining the matters the Deputy raised and in which I have a great interest. I hope benefits will accrue from the engagement that is taking place but it is a little early for me to say definitively to the House how we will proceed. I will be happy to keep the Deputy informed about progress being made.